Chapter 168
The drive back to the mansion was unbearably silent. It was getting dark, and it reflected how she felt on the inside.
Zabelle sat in the back seat, her body rigid, her mind a whirlwind of emotions she refused to acknowledge
Cabriel and Jeremy’s words echoed in her head as her mind kept on replaying the entire conversation, and it hit her hard every time she did.
You’re the problem
“Ever since you came into Antonio’s life, everything has gone wrong?
“How long before they get tired of you?”
Her nails dug into the fabric of her dress as she stared blankly out the window. The city lights blurred past, but she barely registered them Normally, she would be staring out the window looking at the scenery but not today
She had spent years trying to gain Gabriel and Lily’s love and just when she was trying to come to terms with the fact that she would never get it, Antonio came into her life and gave her a family who loved her.
She remembered how Alicia had accepted her immediately and treated her as though she was her daughter.
William although not as free as his wife, was also accepting, and how had she repaid them?
Her body trembled, and a lone tear slid down her checks for in the deepest corners of her mind, she had already feared what Gabriel had said.
That maybe
maybe it was
I was true
Maybe she was the reason for everything going wrong
The car slowed as they neared the mansion gates, and the guards let them through without question. Soon after, they pulled up to the grand
entrance.
Elias turned slightly, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. “Ma’am, should L.”
But before he could finish, Zabelle had pushed the door open as the air inside the car was suffocating
“I’m fine,” she muttered, stepping out quickly
The moment she stepped out, she slammed the door and made her way into the mansion.
She stormed up the grand staircase leading to the front doors, her vision blurring slightly–both from tears, and from the pressure building inside
her
“Ma’am,” Martha greeted her as she opened the door for Zabelle, but the latter was not in the mood to talk to anyone, and so she simply gave the helper a nod before walking past her.
She needed to be alone
“Ma’am, would you
you like-
“No” Zabelle didn’t let Martha finish her sentence, as she wasn’t interested.
She then made her way to the stairs and after what felt like forever, she finally reached her bedroom door.
She yanked it open, stepped inside, and slammed it shut behind her, making sure to lock it,
The bravy click of the lock echoed in the silent room and then, Zabelle collapsed.
Her knees at the ground as the weight of everything came crashing down on her at once.
A choked sob tore through her throat.
She tried to hold it in, tried to swallow it back, but the dam had broken.
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Chapter 168
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clenched her fists, pressing them against her face as if that could somehow stop the flood.
“This is my fault.” The words came out of her lips in a broken whisper.
“Antonio is in prison because of me.”
Her body shook violently as she gasped for air, curling in on herself.
“I should have never come into his life.
“I should have stayed away
Every memory flashed through her mind in painful fragments.
Antonio standing beside her, shielding her from threats
Antonio kissing her forehead, whispering promises of forever.
Antonio fighting for her.
And now–he was suffering for her.
“Fuck. I mined him!”
She didn’t believe Gabriel when he said he wasn’t the one responsible. She knew he was, and that was what killed her further.
The fact that he had attacked Antonio because she was stupid enough to go and confront him.
Her sobs grew louder as she pressed her forehead to her knees, her shoulders heaving
Gabriel was right
Instead of making Antonio stronger, she had made him weaker.
Everything, every loss, every downfall, every ounce of pain, was because of her?
“How long before they get tired of you?” Jeremy’s voice haunted her, repeating over and over.
Would Antonio’s family grow tired of her?
Would Antonio himself, once he realized how much he had lost because of her–regret her!
Zabelle gasped, shaking her head violently.
“No. No, I can’t think like this”|||
She needed to believe Antonio loved her no matter what,
But love wasn’t enough to save him, was it?
Love wasn’t enough to keep him out of that cell.
A bitter sob left he
her lips as she clutched at clothes, her nails digging into the fabric.
Gabriel should have attacked her not Antono but then again if he had, Antonio would be there to protect her, but she was useless when it came to protecting Antoni
She hated this as the realization of how powerless she was feeling hit her in full forge.
Antonio had always been the unshakable one–the one who fought through everything, who refused to let the world break him.
And yet, now, he was locked in a cold cell paying the price for being with her.
Her hands clenched into fists.
She wouldn’t blame Antonio or his family if they d
decided that they were tired of her and all of their life issues. In fact, she would be happy, and she
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Chapter 168
( them to make things right.
The thought killed her inside as she knew it would tear her apart, but she was done putting herself first. It was time to put Antonio and his family first, and they deserved better.
A knock at the door suddenly jolted her
Zabelle inhaled sharply, trying to muffle her sobs with her hands.
The voice was familiar, it was the head helper.
“You haven’t eaten all day. Martha said hesitantly. “Would you like me to bring something up for your
Zabelle squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard, struggling to steady her voice. “No, Martha. I don’t really have the appetite to stomach anything. I’ll come down when I do”
There was a pause. Then, “Understood, ma’am.
The footsteps retreated and Zabelle exhaled shakily, staring blankly at the floor.
Her body felt empty. Her heart felt torn apart as she came to accept that she was Antonio’s greatest mistake.
And she knew what she had to do to set things right.
