Chapter 16 He Trusts Her
Finished
Inside the luxury car, Minerva glanced at the man beside her. He was calm, composed, and his dignified aura remained unshaken. There wasn’t a hint of anger on his face, as if the entire incident had been no more than a trivial matter.
Logically, as a newlywed husband, he should have been furious, perhaps even questioning her about the rumors of her enticing other men. Yet, he remained unruffled, as though it meant nothing to him
At that moment, Zevan glanced over, his expression curious. “What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”
Minerva flashed a smirk, her confidence evident. “Don’t underestimate me when it comes to a fight. I’m quite skilled, you know.
Zevan paused, recalling her past. At just nine years old, she had been abandoned in the countryside, ostracized and tormented by the other children. He couldn’t help but wonder if her stepmother had orchestrated all of that.
Her ability to handle herself in such situations must have shaped her into someone capable of defending herself–her resilience had undoubtedly been forged in the fires of hardship. He now understood that the life she had endured since then had been a series of challenges, each one making her stronger. That was likely why, even with a gun pointed at her head, she had remained calm and composed. Handling a few bodyguards was no match for the survival skills she had honed.
“You did great,” Zevan said, his tone calm and neutral. “But I’m curious, why did your stepmother accuse you of seducing her brother?
As a mafia boss, he needed to make his own judgments, not just blindly accept the accusations from Hazel. He knew that doing so would undermine his authority and make him look foolish,
“Clearly, she wanted to frame me,” Minerva said casually. “Rather than kill me herself, she seemed to prefer having me die at the hands of the mafia. All she needed to do was spread rumors that I was seducing men, and the story would eventually reach the cold–blooded mafia boss. Without hesitation, he’d believe I was a temptress, and then have me executed”
Her tone was almost detached, as if she wasn’t the one being targeted by her stepmother’s schemes. Zevan observed her cool gaze, trying to gauge whether any fear lurked beneath. To his surprise, there was no trace of it.
Raising an eyebrow, he remarked, “This would make me look quite foolish.”
Minerva’s expression shifted slightly in surprise. “You believe what I’m saying?”
Zevan’s gaze lingered on her sparkling eyes before drifting to her red lips. A sudden, intense desire for her kiss surged within him. “Kiss me once, and I’ll give you the answer.
Minerva blinked, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks at his candid words. “No… I don’t really need to know the answer. she replied softly, her lips forming a small, tight smile. The truth was, the answer didn’t matter as much as she let on. The fact that she was sitting so calmly in the car, engaging in this conversation with him, meant that he hadn’t grown suspicious of
her.
His gaze lingered on her red lips, the longing in his eyes growing unmistakably evident. He realized that perhaps he wanted more than just a kiss.
Minerva noticed the intensity in his eyes, and an unexpected wave of embarrassment washed over her. Her fair earlobes flushed a deep red. She shifted uncomfortably, her gaze drifting slowly to the car window as she averted her eyes from him. Zevan observed her subtle evasion, noting her intelligence, vivacity, and independence. She wasn’t one to lean on others or trust easily. Even something as simple as a kiss wasn’t something she would give away without thought.
The car slowed to a stop as the light turned red. Minerva glanced out the window and her eyes landed on Hepham’s most renowned cake shop.
Zevan followed her gaze to see the cake shop. Maybe she likes sweets.
*Would you
you like so
some cake?” Zevan’s deep, mellow voice broke the silence.
A fleeting hint of melancholy crossed Minerva’s bright eyes as she softly replied, “My mom used to take me to that store for
cakes.”
Chapter 16 He Trusts Her
Finished
“If you’d like,” Zevan added with a thoughtful glance, “I could arrange for the pastry chef from this shop to prepare desserts just for you at the Twilight Villa.” His gaze softened. He couldn’t stand seeing the sadness in her eyes; if a simple dessert could bring her some comfort, he’d gladly make it happen. He was more than willing to spend a little extra to have the chef from this shop work at their villa,
