Chapter 24
“Do you like it, ma’am?” Zabelle heard the makeup artist ask her, and she nodded distantly while staring at herself in the
mirror.
The last time she had been in such a state was when she was getting ready to see Jeremy. She had been so excited to see the man she loved after two years.
If only she had paid attention to the signs, she wouldn’t have gone to the party and would have been living peacefully.
She wondered what Jeremy was up to, as she hadn’t had the time to catch up due to the fact that she had been preoccupied all day.
Grabbing her phone, she saw that it was six twenty–six. She had four more minutes until she and Antonio would leave to wherever he was taking her.
His mother had gotten a call and had to leave earlier. She hadn’t seen Antonio yet, but she knew he was around, as the head helper had come to inform her that they would be leaving by six–thirty.
Zabelle wished she could disappear from the face of the earth so she wouldn’t have to go out with Antonio.
He was a public figure, and she was sure once she was spotted with him, the media would go crazy over it. The fact that she would be the first woman who would be publicly seen with him would make it even worse.
She loved being low–key, and all that was about to change. Many women would be happy for the opportunity to even get married to Antonio, but she didn’t want it at all.
Having grown up in a toxic environment, even while being from a rich family, taught her money and power wasn’t everything. Yes, she would go high in the socialite ranking, but when she was all alone with Antonio, that wouldn’t matter.
She had hoped to get married to a man who loved her so she could have her own family who loved her but maybe her mother was right, she simply had bad luck as none of that was going to happen.
“Ma’am,” she broke out of her thoughts when someone tapped her lightly. “It’s time,” she heard the makeup artist say to her. and she gulped.
She slowly stood up from her seat and when she did, she was handed a purse, after which she took one last look in the mirror. She heard the makeup artist complimenting her, but she felt ugly.
Muttering a “thank you, she followed the head helper down to where Antonio was. He was at the foot of the stairs, and he was on a phone call. If only the phone call would last forever so be wouldn’t turn his attention to her.
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, he raised his head and her eyes met. In the next second, he was off the phone.
When she finished descending the flight of stairs, she came to stand in front of him.
“Why so much makeup? It won’t change the fact that you’re ugly those were his first words to her and she felt even uglier.
“At least I don’t have an ugly character,” she however retorted, refusing to let his words affect her.
“You’d be surprised how many women love my ugly character bus an ugly face, a lot won’t go for it. If you don’t agree with me, just ask Jeremy who went for the hotter sister,” Antonio jabbed and Zabelle clenched her fists in anger.
“Yet you’re marrying an ugly woman,” she refused to give up.
“You’re welcome. I saved you a lifetime of being alone,” Antonio lapped back.
“I’d rather die alone than to spend the rest of my life with you,” belle cried out, and Antonio smiled.
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“Wonderful, I hope my mother bought you some black clothes because you’ll need it for Meredith’s funeral,” he stated and that was more than enough to get Zabelle to keep quiet as she had forgotten about Meredith for a split second.
“One day, you’ll come to regret everything you’re doing.” she told Antonio.
Till then, you’re stuck with me, my dear fiancée,” he stated as he stretched his hands towards her.
Against her wish, she put her hand in his, and he grasped it firmly. “Now we’re going to be in the public eye and I expect you to behave properly. Any slip–up from you won’t be tolerated. Is that clear?” He inquired and Zabelle nodded.
Words, darling, use your words,” he told her and Zabelle felt a bile in her throat over his endearment which was fake.
“Yes, it’s clear,” she responded, and Antonio hummed in satisfaction.
Without saying anything else, he turned and led her out of the mansion, where a car was waiting for them.
Zabelle noticed that it was a new one compared to the ones she had seen, and she wondered just how many exotic cars he had.
The life of the rich and the poor, she smiled bitterly as she remembered when she wished to have a car to help her get to places faster.
A guard opened the door, and they got into the car, after which they were on their way. Zabelle wondered what event they were going to, as Antonio didn’t tell her anything.
“Which event are we going to?” She took the liberty to ask. However, she was met with utter silence as Antonio didn’t deem it fit to give her a response.
way
She was sure he had heard her, as the car was quiet. He just wasn’t ready to reply, and so she turned her attention away from him while cursing him inwardly.
She then brought out her phone with the intention of seeing what Jeremy had been doing in the past month when Antonio spoke.
“Looking up our ex–boyfriend, are we?” He spoke and there was a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Zabelle frowned as she turned to look at him. She hadn’t even searched for Jeremy yet, so how did he know? Was he a mind reader? She wondered once more.
“No, I’m about to search for what event is happening tonight since you refused to give me an answer,” she lied, and she was happy the lie came out smoothly as she wasn’t a good liar.
“I may hate you, and we may not have a loving relationship, but cheating won’t be tolerated. So do yourself a favour and burn whatever feelings you have for the fool before it burns your Antonio issued a warning before going back to his tablet.
“I have no intention of cheating, do you? Seeing as you’ll do anything to hurt me,” Zabelle threw at him, and she was met with silence once more.
Having been cheated on, she knew how terrible it felt, and she wasn’t a bad person to do the same to another person. Plus, it went against her values.
However, she didn’t know if Antonio felt the same way. If he was ready to sacrifice himself just to hurt her, then there was no telling what other things he could do.
Even though she hated him, it would still hurt if he cheated on her.
No other words were said until they arrived at their destination, and when they did. Zabelle’s eyes widened in horror, and she felt a panic attack on the way.
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This was more than a small event! She yelled in her head when she saw the number of media personnel that were there.
There was even a red carpet leading into the building, signaling that it wasn’t a small event.
When she looked at Antonio, he appeared to be nonchalant about the whole thing, as he was still busy with his tablet.
“I’m not going out there!” Zabelle told Antonio, and he finally locked away from the tablet to look at her. His eyes then went down to her ring finger and zeroed in on the ring she was wearing
“I should have bought a cheaper ring,” he remarked as he opened the car door, leaving Zabelle red with anger at him ignoring her words.
She gulped when the driver opened the door to her side. She didn’t want to get down, but Antonio wasn’t giving her much of a choice.
Zabelle slowly made her way out of the car and as soon as she was out, Antonio approached her with his hand stretched out.
The moment she took it, she heard the media go crazy, and she heard the clicking of the cameras, capturing the moment.
“Smile, darling. You managed to capture the heart of the most famous bachelor, Antonio said to her, and she scowled.
“Stop calling me darling,” she stated, and Antonio in response made her turn to face the cameras. She was immediately blinded by the flashes, and she hissed in irritation.
Was this really what celebrities had to go through? She asked herself.
