Chapter 98
Antonio glanced at Zabelle, as they watched the movie and she seemed lost in thought, as even though her eyes were on the TV screen, they weren’t focused on it.
Zabelle sighed suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Antonio heard her clearly.
“My father was responsible for the attack, wasn’t he?”
It was something she had denied for a while, but she couldn’t do so anymore, not when the truth was clear and no amount of self–denial would change it.
Her father had done a lot of things to her, trying to kill Antonio wouldn’t be anything to him.
Antonio froze, her words hanging heavy in the air.
He turned to face her fully, searching her face for some sign of doubt or hesitation, but there was none.
Her expression was a mix of resignation and heartbreak, as though she’d finally connected the dots she had avoided for so long and had finally accepted the truth.
He didn’t answer immediately, his jaw tightening as he didn’t know how to respond, and that was saying a lot considering the fact that he had wanted this moment to happen ever since he told her the truth.
Zabelle’s shoulders slumped, and her gaze dropped to her lap. Tve been denying it ever since you told me, but I can’t keep making excuses,” she said, her voice trembling
The way he’s always hated me. How he tried to control me, punish me when I didn’t fall in line. And then.. the kidnapping He hates me that much to try to take you away.from me.”
Antonio sighed, leaning forward. “Zabelle…” He called.
“Why are you hesitating?” she interrupted, looking at him with tears welling in her eyes. “This is something you’ve been trying to make me believe, and I need to hear it from you. Was it him who sent those men after us?”
Antonio hesitated for a moment, but he knew there was no point in sugarcoating the truth when she needed him to confirm it once again so it would be final.
She deserved to hear the truth, no matter how painful it was for her. “Yes,” he said softly. “Your father orchestrated the attack. He hired someone to hurt me and you that night.”
The words hit Zabelle like a punch to the gut even though she had expected it and her hand flew to her mouth as a sob escaped her lips, her body trembling.
Antonio immediately reached out, his instinct to comfort her taking over. It was an established fact that he hated seeing Zabelle cry.
“How could he?” she cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks and she made no effect to stop them
“How could my own father hate me so
so much? What did I ever do to him to deserve this? I’m his daughter! Aren’t fathers
supposed to protect their children?”
Antonio pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she broke down.
Her sobs were raw and heartbreaking, shaking her entire body. I don’t understand, Antonio,” she sniffed.
“I tried so hard to be the daughter he wanted. I tried to make him proud, to earn his love. But it was never enough,” she held him tightly.
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“He always hated me, and it makes no sense because he and my mother eventually fell in love. Aren’t they supposed to be happy I made them stay together?“”
“Zabelle, listen to me.” Antonio said gently, his voice steady and soothing as he rubbed her back.
“This isn’t about you. It’s about him. Your father is a cruel, twisted man who sees the world through a lens of power and
control,” Antonio started.
“Plus, he’s a terrible person. None of what happened is your fault. You didn’t ask to be born. They made that decision to be intimate.”
“But it still hurts,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I don’t know how to stop it from hurting, and it’s been doing so for
years.
Antonio tightened his hold on her, resting his chin on top of her head.
“It’s going to hurt, they are your family after all, Zabelle. There’s no way around that,” he sighed as his mind took him back to that incident with his father.
“But you’re not alone in this. You have me, and I swear to you, I do everything in my power to make sure he never hurts you again.
Zabelle clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt. “However, in order to prevent it from hurting you, you have to accept that he’s not a father to you, has never been and will never be.”
“I should have accepted it a long time ago.” Zabelle mumbled.
“It’s never too late to accept it.”
Zabelle didn’t know how long they stayed like that, but eventually, her sobs quieted, replaced by the occasional hiccup.
However, Antonio didn’t let her go as he continued rubbing her back, and her heart bled over how gently he was treating her.
After a while, she pulled back slightly, wiping at her tears.
“I feel so stupid,” she said hoarsely. “I spent my whole life trying to earn his love when he was never capable of giving it
“You’re not stupid,” Antonio said firmly. “You’re human. Wanting your father’s love isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s natural. But now that you’ve accepted the truth, you can start to heal from it.”
She nodded slowly, though the pain in her eyes was still evident How do you do it?” she asked suddenly.
“Do what?”
“Deal with family betrayal,” she clarified. “It looks like you’ve been through something with your father, and yet you’re still standing. How do you do it?”
Antonio’s expression darkened slightly at the mention of his own father.
“It’s not easy,” he admitted. “There are days when the anger and hurt feel like too much to bear,” he stated.
“But Fremind myself that I’m not defined by him or what he’s done to me. I have people in my life who love me for who I am, not for what they can take from me. And that’s what I focus on.”
Zabelle nodded again, her gaze dropping to her lap. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do that,” she murmured.
“You are,” Antonio said firmly. “You’re one of the strongest people I know, Zabelle. You’ve already survived so much, and you’ll get through this too. I’ll make sure of it.”
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brought
His word Stall, shaky smile to her face. “Thank you, she whispered and he groaned.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said softly. “I’m here because I care about you. And because you’re worth it.
Her cheeks flushed at his sincerity, and she looked away, a mix of embarrassment washing over her.
Antonio reached out, gently tilting her chin so she was looking at him again.
“You’re not alone in this, he repeated. “Never forget that.”
She nodded, and she was grateful for Antonio’s presence, as it made it more bearable.
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There were many times when she had cried profusely and had packed herself right up afterwards, but she didn’t have to do that anymore as she now had Antonio and once again, she was grateful she did.
The next morning,
Zabelle’s eyes slowly fluttered open when she heard footsteps in the room.
She hissed inwardly when she was hit with the bright morning light, and she waited a few seconds for her eye to adjust before turning toward the source of the noise.
It was Antonio who was quietly buttoning his shirt. She sat up slowly, the events of the previous day immediately rushing back into her mind.
From waking up with a hangover to discovering that she slept with Antonio to the video, everything.
Antonio was fastening the cuffs of his shirt when he heard the rustle of sheets behind him.
Turning, he found Zabelle sitting up, her hair disheveled from sleep and her expression cute.
“Good morning,” he greeted, his voice low but warm. “How are you feeling?”
She hesitated, then shrugged lightly. T’m fine, she replied.
Antonio arched an eyebrow. “Fine?” he repeated skeptically. “Are you sure?*
She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Yeah I am, honestly,” she added when he squinted his eyes at her.
Antonio studied her for a moment before nodding, “Alright,” he said, though his concern lingered in his gaze.
Zabelle watched him as he grabbed his tie and without wasting time, she got out of bed and walked up to him.
Grabbing the tie, she began to help him knot it.
“Antonio,” she called quietly.
“Yeah?”
She hesitated, choosing her words carefully as she didn’t want it to cause a fight like last time.
“I know what you’re planning,” she began. “Revenge. For what my da.. Gabriel did to you.”
She truly wanted to be free from her family and just as Antonio had said, she had to move on.
Gabriel had never behaved like a father to her, and so he didn’t deserve the title.
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Antonio’s expression hardened slightly, but he didn’t deny her words.
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“I’m not going to stop you, she continued. “I know it’s something you’ve been wanting to do for a long time and you will. All I ask is that you give me some time before you act.”
Antonio frown deepened upon hearing her request,
“Do I have to? You’ve already been through enough because of him.”
Her eyes met his, and he could see her pleading eyes. So annoying, he groaned inwardly, and yet he found himself agreeing to her request.
“That’s exactly why I’m asking for time,” she
said.
“Once you take that step, nothing will ever be the same. And I want to be in a position where I’ll enjoy it instead of having second thoughts about it.
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