Chapter 117
Zabelle’s eyes slowly thuntered open as she woke up from sleep
As she did, she was hit with the same thoughts that kept her awake and was the last thing
thing she thought about before falling asleep.
Those pictures! She couldn’t stop thinking about them, nor could she stop the feelings of fear that crept up her spine at the thought of Vanessa managing to take Antonse.
Even though he didn’t appear like someone who would fall for her sister’s charm, the possibility
Something wasn’t night. Zabelle thought to herself, breaking herself free from her thoughts.
Her brows furrowed as she turned her head to see whose presence she had felt beside her.
Her breath got caught in her throat when she saw that was Antonio who was still asleep.
It wasn’t just surprising to find him there, it hardly ever happened.
Apart
remained.
from the time when it was her first night in the room and the next morning after she had slept with him, he was always up before her. The latter scenario didn’t even count as she didn’t realize he was still asleep
She was used to waking up to his side of the bed neatly made while his scent lingered in the air.
But here he was, lying beside her, his face turned slightly toward her, his features relaxed in a way she had never seen before.
For a moment, Zabelle forgot to breathe.
His dark lashes rested against his cheeks, longer than she’d realized, framing his closed eyes.
How come he had long eyelashes!! He didn’t even need them, but she couldn’t deny they accentuated his features.
His strong jawline, usually set with a determined edge, was softened in sleep.
The faint rise and fall of his chest gave him an aura of vulnerability she wasn’t accustomed to seeing him with
He looked normal
Zabelle bit her lip as she fought the urge to reach out and trace the line of his cheekbone, to brush back the strand of hair that had fallen across his forehead as she didn’t want to wake him up.
Antonio had always been handsome, but like this unguarded and peaceful–he was devastatingly beautiful
She let h
here
gaze take all of him in while making sure the image was perfect in her head
How many times had she wondered what it would be like to catch him like this,
The spell Antonio put her in was broken by the constant buzzing of her phone on the nightstand.
The sound pulled her back to reality, and she frowned, glancing over at the device. Who could possibly be calling or messaging her so early! Reluctantly, she reached for it, careful not to disturb Antonio as she wanted him to get rest.
The more she unlocked her screen, her heart sank.
Her notifications were overflowing, and she noticed they all had to do with Vanessa
Frowning, she scrolled through th
h the messages, lier confusion deepening with every
ry new headline and post she read:
i’s brandlalous Nigher
Caught Leaving the Club with a Mystery Man!”
“Loyalty or Lack Therrol? Varsa’s Late–Night Rendezvous!”
Zabelles grip on the phone lightened as she clicked on one of the art les, her eyes scanning the text with growing disbeliet.
1/3
646 PM et
Chapter 117
ctures of Vanrisa leaving the club with a man flooded her screen. A man who wasn’t Jeremy.
there were videos of her entering the hotel room and the waiter a few minutes.
utes later entering the same room,
The man’s face wasn’t fully visible in most of the pictures, but the narrative was clear enough.
The shock of it all momentarily rooted her in place.
She didn’t doubt the fact that her sister would cheat on Jeremy but with a waiter that was impossible for Vanessa who considered such people as below her and not worthy of her time.
Zabelle’s mind raced back to the previous night, to the photos she had received of Antonio and Vanessa together at the same club.
She had gone to bed with a heavy heart, convinced that Antonio had betrayed her trust.
The idea had hurt more than she wanted to admit, and she had spent hours grappling with the possibility that she had been wrong to let her walls down for him and think he was different
Her gaze drifted back to Antonio, Il sound asleep beside her, unaware of the storm raging on the internet or was he? She wondered as the pieces began to fall into place..
Zabelle’s lips parted in astonishment as the realization hit her.
The photos. The club Vanessa’s scandal.
wasn’t a coincidence.
Antonio had known. He had planned this. Of course that was the only explanation that made sense,
➡He had orchestrated the entire thing likely knowing Vanessa would try to manipulate the situation to her advantage if those photos of him and her
He had turned the tables on her sister and she was beyond happy to see that.
Her heart twisted at the thought of her ever thinking he could betray her.
A small laugh escaped her lips, and she quickly covered her mouth, not wanting to wake him.
She just wished he had told her so she wouldn’t have spent the night in pain.
Her phone buzzed again, mapping her out of her thoughts. It was another post on Vanessa’s infidelity.
Zabelle stared at the screen, her emotions churning
Desquite everything Vanessa had door, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. It was clear Vanessa’s attempt to outsmart Antonio had backfired sper taruilarly, and now she was the one facing public scrutiny.
However, memories of Vanessa’s cruelty, l schemes, and the way she had hurt her came rushing back to Zabelle.
She shouldn’t be feeling pity for Vanessa, her sister deserved it and more.
Her gaze returned to Antonio, and she felt a wave of gratitude.
He diedoče stir, atill deep in sleeps, and Zabelle took the opportunity to let herself smile
Despite his laws, his infuriating stubbarmiess, and his habit of keeping secrets, Antonio had a way of surprising her.
Sering as he wasn’t looking like he would be waking up soon, Zabelle settled back against the pillows, her phone still in hand as she continued to
cal thirugh the news,
The sandal sounded about bradlines for hours, maybe days, lai
And in telli good seeing her sister go down in one of the worst ways possible.
her battle to fight.
