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CHAPTER 21 : A burden too heavy
Last Updated:
2024-12-24 06:53:49
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Angelo’s texts to Mia had gone unanswered for hours. At first, he told himself she was probably busy—work could run late, or maybe she just needed space. But as the evening stretched on, a gnawing worry crept in. This wasn’t like her.Sitting in his apartment, he scrolled through his message thread with her:Hey, I’m back in town. Let’s catch up soon?Mia?You okay?No response.Her silence wasn’t intentional, but the weight of the day—her mom’s reckless mistake and the looming debt to Derrick—left her too drained to face anyone, even Angelo.Angelo tossed his phone onto the sofa, raking his fingers through his hair. He had just come back from spending weeks in Italy dealing with family issues, and all he desired was to hear her voice, to ensure she was alright. Yet with each minute that passed, his discomfort grew.Grabbing his phone again, he dialed her number. Straight to voicemail. Again.He exhaled deeply, walking around the room. “Where on earth are you, Mia?” he whispered unde
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The first thing Mia felt was the coziness of a gentle duvet enveloping her tightly. The mattress underneath her was soft, much more comfortable than her own. Gradually, her eyelids opened to the warm pendant light hanging on the ceiling. She blinked, her head heavy, as blurry memories of the previous drifted through her mind. She had been at the bar. Somehow Angelo was there, was he? For a brief period, everything seemed like a dream, fragmented and unreal. However, as she brushed her fingers against the duvet and sat upright, reality hit her. This was not her room. Her eyes scanned the strange surroundings. The interior was simple but graceful, featuring off white walls and a carefully arranged dresser. She looked down at herself and halted. She had on a baggy white shirt, obviously not hers. Her heart raced. Swinging her legs off the bed, Mia paused momentarily before rising. The shirt reached her mid-thigh, excessively oversized for her small figure. Her exposed feet made conta
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Mia tugged at the hem of Angelo’s oversized shirt, feeling the fabric brush against her bare thighs. The atmosphere in the dining room was tense—not overtly hostile, but heavy enough to make her wish she could vanish into thin air.“What are you doing here?” Zac asked, his voice calm, though the sharp undertone was impossible to miss.Mia froze, keeping her eyes down. She wasn’t used to being the focus of anyone’s attention, let alone the center of an exchange like this.Angelo, seated at the dining table, raised a brow, his usual relaxed demeanor intact. “How long have you been standing here?”“Long enough.” Zac stepped further inside, his tone casual but his eyes sharp as they flitted from Angelo to Mia. “Nanny said you were here, so I came in. Didn’t realize you had… company.” His gaze lingered briefly on Mia before returning to Angelo. “Nice breakfast spread by the way.”Mia cleared her throat. “Good morning, sir.”“Morning, Mia,” his gaze flicked over her unexpected appearance. “
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Angelo leaned back in his chair, a nervous chuckle escaping his mouth as he met Zac’s gaze.“Zac,” he said, his voice steady despite the faint humor. “None of those girls are in my life anymore. Like I said, I’m taking it slow—one step at a time.”Zac arched an eyebrow. “Wait, wait—did you just turn over a new leaf or did I miss something?”Angelo smirked faintly and shrugged. “I’m a single man now—free as a bird. I’m taking a break from relationship drama, especially now that my dad’s retirement ceremony is around the corner. Once that’s done, I’ll pick my bride. But right now? Not my priority.”“Then what’s up with you and Mia lately?” Zac’s gaze sharpened.Angelo hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. He exhaled, forcing an easy tone into his voice. “Mia… she’s… nice. Smart, beautiful—obviously. We’ve been getting along pretty well, but I feel like she’s not open with me yet. Still, I value our friendship.”The words felt foreign as they left his mouth. He liked
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When Zac and Mia entered his office, he walked over to the cozy corner with a small sofa and table, gesturing for her to follow. Mia hesitated, standing awkwardly near the door, her eyes darting between him and the room. “Did I do something wrong?” Her voice was quiet, unsure. Zac turned back to her, offering a calm smile. “No, come on in.” He motioned for her to join him on the sofa As Mia stepped closer, she glanced around nervously. “Um, are you expecting someone?” Zac shook his head, glancing at the table set for lunch. “No. I know we got off on the wrong foot.” He met her gaze. “But despite the circumstances, you’re smart, Mia. A good P.A. Maybe we should consider each other as work partners now.” Mia blushed slightly, caught off guard by the compliment. “Thank you,” she said quietly, still unsure of his intentions. Zac continued, his tone more casual now. “I ordered lunch for us, just as a small way to show my appreciation.” Wow—I mean, that’s really thoughtful,” Mia
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“Jason’s not coming. Something came up, and he had to cancel,” Mia replied quickly. As soon as Zac mentioned staying for dinner, Mia stepped inside briefly and sent Jason a text, fabricating an excuse about needing to reschedule his appointment. “That’s sad. Good thing Zac is here, right?” her mother said cheerfully, but the expression on Mia’s face remained clearly uninterested. As Sarah served the dish, the atmosphere in the dining room became thicker with the tempting aroma of a homemade banquet. The table, carefully arranged, displayed roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, and a rich, shiny sauce that glimmered in the light. “This looks amazing, Mrs. Williams,” Zac said, genuinely impressed. “Thank you, Zac,” Sarah replied with a warm smile. “It’s just a simple dinner, but I like to add my little touch. Try the sauce—I think you’ll like it.” Zac took a bite, his brow lifting in surprise. “This is… incredible. I’ve never had anything like this.” “Well, you’re wel
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It had been days since the studio incident, and they hadn’t had any more fights—just existing in silence.Zac hadn’t tried to provoke her since. He kept to himself, stayed in his lane, and gave Mia the space she seemed to need. But that didn’t mean he was okay. Not even close.Mia had thrown herself into work—meetings, fittings, even calls at odd hours. She was hardly ever home, and when she was, she barely spoke unless she had to.Zac, on the other hand, was knee-deep in preparations for his grandfather’s handover.After Charles returned from his yearly checkup abroad, everything had become more real. The old man had confirmed it—Zac would be named chairman of the ZIRCONS Group.They were both busy. But being busy didn’t mean they should keep living like this.That morning, Zac stepped out of his bedroom just as Mia was locking hers. She was already dressed—high-waisted jeans, a cropped black top, and sunglasses perched on her head. The kind of casual that still looked like a stateme
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As soon as the car door slammed shut behind her, Mia didn’t even bother to click on her seatbelt. “What the fuck was that?” she spat, turning to him. “Seriously—what the actual fuck?!” Zac’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. Samantha sat in the back seat, silent, her eyes darting between them, not saying a word. “Mia, calm down,” Zac said, trying to keep his voice even. “Calm down?” she repeated, a sharp laugh escaping her lips. “You show up at my shoot uninvited, crash the set—and you want me to calm down?” “I was just trying to be supportive,” Zac said, his jaw tense. “Supportive? By bringing a food truck?” Her voice rose. “That’s not support, Zac. That was out of line.” “What else could I have done, huh?” His voice cracked, eyes still fixed on the road. “You think other women wouldn’t love this?” His voice was low, biting. “You embarrassed me,” she muttered, more quietly now. “That might be cute to other people. But I’m not other women. I’m Mia Williams.
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“Beautiful, Mia,” the photographer directed. “A little more, a little to the left. Perfect.” Click! “Nice. Now raise your arm a little… Yes, just like that.” The camera clicked again, capturing her every movement.The studio was alive with energy, team members moving around, adjusting lights and equipment. Mia stood in front of the arranged background, the lights flashing on her as she struck one pose after another. “You’re absolutely killing it, Mia,”Jonathan said with a grin, moving closer to her. “No way you’re telling me this is your first time.”“Thanks, Jonathan,” Mia said, smiling as a rush of pride warmed her—though her mind wandered for a moment. She glanced at the clock on the far wall. It was almost noon.She had promised herself she’d check on Zac during her lunch break, but time was ticking away, and she hoped she wouldn’t be too late.The crew took a short break, giving Mia a moment to relax and refocus. She sipped from her water bottle, her fingers tapping nervously ag
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The ride home wasn’t as chatty as Mia expected.Zac, the same man who had praised her all morning, now sat silent beside her in the back seat. He stared out the window, his arms folded, jaw tight. Something felt different, and she could feel it.They were already close to their estate gates when Mia finally broke the silence.“Zac… are you alright?” she asked, turning to him.“Yeah, sure,” he replied without looking her way.But he couldn’t help it. The question came anyway.“Who was that guy?”Mia blinked. “You mean, Jonathan?”“How come I’ve never heard of him before?”She gave a small shrug. “He’s not important. Just someone I knew from way back.”“Not important,” Zac echoed, voice sharp. “But now he’s suddenly important enough to say things like, ‘I can’t wait to work closely with you again.’” His tone was dry, tinged with something more than irritation.Mia sighed, lightly touching his arm. “Zac, really? Jonathan and I barely even talked in high school. We only worked on a scienc
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“Mia, are you ready?” Zac’s voice drifted through the bedroom door, followed by a light knock.Mia, still tucked away in the walk-in closet, sat in front of a vanity table, gently dusting blush across her cheekbone. “Don’t you dare come in here,” she called out.“I wasn’t planning to,” he replied dryly. “But you could’ve told me to call the stylist if we were going to take this long.”“I never asked you to join me, did I?” she shot back. “Why are you trying to pressure me? It’s not even time yet.”“As a businesswoman now, you should know the importance of punctuality,” he countered, already turning toward the hallway. “I’ll be downstairs. Call me if you need anything.”She heard his footsteps fade away.Still in the closet, Mia stood before the full-length mirror, adjusting the fit of her outfit—an oversized, slouchy sweater in deep slate-blue that fell just below her hips. The relaxed style complemented a pair of sleek, high-waisted black jeans that hugged her legs and ended just
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Zac saw it too, but he said nothing—just shifted slightly in his chair, then gestured toward the bedroom with a subtle lift of his chin.“You should take it,” he said in a neutral tone. “It might be important.”Mia blinked, surprised by his calmness. “It’s fine. I can call him once we’re done.”Zac didn’t answer immediately. He just leaned back in his chair, looking down at the laptop again. “I’m also in the middle of something, so run along.”She waited a bit, searching his face for any trace of resistance, but there was none. He was calm. Mature. Composed.She nodded, gently straightening up. “I’ll just… go inside.”Zac didn’t respond. His eyes had already returned to his laptop, though his fingers weren’t typing anymore.She slipped away, robe brushing softly against her thighs as she padded back into the bedroom. The call connected before the door even closed behind her.“Angelo?”“Hey.” His voice was warm, calmer than she remembered. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”“No, I was up.” S
