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CHAPTER 88: Luxury and Low Lives
Last Updated:
2025-03-18 08:14:24
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The luxury tailor shop smelled of fine fabric and old-world craftsmanship. Soft classical music played in the background as Zac stood in front of the largest mirror.“How’s the fit, sir?” the tailor stepped back, adjusting his glasses as he looked at Zac’s reflection in the towering mirror.Zac rotated his shoulders slightly, flexing his arms. “Feels a bit tight at the shoulders. Can we adjust them?”The tailor, a refined man in his fifties, adjusted the suit with precise fingers. A measuring tape draped around his neck as he observed Zac’s fit. “It seems you’ve built up some muscle since your last fitting, sir.”Zac huffed a quiet chuckle, rolling his neck. “Yeah, well… stress makes me hit the gym harder.”Angelo sat lazily in the leather chair nearby, one leg crossed over the other, tapping his fingers against the armrest. “Yeah, I get it. You don’t want to be suffocated in an overpriced suit on your big day.”“Exactly,” Zac said, adjusting his cufflinks before glancing at Angelo.
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“It’s wonderful to finally meet you.” Mia turned, meeting the kind smile of an older woman—one of Zac’s distant relatives.“The pleasure is all mine,” Mia said politely, returning the smile.As the women moved on, Mia took a slow sip of her champagne, turning her gaze toward Zac across the open-air courtyard. He stood at a distance, effortlessly confident, speaking with a group of older men—distant uncles and family friends, judging by their mannerisms.Unlike the others, Angelo wasn’t mingling. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t moved from his spot since he sat down.His expression was blank, like he was in a different world—one he had no interest in joining. A slight furrow formed in his brow as he stared at the floor, ignoring the people around him. Something about it made Mia pause.Part of her wanted to go to him and ask if he was okay. But the moment she took a step forward, she heard her name.She shifted her focus—and caught Seth Cornell’s stare. He was walking toward her.She s
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“Bella?”Angelo turned, rubbing his tired eyes. His mind was clouded, still recovering from what had just happened.She stood a couple of feet away, watching him with a welcoming smile. Then she stepped closer.“What are you doing here?” Angelo asked, his voice hoarser than expected.“I was just… lost, I guess,” she said with a giggle.Angelo frowned. “Lost?” Bella shrugged, “Not literally, though.”Angelo exhaled, looking away. “Well… I’m leaving.”“Wait.” Her voice was smooth, like honey, but there was an edge to it.Angelo paused.“I know how it feels…” she murmured, “…to want someone who doesn’t want you back.” “Wha… what are you talking about?” he stammered.She tilted her head, studying his reaction with quiet calculation. “You don’t have to pretend.”“Pretend what?” His brow knitted together Bella sighed. “I see the way you look at her—Mia. Too bad she wants that jerk.”Angelo tensed. What the hell is she insinuating? Or are his feelings for Mia becoming that obvious? First,
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Angelo sat up from the couch, his heart still racing within his chest. His hands fumbled with his trousers, pulling them on with shaky fingers. “I thought the door was closed,” he muttered, his voice thick from the aftermath of their stolen passion. Bella stretched out on the couch, completely unmoved. She glanced at the door, her eyes still half-closed in satisfaction. “I think it’s just the wind,” she said casually, her voice low. “I didn’t hear any footsteps.” Angelo ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. Something felt off. He turned toward the door, stepping forward carefully. The hallway beyond was empty, silent except for the faint noise from the party. The air felt colder than before. “It’s about to rain,” he said, running a hand over his messy hair as if trying to shake off his worry. “Told ya,” Bella said with a smile, sitting up on her elbow. “That was intense. You taste so good.” Angelo didn’t answer. He was still listening, still watching the door as if he exp
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“Eat up, Mia. Come on," Samantha nudged the plate toward her. Mia poked at her food with her fork, her appetite gone. “What if I was too hard on him?” Samantha let out a frustrated sigh. "Too hard? Mia, from what you told me, he deserved more than a slap. He was completely out of line.” Mia set her fork down hard on the plate, her eyes troubled. "I shouldn't have—” “Seriously?” Samantha cut in. “You’re worried about him? But he wasn’t thinking about you when he fu—” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “Never mind. The thing is, you need to forget about Angelo. He’s not worth it.” Mia frowned. “Samantha, he was drunk. Maybe he—” “Oh, come on," Samantha scoffed. "You don't have to take my word for it, but look at the facts. Guys like Angelo don't change overnight. Do your research. He was a ladies’ man—probably still is. What if all these apologies were just an act?” Mia swallowed. “I don’t know… but I don’t see him that way. He’s always been kind to me.” The doorbell rang, cu
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“Sam?” Mia’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Are you okay? You’ve been spacing out.”Samantha blinked, her grip tightening on the pockets of her jeans. “Nothing,” she muttered. “Just… be careful, okay?”Mia frowned, watching as Samantha turned and walked away. Something felt off, but she didn’t press. Samantha was acting strangely—restless, like she was holding something back. But if she wasn’t ready to talk, then it’s best to let her be.*****Later, at the boutique, the afternoon was calm. The soft scent of fresh linen and floral perfume mixed in the elegant space. Racks of dresses lined the walls, mirrors reflecting the final adjustments made to Mia’s gown. Mia sighed in admiration, running her fingers along the handcrafted embroidery of her dress. “This is really pretty,” she murmured, almost to herself.“It should be,” Samantha replied, leaning against the wall, crossing her arms. “It cost a fortune.”Mia chuckled, but then her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and smiled
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There was a brief silence over the room. Fred, mid-yawn, froze, his fingers tightening around his phone. “Mia, calm down. What happened?” Sarah exhaled, her face creased with concern. On the other end of the line, Mia’s voice quivered. “I—I don’t know. She stumbled after we argued, and I tried to call her, but… I just found her phone. Just like that. Outside.” Fred’s grip on his phone tightened further. “Are you sure?” His voice was sharper now. “Put the phone on loudspeaker.” Sarah tapped the screen quickly. “Are you sure she’s not just trying to cool off?” Fred’s tone remained skeptical, but something gleamed behind his eyes—something he quickly masked. “No, Dad,” Mia said, her voice breaking slightly. “This isn’t like her.” Sarah pressed a hand to her chest, looking at Fred. His jaw twitched, but he said nothing. “Have you called your fiancé?” Sarah asked. “Yes, I have. He’s coming to pick me up.” Sarah nodded. “Okay. Just stay put. We’ll figure this out together. Call us
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“You’ll be leading us straight to our own graves,” Fred muttered.Mia’s nostrils flared in anger as she clenched her fists so tightly until her nails dug into her palms. Her body trembled, but she forced herself to stay quiet, swallowing the fury burning inside her.Zac was surprised at Fred’s reaction, but he knew better than to argue with his future father-in-law. “Mr. Williams, we’re doing our very best to ensure Samantha’s safe return.” He glanced at Mia before continuing, “If you’ll excuse me.” He nodded toward the security guard and headed outside. Angelo followed shortly after, leaving Mia with her mother.The moment the door shut, Mia’s fury exploded.“What the hell are you saying, Dad?” She whirled on Fred, her voice almost shaking. “You don’t get to decide what’s best here!”Fred’s jaw tightened. “Mia—”“You don’t even know half of what’s going on!” Mia retorted.Sarah, who had been silent until now, placed a hand on Mia’s arm. “Mia, I think you should consider what your f
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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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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
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The reception lights were dimming, the once-crowded hall now thinning out as laughter faded into the night. Angelo stood in a corner with a half-empty glass of champagne, watching strangers laugh and dance. His mother couldn’t make it—the rescheduled wedding clashed with an obligation she couldn’t move. That left Angelo alone, with no family to sit with, and no purpose to hang around. His phone rang for the sixth time in the last twenty minutes. Bella. She’d been messaging since early evening—long texts filled with teary emojis and barely hidden loneliness. Ever since her family’s financial troubles became public, her glittering circle of friends had abandoned her—one by one. She was all alone now. He hadn’t planned to respond… but maybe she really needed him. So, he went. He didn’t bother changing. He just threw on his jacket, got in his car, and drove. She was waiting outside the venue, arms folded, in a sleek black dress that still held its elegance, although her eyes
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“Zac, you’re awfully close,” she whispered. “You shouldn’t be.”He didn’t move back. Instead, he stared deeply into her eyes. “And why not?”Her throat went dry. “Because… we both know this marriage is just a contract.”“Is that so?” Zac tilted his head, the corner of his lips curving slightly. She exhaled with a shaky breath.“That’s not what I remember.” His voice was maddeningly calm. “I remember you swearing a vow to me. In front of the priest. On the altar.”Mia’s fingers curled against the sheets. “That was just—”“Just words?” Zac murmured, his tone hard to decipher. “Funny. You said it like you meant it.”“I was only playing my part,” she muttered.Zac hummed. “Then I guess I wasn’t doing mine properly. Because I didn’t get to kiss you like I was supposed to.She bit her lip, her pulse racing. The space between them seemed to shrink, or maybe it was just the intensity in his stare.“It wasn’t necessary,” she said quickly, though she’d expected it.Then, without warning, he le
