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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Gifts and Grudges
Last Updated:
2024-12-20 21:12:03
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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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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
