CHAPTER 7
987 Words
MABEL’S POV
“What the hell is wrong with you?” my stepmother screamed at the top of her lungs. “Are you so bitter that you would try to harm a pregnant woman and her unborn child?”
“She started it first,” I shot back, pointing at Layla, who was already crying fake tears.
“I don’t give a f**k who started it. You had no right to raise your hand at her.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you would take her side. I expected nothing less.”
“Watch your mouth, young lady, or you won’t like what happens when I tell your father about your unruly behavior and how you tried to hurt his grandchild.”
I clenched my fists at my sides.
There was no point in arguing with her. It would only get worse.
Besides, my father hated disturbances whenever he was away on business trips, especially family complaints like this.
“Is everything alright up there?” my nana called from downstairs.
“Yes,” my stepmother answered quickly.
“Then all of you come back for dinner instead of glaring at each other,” Nana said before walking away.
I took a deep breath.
Despite everything I was feeling, I couldn’t skip dinner. If I locked myself in my room, the family would immediately assume something terrible had happened. Ever since Nike married Layla, they all treated me like I was one emotional breakdown away from collapsing. So I straightened my shoulders and headed back downstairs.
There were eleven of us seated around the large dining table: my stepmother, Layla, Nike, my twin cousins James and John with their wives, my uncle and his latest girlfriend, my nana, and me.
“Where are the kids?” Nana asked James’s wife as the chef brought out the main course.
“We left them with my mother,” she replied with a tired smile. “I just needed a break from the boys’ noise for once.”
Nana nodded, though I could tell she disapproved.
My grandmother believed family gatherings should include everyone. Even now, the fact that her eldest son—my father—still hadn’t arrived at the villa annoyed her, though she should’ve been used to it by now. Despite being the one who approved the dates for these gatherings, my father always had some last-minute business emergency.
“Well, next time bring them here,” Nana said firmly. “They need to understand the importance of family before they grow older.”
My uncle, who was already drunk, snorted loudly.
“I guess family doesn’t matter that much considering Martin is off on another ridiculous business trip instead of spending time with the family he clearly thinks he’s above.”
He wrapped an arm around his girlfriend while gesturing for the staff to refill his drink.
“Martin does more for this family than anyone else at this table,” Nana replied sharply. “It’s not his fault; he actually works to keep the family business running. Unlike you, who prefers wasting money on alcohol and women.”
I internally groaned.
Nana was getting angry, and that was never good. She had high blood pressure, and I’d seen this exact argument too many times before. It always started with light bickering before exploding into a full family war that left Nana sick for days.
“Can we please not do this tonight?” I interrupted calmly. “Let’s just eat before the food gets cold.”
My uncle slowly turned toward me with raised brows.
“I’m surprised you’re defending this family considering your sister screwed your boyfriend and married him,” my uncle scoffed, swirling his drink lazily. “If I were you, I would’ve burned this whole villa down by now.”
A few awkward chuckles echoed around the table.
I slowly placed my cutlery down and looked him straight in the eye.
“At least I have enough self-respect not to fight for someone who already made his choice.”
My uncle leaned back in his chair, studying me with drunken amusement.
“See, that’s exactly what I mean,” he said, pointing at me with his glass. “You keep acting like you are fine when everybody here knows you are miserable.”
“I’m not miserable.”
“Oh, please.” He snorted. “You are sitting across from your ex and your sister, looking like you are two seconds away from either crying or stabbing somebody. And now suddenly you have some mystery man?”
“I do have a man,” I snapped.
My uncle laughed, taking another sip of his drink. “Sure you do.”
“I’m serious.”
“Mhmm.” He nodded mockingly. “And I’m the King of England.”
A few people around the table chuckled.
I clenched my jaw, already regretting opening my mouth when a deep, alluring voice commanded everyone at the table to turn toward the entrance.
“She’s telling the truth,” Zach replied.
The golden light spilling through the windows made him look almost unreal, like some dangerously beautiful man sculpted specifically to ruin lives. My life.
His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and his tailored suit fit him perfectly. The expensive watch resting on his wrist practically screamed wealth, power, and luxury.
Very few men could walk into a room and immediately own it.
Zach Cole could.
My heartbeat pounded loudly in my ears as he walked toward me with slow, elegant strides.
Then he leaned down slightly and kissed my cheek.
“Sorry I’m late, baby girl.”
And to my absolute horror, I felt myself genuinely smile.
I never thought a day would come when I’d be happy to see Zach Cole.
Yet there I was, grinning like a complete i***t while the man I considered my enemy stood beside me.
- Writer
