anwhile, the girls in the kitchen bonded over coffee.
Katherine and Alia didn't ask Angela why they were there. Angela wondered if they must have thought she didn't know anything and was just Gael's arm candy or sothing. Or perhaps they were tiptoeing around her, too, since they weren't close. However, Katherine and Alia were kind to her since the n disappeared into the office.
Angela appreciated that the two didn't try to prod her. She wasn't sure if Gael would be okay if she divulged information to them if they ever asked her why the n had to et today. So Angela was glad they didn't ask.
The three only talked about random stuff—nial things like the cabin, Katherine's wedding plans, Angela's foundation, and Alia's interest in backpacking sowhere in Europe one day. Angela learned that Alia was in her 50s, and her jaw dropped; she thought the other was joking because Alia didn't look her age at all. She seed like she was in her late 20s or early 30s. Nevertheless, the conversation flowed easily as if they all had been friends for a long ti.
She walked towards the sink to rinse her cup when she heard Katherine ask, "Does that hurt?"
Angela looked at her over her shoulder, and that's when she realized the loose neckline of her sweatshirt fell to her shoulder. She couldn't see it from their view, but she was sure that they saw the bruise on her back, causing her to stiffen, not knowing how to answer. Clearing her throat, she turned around as she dried her hands and said, "Not so much anymore."
"I don't want to overstep… But may I ask what happened?" Katherine probed, her next words laced with a bit of caution, though her voice was clear. "De Luca… He didn't do this to you, did he?"
Alia shifted her weight and added, "You can tell us if he did. We can help you."
Angela's brow twitched, and she glanced between the two of them. The thought of Gael hurting her made her feel sick. She shook her head indignantly as if she was offended. "What? No… No… God, no. He'd never hurt ."
Katherine and Alia's brows drew together as they regarded her seriously. They didn't say anything else, but they looked at her as if they didn't believe her or that they waited for her to explain. If she didn't, they would probably continue to think it was Gael who did this.
Sighing, Angela leaned against the counter. She had no choice. "It happened last Saturday."
"I t your father and brother last Saturday during our engagent dinner. I didn't see you there," said Katherine.
Angela told her why she didn't go and began to tell them what had happened that day. She told them how Evan beat up Gael and used the chain on him. That he hurt him to get to her. Katherine and Alia's faces twisted in both pain and anger on her behalf, but they remained quiet as she recalled the incident.
She didn't know why but she also told them about four years ago when Evan assaulted her live on the dark web, telling them she couldn't even rember what happened no matter how hard she tried to. All she knew was that she felt filthy all over, feeling the need to wash herself in hot, scalding water whenever that incident crossed her mind.
"Trust ; you're better off not knowing. It's worse when you rember being tortured," Katherine muttered in almost a whisper, averting her eyes and then squeezing them shut as if she rembered sothing and didn't want to.
Angela believed Katherine. Sotis, when you tell people your sufferings, and they console you by saying they understand and they hurt for you too, Angela thought that was bullshit. Not everyone would understand what she went through. When Evan hurt her for the first ti years ago, many tried to comfort her, but they were just empty words. However… Sohow, she believed Katherine, and she didn't even know her that much. Katherine's words weren't that of comfort, but Angela still felt better all the sa.
A tear fell down Angela's cheek, and she quickly wiped it, chuckling. "Sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this. Only a few people know."
"Does he know?"
Even though Katherine didn't specify, Angela knew she was referring to Gael. "He knew that's why he ca to Mayne. He wanted to protect , but he didn't know the whole story."
Katherine's brows were knitted. She was about to say sothing when the four n ca out of the office and strolled into the kitchen.
Gael imdiately strode towards Angela, cupping her face in his hands, his eyes narrowing at her. "What's wrong?" He always knew there was sothing off.
She smiled, shaking her head. "I'm fine. We were just talking, and I got carried away. How did it go?"
He searched her face like he wanted to make sure she really was okay. He must've found sothing because he nodded and his hands fell to her arms, kneading them. "It went well."
Gael's phone buzzed, and he excused himself after pressing a kiss on the corner of her mouth and then walked towards the window to take the call.
William and Damien were huddled by the sink while Katherine brewed another batch of coffee, occasionally joining in their conversation.
A hand rested on her shoulder, and then she was pressed to a man's hard side. Katherine's brow arched as she looked at Angela and the man next to her as if she was waiting for a signal or sothing. Angela imdiately knew he wasn't Gael, and she confird it when she peered up and saw Giovanni.
He casually sipped a shot of whiskey in one hand while his other gripped her shoulder. He didn't say anything, but the hug felt different. Giovanni wasn't feeling her up—rather, his arm around her felt like he was comforting her. Then he laid a kiss on top of her head and whispered, "We'll make sure he'll pay."
Angela's eyes widened. "What…" Then she realized Giovanni was talking about Evan. He must be. There was no other reason. She wasn't mad because Gael had already told her he might need to tell them about it. If it were in the past, she would've probably minded. Right now, she didn't care much about it anymore. She wouldn't go around announcing it to the whole world, but after Gael learned the truth, it didn't seem to hurt as much as it did in the past.
She glanced at Gael, who was still by the window, and he was staring at them with a questioning gaze, wondering what Giovanni was doing. But Gael remained in place, talking on the phone but his eyes never left them.
Angela patted Giovanni's hand on her shoulder and smiled at him. Her heart ward up, knowing that he cared for her. She could admit that she loved him like family too. Who would ever think?
Then Giovanni's eyes raked down her body, landing on her feet. A smirk ghosted his lips before he took another sip of his drink. "Nice slippers. I find that a bit childish… But you still look hot in them. It's probably only because you're the one wearing it. That or I might be developing a new kink. Not sure I'm into being a furry. But I'll dig it if you keep wearing them."
She burst out laughing and slapped his shoulder, pushing him away. There goes her affection for him—it went out of the window. She shook her head.
"You do look cute in them, Su," William added with a sly wink. Then he and Giovanni exchanged a knowing smile that only the two of them understood.
n.
Katherine lightly bumped her shoulder, lowering her voice when she said, "Don't mind them. I have a similar pair, but mine is a cat in pink. Damien bought it for , and I secretly love them." She revealed a charming smile that nearly knocked Angela off balance. The latter thought Katherine was too beautiful.
"I heard my na, Kitten." Damien pulled Katherine against him, his arms wrapping around her midsection. He glanced down at her, his eyes full of heat as his hand dipped lower towards her ass.
Watching them caused Angela's neck to flush, but she couldn't look away. She suddenly wanted to be touched just like that. And as if he heard her thoughts, Gael's hands slid around her waist. Then she felt his lips on her neck and heard him say, "You're blushing. What's on your mind?"
She wanted to tell him that watching another couple just turned her on.
"Excuse … Angela?" Katherine ca up to her with a tablet in her hand, and her phone pressed to her ear. She glanced between Angela and Gael.
"Yeah?"
"My friend is on the phone. I think he can help you with sothing."
Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Help with what?"
With a bit of hesitation, Katherine told them, "That…video. He might be able to delete it."
Angela caught Gael exchanging a look with Damien, and then Gael questioned Katherine, "How? My guy tried, but…" He shook his head.
That charming smile on Katherine appeared once again. "My friend isn't just any guy. Trust .. He can do it."
Reviews
All reviews (0)