Chapter 5

★ANGELITA★

Zavarelli didn't grace the man with a reply but only a hard stare that made him cower to the side. It wasn't lost on me that he hadn't even acknowledged my presence. I knew Zavarelli hadn't announced me yet, but at least a greeting of respect would be nice.

Zavarelli pulled us inside but stopped and stared at the man. "I'm sure your vocal cords and mouth are for good use. Greet my wife, Jonathan." He said it so coldly that the temperature in the space dropped.

"W... Welcome, Miss..." He looked at me for help, probably wanting to know my name.

"Ange—"

"She's Mrs. De Luca to you." With that, Zavarelli pulled us further inside the house. The interiors of the mansion were far more magnificent than the exterior. A genius wouldn't even need to tell you that Zavarelli De Luca came from old money. He pushed a door open, and I was met with several eyes.

My heart thundered, and I unnoticeably gulped. Zavarelli didn't seem to mind the eyes and only led us further inside. We rounded the table—my hand still in his—and sat on the left side beside the head, where a bulky-looking man with white hair holding a newspaper sat.

"Welcome home, son," the man said as we sat down. My eyes subconsciously trailed to the other end of the long dining table, where a gorgeous woman—probably Zavarelli's mother—was seated. On the opposite side of us sat a man who looked exactly like Zavarelli, with only a difference in eye color. Beside him was another younger gorgeous woman who was probably his wife and Zavarelli's sister-in-law. She had blonde hair like mine but shorter and in a bob, unlike my unruly curls.

"How are you doing, Father?" The question was supposed to be asked with care, but with Zavarelli, it came out dry.

"Lovely," the man responded, not once taking his eyes off his newspaper.

"You look good, son. Who's the lovely lady you've brought for us?" Zavarelli's mother asked as we turned in sync to look at her. She was really beautiful and had a slight resemblance to her sons.

"This is Ange—"

"The lady has her own mouth, Zavarelli," Zavarelli's father flatly admonished before finally dropping the newspaper atop the dining table while the maids prepped lunch.

I exchanged a glance with Zavarelli just in time to notice him twitch his lips and turn to me. I slowly nodded at him.

"I'm Angelita Romano," I said, staring straight at the man.

"Daughter of Romano Enterprise that deals with technology?" he asked again, staring intently at me. I held his stare; if he thought I was going to cower before him, he's got another thing coming.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Indeed. And here I thought Zavarelli was in love with you." He shook his head then continued, "Seems like he made a blood pact with your fath—"

"That isn't very necessary, Father." We all whipped our heads to look at Zavarelli's brother. His eyes were on their father's. I looked at his wife, and she gave me a nod with a small smile.

"Lunch is ready. Let's eat." Zavarelli's godsend of a mother broke the simmering tension in the room.

Zavarelli's father picked up his cutlery first; then the others followed suit. It seemed like a norm around here. After a few minutes, we all started dining.

"So Angelita, that's a beautiful name by the way." I flushed at her compliment. "How old are you?" Even her voice was lovely.

"Uh... twenty-three," I answered, picking up my fruit juice and taking a sip before lowering it.

"Aw that's lovely. You're still so young and about the same age as Sera," she tilted her head toward Zavarelli's brother's wife, who nodded with a small flush. "You two would make good friends."

"Yeah, I guess so." I gave a small chuckle.

"Indeed," she nodded and continued with her meal. "Do you have any siblings, Angelita?"

"Yes," I replied immediately, "an older brother and sister. I'm the last of my father's children." I answered while scooping a morsel of rice into my mouth.

"The last child! That's why you're so pretty! What about your mother, dear?" It was a harmless question, but the reminder that Mom wasn't here dampened my mood. "Uh, did I hit a nerve? I'm sorry darling."

I widened my eyes and shook my head immediately. "No, it's alright. It's been a while so it doesn't really affect me." I mustered up a small smile and looked down at my food while peeking at Zavarelli who ate as if he were alone in the room. It was very obvious he wasn't on good terms with his family.

"Do you work, Angelita?" The booming voice drew my attention back to Zavarelli's father.

I shook my head with a simple "No."

"So you eat Daddy's money then? No plans of making your own?" He scoffed, leaving me stunned into speechlessness. The De Luca father wasn't fond of me or his son.

"Can you let the girl be, Monroe? Whether she works or not shouldn't concern you," Zavarelli's mother admonished with a sigh as I gave her a grateful look.

"If she was at least hardworking, she would have been a better match for Zavarelli! But look at her; it's obvious she dolls up with men's money."

"That's enough father!" Zavarelli snapped, pulling my gaze to him. His nostrils flared as he stared hard at his father. "If you want a hardworking woman you should marry one yourself!"

"You don't talk to me like that, Zavarelli! Show me some fucking respect!" Zavarelli's father slammed his hands on the table, shaking everyone's plates and throwing off some cutlery that maids hurried to pick up and replace.

"I will give you respect when you fucking deserve it! She's a gold digger for my money and not fucking yours!" He kicked his chair back and rose up, taking my hand in his and making me rise as well. "Lunch was lovely; at least you got a glimpse of my wife! I never meant to show her to you anyway." And with that, he pulled us out of the dining room and out of the mansion completely. A voice stopped us before we could enter inside the vehicle.

"Zavarelli," we both turned at the sound and met Zavarelli's brother who stood with his hand on his wife's back. "Congratulations."

Zavarelli gave a sly smirk and nodding reply: "Thank you, Zanello." He gave a light nod at Zanello's wife.

"Uh congratulations Angelita! I thought we could speak inside but it's obvious not since you both are leaving."

"It's alright; we can keep in contact if I share my number with you." I responded as she nodded and took her phone out immediately.

We exchanged numbers and talked about a few things while Zavarelli and Zanello conversed distantly from our hearing range. Afterward, we entered inside the car as the driver sped out of De Luca mansion grounds. Once we hit the road, Zavarelli made a statement that made me feel:

"We'll be getting married in two days, Angelita."