Antonio: Vengeance in Disguise

Chapter 4

Antonio narrowed his eyes without meaning to.

It sounded like Harry had planned this all along.

He stopped in his tracks, studying the guy closely.

His gaze sharpened as it landed on a faint bruise along Harry’s jawline.

Antonio's frown deepened as Harry's injuries became more apparent.

His swollen cheekbone, the faint bruising under his eye, and the slight wince as he shifted his stance.

He halted. A smirk on his lip when he turned to Harry.

"Looks like someone had a tough night," Antonio remarked, tilting his head.

"Let me guess, debt collectors finally caught up with you?"

Harry stiffened.

“What are you talking about?”

“I came back this time to close a deal with the Bellagio Group!”

He tried to sound calm, but Antonio could see right through the act.

Antonio let out a low smile, shaking his head in mock pity.

“A deal with Bellagio? No way.”

“You really think no one would find out you’re just a gambling addict drowning in debt?”

“Are you really back for Elaine… or for her money?”

“Think about it. What do you think she’ll do when she finds out? You still think you’ll get what you came for?”

Harry clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with a mix of fury and malice.

He took a step forward, fists tightening at his sides, like he was one second away from throwing a punch.

But then, just as quickly, a glint of cunning flashed across his face. 

He forced a smile.

“So what? You think Elaine’s going to believe you?”

“She’s going to believe a worthless nobody like you… or the perfect man standing in front of her?”

Before Antonio said anything, the very next second, out of nowhere, Harry let out an exaggerated scream of pain.

“Ahh!"

What the hell?

Antonio frowned hard, clearly confused.

Just then, a sharp voice sliced through the tension in the air.

"What the hell is going on here?!"

Harry doubled over, clutching his face dramatically.

Antonio turned his head and saw Elaine storming out of the house.

She looked shocked and furious, striding toward them with quick, angry steps.

Oh.

It was clear Harry had seen Elaine coming out of the house before anyone else did—and decided to put on a show.

Before she could even say a word, Harry stumbled a little, wearing an expression so pitiful it was almost laughable.

"Elaine..." Harry's voice trembled as he touched the side of his face.

"I dropped by to see you... and I bumped into your husband here."

"I was just trying to say hi, but he just suddenly punched me!"

"W-Why is that? Does he always treat you like this? Is that what you’ve been suffering, Elaine?"

Elaine's eyes widened as she turned to Antonio.

"You did what?!"

Antonio scoffed.

"Are you actually believing this nonsense?"

"You’re seriously trying to say you didn’t hit him?! Are you telling me Harry’s the kind of guy who would just make something like this up?" Elaine shot back.

She walked up to Harry. Her expression twisted with concern and guilt as she gently cupped his face, trying to check for injuries.

But Harry recoiled dramatically, flinching as if she might hurt him too.

Well, how could he let her look at it?

Anyone with eyes could tell the bruises weren’t fresh. A closer look and it’d be obvious.

He let out a weak, dramatic sigh and pressed his fingers against the bruise like he was on the verge of tears.

“I’m fine, Elaine. Don’t worry about me. ”

“Maybe you should go check on your husband. He punched me pretty hard. Who knows, maybe he hurt his hand too.

Harry added, all innocent-like, as if he actually gave a damn.

Antonio just stared at him, honestly impressed Harry had the nerve to dive that deep into shamelessness.

Is that seriously how he plays innocent in front of Elaine?

And she actually bought it?

“He’s not my husband anymore. We’re divorced!” Elaine hissed through clenched teeth.

“Divorced?” Harry echoed, his lips twitching in what he tried to hide as surprise.

But it was a giddy, barely-contained triumph.

Perfect. Now he could finally put his plan into motion.

But Elaine didn’t notice the flicker of joy on Harry’s face.

All her attention had already shifted to Antonio. Her fists clenched, eyes burning with fury as she marched toward him.

“I can't believe you hit Harry! This is between you and me! Why did you do that!"

"Did I?" Antonio asked, "He says a word, and you just believe it?"

"Of course! Or who else I believe? You? Don't be ridiculous!"

Elaine pointed at him fiercely.

"You know what? I was actually thinking of being nice to you, maybe even giving you some sort of compensation because of our history!”

"But you've gone too far! Way too far! You’re just gonna take out all your anger on an innocent person like that?!"

"Innocent?" Antonio let out a cold laugh. "Why don’t you ask him yourself just how innocent he really is?"