Antonio: Vengeance in Disguise

Chapter 9

Elaine’s lips parted and her chest rose with a shallow breath. She clenched her fists slightly. 

Antonio had been a loser, nobody clinging to her for support!

She thought he would be groveling after the divorce, devastated and broken.

Yet here he was…Dressed in a tailored tux, calm as ice, with the most unattainable woman in the city on his arm.

How’s that possible?!

How dare he?! 

Rage flooded Elaine’s veins. She couldn’t stand being replaced so fast.

Made her feel like the lesser woman in front of Antonio.

“Antonio!”

Elaine called as she stormed across the room, heels clacking like war drums, and came to a halt in front of them.

"Antonio!" 

Antonio stopped, but he didn’t turn or flinch and his expression remained unreadable.

“What the hell are you doing here?!"

Elaine’s eyes flicked to Cynthia, then back to Antonio.

“How the hell did you convince Miss Cynthia to show up here with a nobody like you?”

She sneered, arms crossed.

 “Is this some kind of pathetic stunt? What? Did you really think showing up with a woman would make me jealous?”

Antonio almost laughed out loud.

Instead, he glanced at her with a look colder than the winter sea. 

“Not everything is about you, Elaine.”

Cynthia raised a brow. 

“He’s my plus one, if that wasn’t obvious.”

Elaine's lips twitched in disbelief. 

“Plus one?” Her voice sharpened. “Why would someone like you bring him?”

Cynthia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. 

“That’s simple. Mrs.—oh, sorry, Miss Elaine.”

Cynthia put extra weight on the word “Miss”. Her eyes casually raking over Elaine from head to toe, unimpressed.

“Just because you didn’t see Antonio’s value, doesn’t mean the rest of us are blind.”

The words struck like a slap. 

Elaine’s fists clenched at her sides. Her whole body tensed.

But she didn’t dare snap at Cynthia, no matter how much jealousy, bitterness, and rage surged in her chest like a rising storm. 

Not when Cynthia was the CEO of Bellagio Group, and Elaine’s company was still dreaming of sealing a deal with them.

So instead, she spun on Antonio and let all her fury pour out on him.

“Oh, I get it now! So you were cheating on me this whole time, huh?!”

“You’re suddenly dating someone just hours after we’re divorced? Really?”

“Or was it going on before the papers were even signed? Is that it?!”

“That’s why you were so damn quick to walk away! Because you already had someone lined up!”

Antonio turned to her with a cold expression. 

“It’s none of your business, Elaine.”

“We’re divorced, remember?”

“Who I’m with now isn’t your concern. You lost that right the moment you signed the paper.”

Elaine’s breath caught and her chest tightened. Just then, another voice slithered into the conversation.

“Cynthia, my dear CEO.” Harry Langford said, stepping forward with a smug smirk, “I can’t. believe it! I thought you’re smarter than that.”

Elaine turned, eyes lighting up at the sight of him. 

Harry radiated confidence in his sharp gray suit. 

Compared to Antonio, he was the epitome of power and wealth. 

At least, that’s what Elaine told herself.

“You’ve been misled, Cynthia.” Harry continued, “This Antonio? He’s just a parasite,” 

“First he clung to Elaine, now he’s latched onto you!” 

“It’s his pattern. He survives by leeching off powerful women.”

Cynthia let out a cold laugh. 

“Are you done?”

Harry ignored her, eyes gleaming. 

“You should know, Cynthia, you shouldn’t argue with us because of this nobody.”

“After all, you're not really the one pulling the strings at Bellagio. Everyone in the industry knows who’s really in charge.”

“A man no one’s ever seen… The true heir of the Morris family!”

The crowd buzzed.

Antonio tilted his head slightly. Now he was paying attention.

Harry smiled wider, sensing the shift. 

“And my company? We’re about to sign a deal with him—the real boss of Bellagio.”

He was bragging, completely clueless about who the real boss behind the Bellagio Group was.

But he’d heard the rumors. 

And he was convinced he’d get close to that person eventually.

“Once that deal goes through, Cynthia… I’ll be the one calling the shots. Not you.”

“And as for this good-for-nothing fool...” Harry sneered at Antonio. “Well, I’ll make sure this city never sees his face again.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd, with people pitying Antonio for overstepping his bounds and trying to appear important.

"That guy is about to regret crossing paths with Harry Gibson," someone whispered.

"Harry's about to seal that deal with Bellagio Group, and the lowlife would be kicked out of the City. What a pity?"

"He should have just stayed in his lane."

Most of the crowd agreed—it was bound to be a nightmare for Antonio!

Elaine’s breath hitched. 

She looked at Harry with something close to admiration. 

That was the kind of man she always wanted. Dominant, capable, connected.

But just as Harry was basking in his imagined victory, a quiet voice broke through.

“That’s impossible.”

Everyone turned.

It was Antonio.

Harry narrowed his eyes. “What did you say?”

Antonio took a slow step forward. “You said you’re closing a deal with Bellagio Group’s real owner?”

“Yeah,” Harry said. “That’s right.”

Antonio smiled. “No, you’re not.”

Harry’s expression twitched. 

“You think I’m bluffing?”

Antonio slipped one hand into his pocket. 

“I know you are, Harry.” 

“Because the person behind Bellagio Group... is me.”

"And you will never secure a partnership with Bellagio Group!"