Chapter 37
<Chapter>Chapter Thirty-Seven: Integrity Uncompromised </Chapter>
Gianna's expression was indifferent, "There's nothing for us to discuss."
"If you're still upset about last time, I owe you an apology. It was my fault."
Gianna looked at him, surprised, not expecting that he'd actually say sorry.
"So, if that's out of the way, can I go now?" she asked.
Felix's gaze turned heavy, and he said in a low voice, "You're still mad."
Gianna continued, with a touch of exasperation, "Since you apologized, whether I'm angry or not is my business, and it seems like it shouldn't concern you."
With that, Gianna put her car in reverse, driving past Felix and away.
From that day forward, Gianna and Felix never crossed paths again. However, she occasionally glimpsed photos of Felix and Bella attending events in entertainment magazines.
Gianna glanced at the images indifferently before calmly shifting her gaze, unfazed.
Half a month later.
On a Friday night, Gianna returned to her villa after a long shift, well past ten o'clock.
Just as she finished her shower and was about to read and sleep, the doorbell rang.
Peering through the peephole and seeing Felix, she frowned slightly.
Gianna adjusted the robe draped around her, opened the door with an indifferent expression, and was about to speak when she caught the scent of alcohol.
"Have you been drinking?"
Felix's eyes were somewhat lucid but betrayed hints of inebriation.
"Gianna, do you remember what today is?" he asked.
After a moment of reflection, she realized it was their third wedding anniversary, a fact she had forgotten amidst the busy day at the office and her own indifference.
Her lips pressed together, annoyance flickering in her eyes, "If you've come to spout nonsense, you can leave. I'm going to bed."
Felix blocked the door, his gaze piercingly cold, "Do you even realize it's our anniversary today?"
Gianna's brow furrowed in irritation. "So what? You never cared before, so why show up now pretending to be sentimental?"
Felix didn't show anger but instead, let out a low chuckle.
"I got you a gift. And you?"
"I don't want your gifts, just go..."
Her words were cut short as her waist was abruptly gripped.
In the next second, Felix's imposing figure pressed down on her.
Gianna only reacted when she felt the warmth of his lips, pushing Felix away forcefully.
"Felix, are you out of your mind?"
As she wiped her lips, unbeknownst to her, the gesture infuriated Felix. He grabbed her wrist, and before she knew it, she was pinned against the wall.
Felix's kisses rained down, overwhelming. Gianna tried to struggle, but he held her firmly in place.
Filled with rage, she bit Felix hard, causing both of them to taste blood.
Felix let her go, looking down at her with a low voice. “Since you didn't get me a gift, consider that kiss as compensation.”
“Psycho!”
Gianna tried to push him away but then felt a sudden chill around her neck.
Touching it, she realized it was a necklace and reached to remove it, but Felix pressed his hand over hers first.
“If you dare to take it off, I’ll just kiss you again,” he threatened.
Gianna stopped but gave Felix an icy stare. “Felix, have you been drinking bootleg booze?!”
It was the only explanation for his abnormal behavior that evening!
Felix took her chin in his hand, forcing eye contact.
“You can’t still be mad at me after all this time, can you?”
Gianna shoved him away, her voice cold as ice. “Felix, it’s not about being mad. I simply don’t want to be in the same room as you.”
A chill crept into Felix’s gaze, disappointed that his humble attempts to appease her had failed.
“Gianna, one way or another, you’re coming home with me tonight!”
He had given her space to cool off, not expecting this outcome. It seemed that being too nice was a mistake.
Gianna let out a scoff. “Who do you think you are? I’m not going back!”
There was no point in pretending there was peace between them after their last confrontation.
“You don’t have a say in it!”
Felix grabbed Gianna's wrist and began pulling her away, but after a few steps, a sharp pain at the back of his neck caused him to lose consciousness.
Gianna called Sophia to come pick up Felix, tossed the necklace onto him, and promptly closed the villa door without hesitation.
Half an hour later, she heard the sound of a car engine outside.
Peeking through the curtain, she watched as Sophia got out, quickly helping Felix away.
Felix regained consciousness as soon as he was back in the villa.
A soreness in his neck made him frown, turning to Sophia, who stood nearby, cautiously asking, “What happened? How did I end up here?”
Sophia gave Felix a sympathetic glance before speaking softly, “Felix, don’t you remember going to see Miss Redstone and then getting knocked out by her?”
Felix’s face darkened instantly, but it got even worse the next second when he noticed the necklace Sophia handed to him.
"Felix, I saw this when I went to pick you up..." Sophia trailed off, noticing the flash of anger in Felix's eyes.
"Just keep it," Felix said coldly.
Sophia realized he was fuming and chose not to press the matter, quietly pocketing the necklace with the intention of returning it once his anger had subsided.
The necklace was meant to be an anniversary gift for Gianna from Felix; it wasn't something he could simply accept.
Noticing Sophia's silence, Felix gave her a chilly glance. "You can go now."
"Sure thing, Felix. If you need anything, just give me a call."
After Sophia's departure, the living room fell into silence.
Felix massaged his temples, berating himself for his madness in seeking out Gianna that day.
The more he dwelled on Gianna's disdainful gaze and her knocking him out without any mercy, the more an unnamed anger surged within him, craving release.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
His cell phone suddenly rang, breaking the awkward silence.
Seeing it was Mitchell, a flicker of surprise crossed Felix's eyes.
"What's up?"
Mitchell cleared his throat before speaking. "Felix, you know that spat you had with Uriah over Jasmine?"
Felix's frown grew deeper, and his voice became cold. "What about it?"
"I gave Uriah an earful after hearing about it, and he knows he screwed up. So he's inviting us to the grand opening of the Uriah's Resort as a peace offering, figuring it might smooth things over with you. What do you say..."
Before Mitchell could finish, Felix interrupted, "I'm not interested."
"At least hear me out! Besides you, Uriah is planning to invite Gianna, too. If you don't go, she likely won't either."
Remembering Gianna's chilly behavior toward him that evening caused Felix's gaze to become intense.
"Whether he can get her to come is Uriah's problem, not mine!"
Mitchell tried to continue, but a click on the other line showed Felix had hung up.
Watching Mitchell set down his phone, Uriah immediately pressed, "Well? Did Felix agree?"
"Nope, he's probably still steamed about earlier."
Disappointment flickered in Uriah's eyes before he suddenly stood up. "I'll go apologize to him in person!"
Mitchell quickly grabbed his arm, "Hold on, no need to rush. There could still be a chance. Felix really respects Natalie Clinton's opinion, and I've heard that Gianna is on good terms with Natalie, too. Maybe we can find a solution through Natalie Clinton."
Jasmine observed with a blend of bitterness and fury as Uriah appeared friendly with Felix and Gianna, sharing secrets. After the embarrassment she had suffered, it was unbearable to witness him being friendly with them.
Refusing to let Gianna have the last word, Jasmine swiftly picked up her phone and sent a text message to Bella with a smirk playing on her lips.
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