Chapter 57
<Chapter>Chapter Fifty-Seven: Full House </Chapter>
Gianna met his gaze, her eyes devoid of warmth.
"So, what did your spy find? Did they see me kissing him or perhaps going to a hotel room?"
Felix frowned, ready to say something, but Gianna abruptly turned and walked away.
The two fell into a cold war so palpable even the errand boy and the housekeeper picked up on it.
The housekeeper pulled Gianna aside, whispering, "Miss Redstone, did you have an argument with Mr. Clinton?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Mr. Clinton seems to be in a foul mood lately."
Gianna paused for a few seconds before saying, "He's probably just overwhelmed with work. Don't mind him; it'll pass."
"Okay."
After the housekeeper walked away, Gianna sat on the sofa, waiting for Felix to return for dinner. As seven o'clock neared, Sophia called to inform her that Felix was at a banquet and wouldn't be coming back to the Villa for dinner.
After hanging up, Gianna didn't bother reheating the food, nibbled on some snacks, watched a TV show for a while, and then went to bed.
During the banquet, Felix asked Sophia to bring him his phone every half hour. At first, Sophia assumed Felix was expecting an important call from a client. However, when he rechecked his phone after ten o'clock and frowned, he asked her, "What did you tell Gianna?"
Sophia was taken aback, replying instinctively, "I just told Miss Redstone you wouldn't be back for dinner."
"No reaction?"
"Miss Redstone said she understood."
Felix's expression darkened, "She didn't ask when I'd be back?"
"No," Felix said curtly, not looking at me as he reached for another drink.
During the usual dinner parties, no one dared to encourage Felix to drink, but tonight, he was accepting every glass offered to him. By my count, he was well past ten.
Recovering from a recent ailment, Felix’s body was still fragile, and Sophia, ever the worried shadow, whispered her concerns into his ear, "Felix, you have to stop drinking."
With a glacial glance, Felix ordered, "Call Gianna and tell her to pick me up."
In a flash, Sophia realized that Felix checking his phone wasn't about waiting on a business call – he was expecting a call from Gianna.
He dialed her number urgently, but by the time he ended the call, it hadn’t gone through.
"Felix, no answer."
"Keep calling!"
After four or five attempts and no response, Felix’s expression darkened ominously.
Just as Sophia, trembling, resolved to try again, Felix cut him off, "Enough, just take me home!"
It was past eleven when they arrived back at the villa. Sophia helped Felix inside and then promptly left. Felix wheeled himself to the bedroom with an icy demeanor.
Flicking on the bedroom light, he was met by the sight of Gianna, blissfully asleep on the floor, which stoked the flames of his anger. During their cold war of recent days, he was constantly on edge while she seemed content, eating well, sleeping soundly, and utterly indifferent to his turmoil.
"Gianna! Wake up!"
It took several shouts to rouse her.
Half-asleep, Gianna sensed a figure looming near and jolted awake, her drowsiness evaporating instantly.
Recognizing it was Felix, she couldn't help but frown. Sitting up, she demanded, "What are you doing, staring at me in the middle of the night?"
"Why didn't you answer when Sophia called you?!"
Gianna glanced at her phone, and indeed, there were multiple missed calls.
Rather exasperated, she found it ludicrous to be woken for this. "How am I supposed to answer when I'm asleep?"
"From now on, you’re not allowed to sleep until I'm back from the dinners."
Gianna rolled her eyes. "So if you don't come back all night, am I supposed to stay awake, just waiting for you?"
"It won't happen."
"What?"
"I won't be gone all night."
Gianna ignored what seemed like a promise, stifled a yawn, and said, "All right, got it. Can I go back to sleep now?"
As she attempted to lie back down, Felix’s patience snapped, "Gianna!"
"Now what?!" she snapped back.
Seeing the impatience flicker in her eyes, Felix gritted his teeth, "I had a bit too much to drink tonight. Mind helping me get cleaned up?"
Gianna took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to throw him out, and got up to push him towards the bathroom.
She squeezed some toothpaste onto a brush and handed it to Felix while letting out a yawn, "Here you go."
After Felix brushed his teeth, Gianna grabbed a towel and roughly wiped his face, scrubbing hard as if trying to peel off a layer of his skin.
Felix furrowed his brows and said, "Could you be a little gentler?"
"Sorry, I've always been a bit heavy-handed. I can't seem to help it."
Felix was speechless
Once the hasty cleanup was done, Gianna quickly got Felix into bed and tucked him in before turning off the light.
Lying down herself, Felix suddenly spoke, "Gianna, I was wrong about the other day. I shouldn't have doubted you."
He had thought about digging into the guy she dined with but ultimately restrained himself, fearing it would lead to an even more heated argument if Gianna found out.
Gianna was silent for a while before whispering, "Let's just go to sleep."
The following day, when Gianna woke up, Felix had already left the bedroom.
After freshening up, she walked out to find Felix sitting in the living room on the phone.
He was dressed in a gray sweater and black slacks today, less of his usual Redstonelly flair.
Gianna glanced at him briefly, then turned away, heading into the kitchen.
After she finished making breakfast, Felix was off the call.
"Uriah wants to take you out for lunch as an apology. Are you interested?" he asked.
Surprise flickered across Gianna's face. After the unpleasant scene at MY FASHION, Uriah still intended to apologize?
The thought of Jasmine made her frown.
"No, thanks. I'd rather not see Jasmine."
After a few seconds of silence, Felix said, "Uriah and Jasmine broke up."
Gianna raised an eyebrow, "Oh, that's none of my business. You don't need to inform me."
Felix looked at her helplessly, "I'm serious. Plus, Uriah wants to apologize to Faith as well. Technically, he wants to invite you both."
"Has he lost his marbles?"
Felix was speechless at that comment.
"Are you sure you don't want to go?"
Gianna looked at him with doubt in her eyes. "Do you really want me to go?"
"If you don't want to, I won't force you."
"Then I don't want to go."
The two finished their breakfast in silence. Gianna quietly cleared the plates into the dishwasher and said to Felix, "I've got things to do today. I won't be back for lunch. Tell the housekeeper not to worry about preparing my meal."
"What are you up to?" he asked.
Gianna frowned, "It's personal, and I don't owe you any explanations. Though, if you're really that curious, you could always have someone tail me. That way, you'll get your answer."
Felix's eyes grew colder, and his hand tightened involuntarily.
"Gianna, I haven't had anyone follow you," he stated.
"Then how did you know I was dining with a man last time?"
