Chapter 705 Will She Agree?
As Antonio pondered and searched with practiced efficiency, moving around the villa as if he knew every inch of it, the children, except for Brian, looked on in confusion. Even Kevin seemed puzzled by the situation.
Sarah, however, immediately connected Antonio's odd behavior to the secrets he had been keeping and the accident that happened a few months ago in the mountains.
She thought, 'So, is Harold a problem?'
A surge of caution filled Sarah, and her expression turned serious in an instant.
"Dad, if anyone comes by in the future, make sure to let me know first," she said firmly.
Turning to the children, she added, "If someone you don't know tries to get in, don't open the door, understand?"
"Yes, Mommy!" the children chorused.
Kevin nodded in agreement. "Did something happen?"
Just then, Antonio emerged from one of the rooms and answered, "It's nothing serious. There was a break-in nearby, so I just did a quick check to be safe."
He walked over to Sarah, exchanging a meaningful glance with her.
"Luckily, everything seems fine. Just be a little more cautious from now on."
Sarah hadn't planned on saying much either, and this aligned perfectly with Antonio's thinking. Even if Harold posed a threat, it was better the family didn't know too much.
The less they knew, the safer they were.
As she contemplated this, a realization hit her with clarity.
The children seemed only partially understanding of the situation. Kevin frowned and said, "If things are unsafe lately, we should definitely be more careful about strangers. I'll go and talk to the staff."
With that, he headed toward the back rooms.
"Grandpa, I'll come with you!" Ethan, Harper, and Ryan followed him eagerly.
At the entrance, only Antonio, Sarah, and the quiet Brian remained. Brian had been observing everything with a stoic expression and glanced at the two adults before turning and heading back to the living room.
Antonio, eager to stay, searched for a reason to linger. His gaze was hopeful. "Sarah—"
Before he could finish, Sarah had already started walking towards the inner rooms.
He thought, 'She hasn't asked me to leave.
'Does that mean she is okay with me staying?'
Antonio was pleasantly surprised and quickly followed her, as if afraid he'd be kicked out if he hesitated.
Sarah, now aware of his true identity, wasn't going to just dismiss him, but given his numerous deceptions, she wasn't about to forgive him easily. So she simply ignored him and let him be.
"All set with your supplements, Sarah. You should eat them while they're still warm. How about some roast chicken? I can have fresh chicken delivered and cooked for you tonight, if you'd like."
The villa was filled with Antonio's overly attentive and ingratiating comments all afternoon. The children were touched, but Sarah seemed completely immune to his attempts to win her over, hardly acknowledging him.
Harper, feeling a bit sorry for Antonio, walked over, munching on a slice of watermelon.
"Mr. Harrington, it looks like Mom's not really buying into all this."
Antonio looked at Sarah with a mix of sadness and bewilderment. Harper, noticing his downcast expression, tried to offer some comfort. "Don't get discouraged, Mr. Harrington. At least Mom didn't kick you out this time!"
Last time, she had been adamant about keeping him out.
Antonio nodded, grateful for Harper's thoughtfulness. "Don't worry, I'm not giving up," he said, scooping Harper up in a hug. "How about we find Ethan and play for a bit? I haven't spent much time with you kids lately."
Sarah, who had overheard, paused momentarily. It was true—Antonio hadn't spent much time with the children recently. Maybe it was best to let him bond with them for a while.
But to her surprise, Antonio seemed to take advantage of the situation. He stayed through dinner and showed no signs of leaving. Sarah observed his uncharacteristic enthusiasm from the kitchen and realized it had been a long time since she'd seen this kind of activity in the house.
With a sigh, she decided to step outside for some fresh air. Antonio, noticing her move, quickly wiped his hands on his apron and followed her into the garden.
Sarah, now with a growing belly, often took walks in the garden to ease her digestion issues. She was aware of Antonio trailing behind her and slowed her pace.
"Sarah!" Antonio hurried to catch up, rubbing his hands nervously. "I thought I'd join you for a walk."
Sarah shot him a sideways glance. "Mr. Harrington, you've been here all day. Aren't you planning to leave?"
"I..." Antonio hesitated, unsure how to broach the subject. After a long pause, he finally stammered, "Actually, I wanted to discuss something with you. Given how far along you are, maybe it would be a good idea to take a few days off and visit J Country to relax?"
He spoke each word cautiously, as if afraid Sarah might misunderstand. "I promise! I'll make sure you're safe. I have no other intentions—just thought a change of scenery might do you good."
In reality, Antonio had already bought tickets for the trip, determined to keep up the pretense of seeking "true love" abroad. He needed to play the part convincingly to divert Harold's attention from Sarah.
He mulled over it, realizing he couldn't leave Sarah behind without knowing she would be safe. The thought weighed heavily on him: 'Will she agree to this? Or will she think I'm losing my mind again?'
Sarah didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stopped and fixed him with a steady gaze, as though trying to peer into the depths of his soul.
Antonio, standing before her, was as he had always been—his demeanor and appearance unchanged. It felt almost as if the events of the past few months with "Benjamin" had been nothing but a dream.
Yet, the deception and concealment were all too real.
She thought, 'Is he genuinely concerned for me?'
If that was the case, Sarah might have been able to understand his intentions, though it wouldn't ease the sting she felt. She had always hoped to stand alongside Antonio, not hide behind him while he bore all the burdens alone.
"Well then, let's go abroad," she said abruptly.
Antonio was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. "You agree?"
He had anticipated needing a great deal of persuasion, even preparing excuses to win her over. To his astonishment, she simply nodded.
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