Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 125: Dinner at Noah’s II

"We are here, Miss Gianna..."

But Gianna’s eyes had been open all this while, ever since she felt the subtle deceleration of the car as it slowed to a stop.

She hadn’t been asleep at all—only withdrawn, deep inside her head, ruminating over the many details of the week, the way her life lately seemed to be nothing but an unfolding drama layered upon another.

"Thank you, Rodney."

Her voice came out clear and composed. She picked up her purse and stepped out of the car.

She was just about to head toward the mighty gate she saw beginning to open when she realized the car was still behind her, the engine already cut.

Her steps slowed.

A small frown creased her brows as she turned aside, catching sight of Rodney through the window, cracking his neck from side to side like a man settling in for a long wait.

Was he planning on staying here all night?

She scoffed softly. Athena could be too much—or was this simply Rodney’s overzealous sense of duty?

With a graceful urgency, she hurried back to the car and knocked on the window.

Worry lines immediately appeared on Rodney’s forehead as he wound down the louvres.

"Any problem, Miss Gianna? Are you forgetting anything?"

"What are you still doing here?" she asked, incredulous. "I don’t know how long this dinner would take. You can’t wait. You have to return home."

"But, Miss Gianna—"

"Don’t Miss Gianna me. Go home. My fiancé will drop me back. You don’t need to stress yourself."

Rodney sighed, clearly torn, then finally wished her a good night and kickstarted the ignition of the car.

Gianna watched him drive off, meanwhile tasting the word fiancé on her tongue.

She was really starting to believe her own lie with how easily the word had slipped from her lips, how naturally it had settled there. She shrugged the matter off.

She turned back toward the gate and noticed a man standing just beside it, hands crossed before him, resting neatly between his waist and lower regions.

Taking in his stern countenance, she immediately assumed he was the butler.

Quite huge for a butler, she mused.

She strolled toward him, her gait straight and regal, like the queen she was, subtly taking in his slightly bulky stature.

"Miss Gianna..." The butler spoke once she was within talking distance. "The family has been waiting. We are pleased to have your presence."

Gianna acknowledged his words with an elegant nod and followed him into the compound through the mighty gates—gates reminiscent of the ones at the Thornes’ mansion. But that, she supposed, was to be expected.

The grounds stretched wide before her, expansive and meticulously maintained. It felt like a field, yet fully cemented in sweeping paths and patterned stonework, flanked on either side by tall trees, trimmed hedges, and carefully curated flowers blooming in disciplined abundance.

Soft lights lined the walkways, casting a warm glow over fountains, sculptures, and patches of greenery that hinted at wealth too vast to fully comprehend at a glance. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The air itself seemed expensive—clean, scented faintly with earth, blossoms, and quiet luxury.

As they walked deeper in, Gianna frowned slightly when she realized there were two mansions ahead. One smaller. One far larger.

Around them, tucked neatly at a distance, were smaller houses—modest but well-built structures she immediately recognized as staff quarters. They were uniform, practical, and orderly, forming a discreet village of their own, hidden in plain sight.

They passed the first mansion—a very large duplex, impressive in its own right, but still noticeably restrained. Elegant, yes. Grand, but contained. Clearly not where they were headed.

Her eyes were already drawn forward.

The second mansion rose ahead like a statement—larger, more beautiful, and undeniably stately. Its architecture commanded attention, with tall columns, wide balconies, and windows that reflected the lights like polished mirrors.

This was the heart of the estate. The kind of house that didn’t merely display wealth—it declared it.

As they made this short journey, Gianna couldn’t help her thoughts drifting.

The wealth here wasn’t just visible; it was implied. She knew there were parts of this estate she wasn’t seeing—gardens maybe, wings beyond wings. The field alone felt endless.

"The first mansion we just passed..." Gianna echoed her thoughts aloud, walking side by side with the butler. "Who does it belong to?"

"That belongs to the Newmans," he replied evenly. "The patriarch of the house was benevolent enough to let them have it."

Gianna wasn’t quite sure what to think of that, so she settled on believing in the benevolence.

Her gaze returned to the mansion ahead—the Becketts’. It was quite representative of such a rich family, she thought, as they climbed the flight of stairs leading to the porch.

A smile touched her lips when she saw Noah waiting.

He stood there in a three-piece suit, polished and impossibly mouthwatering.

Why so formal? she teased silently, feeling suddenly warm.

She took his outstretched hand once she reached the same footing, offering the butler a polite thank-you before letting Noah draw her closer.

"A pleasure it was, Miss Gianna," the butler said. "Do enjoy your night."

Gianna nodded, watching him keenly as he strolled into the interior of the house before them. Of course—he would be coordinating the evening’s activities.

"Don’t tell me you’re falling for our butler," Noah teased.

Gianna laughed easily, lightly. "I don’t think a forty-something-year-old man would interest me with you by my side."

She met his gaze, her smile widening at the unmistakable hint of pleasure in his eyes.

"He’s just bulky for a butler..."

Noah chuckled, his hand smoothly wrapping around her tiny waist, drawing her close.

Gianna smiled as his nose brushed against hers, their breaths mingling—his carrying the faint scent of whisky, one that made her feel unexpectedly heady.

"The night is still young for drinking, Mr. Newman," she murmured.

Her hands lifted to hold his arms, which rippled subtly under her touch.

Taking the cue, Noah covered her waist more firmly, drawing her even closer. Then he smiled against her lips before pulling back just a fraction.

"I was getting impatient," he murmured softly. "Restless... not seeing you."

The velvet murmur of sin enthralled Gianna further, and just as he was about to seal the moment with a kiss, a deliberate clearing of the throat sounded—a comically intentional faux pas that almost made Gianna pout.

When she turned and saw the intruder, her grip on Noah’s arm tightened as she fought the instinct to lunge at Esme.