Chapter 43 Confrontation
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acia’s gaze flickered with disdain as she watched the petite woman step into the room again. Her thoughts churned, plotting ways to destroy Rose’s confidence in her relationship with Antonio.
Char, meanwhile, stationed himself at a safe distance, his eyes scanning the area while keeping a watchful guard. Occasionally, his attention wandered to the stunning models walking by. He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, wondering how Rossi managed to remain unaffected in such an environment. The thought alone was amusing enough to make him stifle a laugh.
Acia approached Rose, who stood waiting alone. Her smile was polite, but her eyes betrayed an unfriendly glint.
“Feeling better already?” Acia asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. It wasn’t anything serious,” Rose replied, preparing to step away. But Acia moved to block her path, forcing her to stop.
“Is there something you need?” Rose asked, trying to keep her voice calm. She had no desire for conflict, knowing it would only be a waste of energy.
“Not much,” Acia said with a sly smirk, stepping closer. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Vega is back to see Antonio.”
Rose’s heart skipped a beat. Acia’s words struck her like a sharp arrow, but she forced herself to smile politely.
“Thanks for letting me know,” Rose replied evenly. “But Nicks hasn’t mentioned anything about Vega to me. Maybe I’ll ask him about it.”
Nicks. The familiarity in Rose’s tone struck a nerve with Acia. She seethed inwardly—Antonio had allowed Rose to use such an intimate nickname, something he had never granted her despite their years of acquaintance.
“How unfortunate,” Acia sneered. “If he truly loved you, he would have told you. Don’t you think? Vega is his first love, after all.”
Rose turned to face her directly, her eyes steady. “The past doesn’t matter. I don’t care who he loved before. The fact that he’s with me now is more than enough.”
Her calm reply left Aseia speechless. Rose smiled gently and added, “Excuse me,” before walking away, leaving Aseia standing frozen in place.
Acia’s chest burned with resentment. Rose’s words stung—“With me now.” How ridiculous! How laughable!
“This isn’t over,” Acia muttered under her breath. She clenched her fists, her mind racing with plans. No matter how much she loved Antonio, she couldn’t understand why he never returned her feelings.
 
Around 2 PM, Char received a call from Antonio, who was on his way to pick up Rose for lunch. Antonio inquired about Rose’s day and laughed softly when Char mentioned her mild complaints about his constant shadowing. Though Char couldn’t see his boss’s face, he imagined Antonio’s contented smile on the other end of the line.
After hanging up, Char returned to the practice area, noting the models dispersing for the day. Herina gathered them briefly to announce, “That’s it for today. We’ll resume tomorrow. Remember, this event is crucial—it’s our company’s annual highlight. No mistakes.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the models chorused before heading out.
Herina approached Rose as Char joined them. “Are you heading home, or will you wait for Antonio?”
“I...” Rose hesitated.
“He’ll be here to take her out for lunch,” Char interjected.
Herina nodded knowingly. It wasn’t unusual for Antonio to pick Rose up. However, nearby, Acia overheard the exchange, and her eyes sparkled with envy. The mention of lunch only fueled her jealousy, but she masked her emotions carefully.
“Take care, Rose,” Herina said warmly. “If Antonio says you’re unwell, you should prioritize your health. We can’t afford any setbacks on the big day.”
“Thank you,” Rose replied with a kind smile.
As Herina left, Rose and Char made their way downstairs to wait in the lounge. Acia followed, glancing at them occasionally but stopping abruptly when she saw Antonio walking through the door. Rose stood and smiled warmly as he approached, but Acia was quick to adjust her expression and stride toward him as well.
“Have you been waiting long?” Antonio asked softly.
“No, I just got here,” Rose replied, smiling.
Acia quickened her pace, intending to insert herself into the conversation. However, she froze mid-step when a familiar figure entered the building.
Vega. What was she doing here? Did Antonio already know she was back?
Acia watched as Vega confidently approached Antonio. Rose noticed her too—her delicate frame and graceful demeanor were striking. However, it wasn’t Vega’s beauty that caught Rose’s attention; it was the way she addressed Antonio.
“Nicks,” Vega said softly, her voice dripping with familiarity. Antonio turned to her, his expression shifting to one of surprise.
“Vega...” he murmured. The encounter left Antonio stunned—it was the first time Vega and Rose had come face-to-face.
“I was just here to see Herina. What a coincidence,” Vega said with a sweet smile.
Acia took the opportunity to step forward, adding curtly, “That might be difficult. Herina has an appointment this afternoon.”
Vega shot Acia a sidelong glance, her smile unwavering but her eyes sharp. She turned back to Antonio with a charming smile, completely ignoring Acia. Meanwhile, Rose stood frozen, her body numb. Acia had mentioned Vega before, but hearing her name and seeing her in person were entirely different.