Chapter 144 It’s you
Hank’s POV
Hearing the news of Molly's pregnancy filled me with joy, but when I emerged from the shower, I found a strange girl in my room.
She appeared so young that I wondered if she had lost her way to her own destination. The mansion was vast, with numerous bedrooms, but the crew and planners would have to share rooms.
I had a room to myself, so I wasn't expecting anyone. "You seem lost. What is your room number?" I inquired as I hastily put on a shirt. However, she stared at me intently, as if she wanted to devour me.
Gio had numbered the rooms for easy identification, but after the event, the mansion would be reverted to the vacation house he originally purchased.
He envisioned it as a place for family vacations.
“No, I'm in the right room. I'm Natasha, and you must be Hank. I heard your name from my dad," she said. I knew there was trouble, so I entered the closet and put on my pants.
There was no time to dry my hair, but before I stepped out, she was already at the entrance of the closet, her hands over my chest.
Catching it, I dragged her out. "I would take it that you missed your way, but if you dare come to my room again, I'll make sure you regret it."
"Please, I like you," she was saying. I felt like she was insane. This girl was too young, looking like sixteen. If this was a set up, I wasn’t going to fall for it.
With Gio being the host of the whole thing, I wanted to notify him, but ran into him in the corridor.
"Gio, warn your guest that she risks her life if she enters my room again."
I pushed her towards Gio; he'd take responsibility for his guests. I was here for him and his family but no one else.
"Hey, babe, let's just be friends," Natasha was saying, but a familiar voice overrode hers.
"Stay away from me."
That was Nora. Gio and I used the same pace, reaching her together at the shore. The wedding planners were nowhere to be found, leaving me wondering when the arrangements would begin. I spotted Nora arguing with Cage, but where was Octavia to begin with?
"What's happening here?" Gio inquired, and Nora seemed relieved by our presence.
"Don, this jerk slapped my ass, so I slapped him back, and now he's trying to provoke me," Nora explained, visibly upset. Cage feigned innocence.
"I never laid a hand on her. She's the one who said she liked me," he said, rolling his eyes. I couldn't help but wonder if he was gay. Nora, furious, slapped him hard across the face once more.
As Cage attempted to retaliate, I delivered a firm punch to his face. "Your mother should have taught you not to lay a hand on a woman."
He stumbled to the ground but quickly got back up, ready to strike back. I stared him down. "Take a good look at me, Cage. Do you really not recognize me?"
His angry expression shifted to one of embarrassment, and he quickly took a step back. "It's you," I was relieved that he remembered me from three years ago, and the fear in his eyes confirmed that he was still associated with Maxwell's gang. "Yes, it's me. Does Octavia know...?"
"Cage, are you okay? Why is your face so red?" Octavia asked, approaching Cage with concern as he met her halfway, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"It's just a little misunderstanding, babe," he kissed her on the lips, and Nora couldn't contain herself.
"Octavia, you may not know me, but your man is a jerk," she said before walking away, leaving Octavia puzzled.
"What is she talking about?" Octavia asked Cage, who then casted a seductive look in Nora’s way before responding,
"It's nothing, babe. She wanted me, but all I want is you," he lied. I was on the verge of punching him again when a new voice interrupted, "Dinner is ready."
At the dinner table, Nora sat two seats away from me, and my heart sank. Despite wanting to respect her space, I still yearned for her.
Gio sat on my left, making me miss Roger. Since Roger and Molly hadn't eaten, I asked Gio, "Roger and Molly haven't eaten. Are you going to wake them?" He thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Those two never wake up to eat at night. I will have an early breakfast arranged for them."
Natasha joined us at the table with her father and sat right next to me. For a moment, I noticed something in Nora's expression, but she quickly looked away.
Octavia entered with Cage, and interestingly, Cage sat next to Nora with Octavia on the other side, positioning us to face each other.
Internally, I felt a sense of satisfaction that Nora didn't want to sit with me. Perhaps she preferred facing her nemesis. However, when I saw her saddened expression, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
"Will you change seats with her?" Gio asked, but I declined. "If she needs my help, she should ask."
Gio fell silent, and as we began to eat, Natasha pushed the plate of grilled chicken towards me when she saw it was the only thing I kept eating with beef and seafood.
"I guess you are on a carnivore diet," she remarked, and I couldn't help but smile at her. Despite her young age, she easily picked up on it. I typically followed a carnivore diet when focusing on building muscle, but I didn't strictly adhere to it, although I was currently following it partially.
"You guessed correctly, and I can see you are trying to stay in shape. Don't be afraid of proteins. Building muscle can be beneficial for your training."
"I don't enjoy training," she stated bluntly, while her father smiled at me as I responded to her.
"With a father like yours, you should consider it. Don't always rely on bodyguards because some of them can betray you."
I inadvertently locked eyes with Nora, who appeared visibly uncomfortable, while Cage was grinning, signaling that something was amiss.
"Thanks for the advice. I will start training, but can we go on a date sometime?" Natasha asked, and I was about to decline when I heard Cage scream.
"Arrrhhh, you fucking bitch!" He leaped from his chair, and I noticed a fork stuck in his calf. Nora remained calm, indicating she was behind it.