Chapter 74 Seventy Four
Antonia leaned her head back against the wall, staring at the ceiling as the weight of everything pressed down on her.
Lucy and her sister were saying the same thing.
Maybe it was time she actually listened.
“I’m scared of what happens after,” she said.
“That’s normal,” Helen replied. “But being scared doesn’t mean you’re wrong.”
Antonia was quiet for a long time.
Finally, she whispered, “What if telling the truth costs me everything?”
Helen didn’t sugarcoat it. “It might.”
Antonia’s breath stuttered.
“But,” Helen added firmly, “keeping this secret will cost you yourself.”
The words settled heavily in the room.
Antonia closed her eyes, letting them sink in.
“I wish you were here,” she murmured.
“I wish I was too,” Helen said. “But you’re not alone, Antonia. You have Lucy. You have me. And you have the strength you keep forgetting you possess.”
Antonia nodded slowly.
“I’ll think about it,” she said quietly.
Helen smiled softly through the phone. “That’s all I’m asking. But also remember, time is ticking.”
Antonia let out a shaky breath.
Because deep down, beneath the fear and the guilt and the tangled emotions, she knew Helen was right.
The truth was coming.
And the longer she delayed it...the more devastating it would be when it finally arrived.
\---
The lunch rush had just died down when Austin finally allowed himself a moment to breathe.
The restaurant still hummed with quiet efficiency, waiters clearing tables, the soft clink of cutlery, the low murmur of satisfied customers lingering over dessert—but the chaos of the earlier hours had passed. Austin stood near the pass-through, reviewing orders on his tablet, his chef’s jacket spotless despite the pressure of the morning.
He looked composed.
In control.
Exactly how Priscilla Walton liked her restaurant run.
The front doors opened, and instinctively, Austin glanced up.
Priscilla walked in first, elegant as ever in a tailored cream suit, her posture straight, her presence commanding without effort. Beside her was Sofia—polished, poised, dressed in understated sophistication. She scanned the space with sharp, curious eyes, taking in every detail.
Austin straightened immediately.
“Mrs. Walton,” he said, stepping forward with a respectful smile. “Good afternoon.”
Priscilla’s face brightened. “Austin. Good afternoon.”
She looked around approvingly, her gaze sweeping over the dining area. “Everything looks wonderful. The atmosphere is just right.” She turned back to him. “You’ve done an excellent job.”
“Thank you,” Austin replied sincerely. “That means a lot.”
Priscilla nodded. “I’ve never regretted employing you. Not once. Taking over after the former manager’s passing wasn’t easy, but you stepped in seamlessly.” Her eyes softened slightly. “This place feels steady again.”
Austin inclined his head modestly. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. Truly.”
Sofia watched the exchange quietly, a small smile playing at her lips. She studied Austin the way someone studied a puzzle—pleasantly, but with intent.
Priscilla glanced at her watch. “I’ll head to my office and go over a few reports.” She turned back to Austin. “Do keep up the good work.”
“Always,” he said.
As Priscilla walked away toward the back offices, Sofia lingered.
Austin noticed.
She didn’t follow Priscilla immediately. Instead, she turned to face him fully, folding her arms lightly across her torso.
“You run a tight ship,” she said conversationally.
Austin smiled. “I try to.”
“It shows,” Sofia replied. “Priscilla speaks highly of this place.”
Austin smiles humbly.
They stood there for a moment, an easy silence settling between them.
“I hope we’re not disturbing you,” Sofia said. “I just wanted to see the restaurant properly. I’ve heard so much about it.”
“Not at all,” Austin replied. “You’re welcome anytime.”
“Good,” she said lightly. “Because I plan to be around for a bit.”
Austin nodded. “Okay. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
“Yes,” Sofia said, glancing briefly toward the corridor where Priscilla had disappeared. “She’s been very kind to me.”
There was a pause.
Then Sofia tilted her head slightly. “So,” she said casually, “how did you meet Antonia?”
The question was asked lightly, conversationally—like it had just occurred to her.
But something in her eyes sharpened.
Austin didn’t notice.
“Oh,” he said easily, leaning back against the counter. “That was a while ago.”
“How long?” Sofia pressed gently.
Austin thought for a moment. “About a year ago.”
Sofia’s brows lifted just a fraction. “A year?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “She had just moved back into the city.”
Sofia nodded slowly. “Interesting.”
Austin smiled, oblivious.
“And before that? Had you known her long?” Sofia asked.
Austin shook his head. “No. I have lived in this city for a while now.”
“How long?” Sofia asked.
Austin frowned slightly, thinking. “Seven years.”
Seven years.
Sofia felt something click sharply into place.
She kept her expression neutral. “Seven years,” she repeated.
“Yes,” Austin said. “I left for a long time. I needed a change. I wanted to focus on rebuilding my life. Career. Stability.” He smiled faintly. “I wasn’t looking for anything serious.”
“And then you met Antonia,” Sofia said. "Seven years later..."
“Yes,” Austin replied. “Life has a way of… surprising you.”
Sofia smiled politely, but her mind was already racing.
Seven years.
Antonia had been back in the city for one year.
Pregnant—heavily pregnant.
Sofia tilted her head again. “So… you and Antonia got together fairly quickly.”
Austin chuckled softly. “You could say that.”
“How quickly?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Feelings don’t exactly follow schedules.”
True, Sofia thought. But pregnancies do.
She glanced briefly at Austin’s hands, steady, confident. Then back to his face.
“And the baby,” she said gently. “You must be excited.”
Austin’s smile faltered for just a split second before returning. “Yes. Of course.”
Sofia noted that too.
“How far along is she now?” Sofia asked, keeping her tone light.
Austin hesitated. “She’s… close to her due date.”
Sofia nodded slowly.
Very close.
She did the math effortlessly.
Antonia had only been back in the city for not even up to a year…
And Austin had never left in the last seven years…
The timeline of the pregnancy felt… off.
Sofia’s smile widened slightly, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“You must be looking forward to becoming a father,” she said.
Austin swallowed. “I am.”
Sofia studied him intently now. “You sound… careful.”
Austin frowned. “Careful?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “Like someone walking on thin ice.”
Austin shifted uncomfortably. “I’m just… protective.”
“Of course,” Sofia said smoothly. “That makes sense.”
Another pause.
The air between them had changed subtly.
“Well,” Sofia said finally, stepping back, “thank you for indulging my curiosity.”
“No problem,” Austin replied, though something about the conversation left him unsettled.
Sofia smiled warmly. “It was nice meeting you properly.”
“Likewise.”
She turned and walked away, heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
Austin watched her go, a faint crease forming between his brows.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just said too much.