Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours!
Chapter 299: A Pick-Up

Chapter 299: A Pick-Up

"Gianna!!"

Gianna’s eyes lit up at the sight of her friend.

She beamed, her smile wide as she waved her hands vigorously, excitement bubbling within her. She walked briskly, the polished tiles of the terminal shining under the bright evening light, as she approached Chelsea.

The tall, striking figure of Chelsea stood near a busy arrival area, her oversized sunglasses perched atop her nose, reflecting the vibrant atmosphere around them.

As Gianna drew closer, her laughter erupted as she took in Chelsea’s ensemble—a ridiculous gray pair of pants that seemed to be two sizes too big paired with a black oversized sweatshirt that sported a quirky portrait of Michael Jackson.

The portrait was more cartoonish than realistic, further complemented by a pair of sleek headphones draped around her neck like an accessory fresh off a runway.

Next to her sat a vibrant, cartoonish backpack adorned with stickers, as well as a trusty trolley that looked like it had traveled more than a few adventures with Chelsea. She looked less like a sophisticated traveler and more like an overzealous fan pulling together an eclectic look for a concert.

"Don’t you think you went a bit overboard with this disguise?" Gianna teased, a giggle escaping her lips as she embraced Chelsea.

The two rocked side to side as if they were teenagers enjoying a long-awaited reunion.

"Well, I’m not with the fierce Areso, and I don’t have any bodyguards hanging around me... and honestly, I just want to go home and rest... Not in the mood for some fans fanning...Where’s Athena? I thought she’d be coming with you..." Chelsea inquired, her sharp eyes darting around the terminal, searching for any sign of Athena amidst the throng of travelers rushing to their own destinations.

"She’s busy with some stubborn patients... you know how her work is..." Gianna replied, giving a slight shrug while she grabbed the handle of her trolley and the bag.

"Hey! I can carry that!" Chelsea protested with a playful pout, her finger pointing at the backpack, but Gianna quickly shifted away from her grasp, shaking her head in light-hearted defiance.

"I can see the tired lines around your face... just rest up, will you? I’m not complaining about carrying your stuff. The car is just over there." Gianna insisted, gesturing toward a sleek black vehicle parked in a more exclusive section of the terminal parking lot.

The car gleamed under the sun, its polished exterior reflecting the hustle and bustle around it.

Chelsea’s expression changed, her curiosity piqued. "A new car?" She asked, momentarily forgetting any silly grievances against Athena.

Gianna bit her lip, shaking her head as she felt a rush of nerves. "I borrowed it from a friend. Mine has some issues,"

Chelsea’s face twisted into a playful smirk. "Wow, you can drive it?"

Gianna let out a nervous laugh that didn’t go unnoticed by Chelsea. "Nope. My friend will be driving us today."

As they walked side by side toward the car, a flurry of curiosity stirred within Chelsea. Who was this friend? What kind of person made Gianna so nervous?

Had Gianna finally entered a romantic relationship without alerting the group?

"Finally! I was beginning to think you went on the plane just to get her..."

Chelsea’s musings were abruptly halted when she halted immediately, her ears catching a booming, familiar voice drifting through the air as Gianna opened the door to the back seat and dumped her backpack onto the far edge of the seat.

The unmistakable voice resonated with her as if it were an echo from a distant nightmare.

Could it be? No. She shook her head vigorously, refusing to entertain the possibility. Gianna wouldn’t do this to her; she knew how much Chelsea detested even hearing the name of the male who had wreaked havoc in her life without so much as an apology.

She had never shared the specifics of that fateful night with her friends, and she certainly didn’t intend to start now. The memories were too raw, the pain too fresh.

Trying to calm her fraying nerves, Chelsea inhaled deeply, steeling herself. She observed as Gianna left the door ajar and strolled to the back of the car to stow away the trolley.

Shouldn’t the boyfriend have helped her friend instead of leaving her to struggle?

Frustrated yet determined, Chelsea slid into the car, ready to confront the driver and give him a piece of her mind.

However, the moment she settled into the back seat and raised her head to confront him, the words dried up in her throat.

The man seated in the driver’s seat was the spitting image of her past tormentor, a doppelgänger that made her heart race in fear and anger all at once.

What?! How could two people look so much alike?

She took in the sight of the man—dark sunglasses shielding his eyes, a heavy black coat enveloping him despite the balmy weather, and an array of rings adorning his fingers as they gripped the steering wheel with unyielding tension.

No. Not Sandro.

Worse, tattoos curled around his broad fingers. Sandro never had a tattoo.

But she couldn’t deny that the black hat perched atop the male’s head added to the intimidating aura he exuded.

A gangster?

Was Gianna nervous to make introductions because this guy was somehow connected to the underworld?

Chelsea snorted softly to herself in disbelief. Surely Gianna should know better; she wasn’t nearly as judgmental as Athena could be.

"So, why didn’t you help your girlfriend with the luggage? What are you doing just sitting there? Let me tell you— I won’t have just anyone treating my girl less than she deserves. Do you hear what I said?" She barked finally, summoning more courage than she felt.

Silence met her audacious proclamation, creating a thick tension that hung in the air.

Chelsea furrowed her brows, bewildered as she held the driver’s piercing gaze through the mirror. Even with those sunglasses obscuring his eyes, the intensity of his scrutiny felt palpable, almost suffocating.

Why was he staring at her like that? They were just meeting for the first time!

Had she unknowingly interrupted some intimate moment between him and Gianna? Was this man a template of an abusive boyfriend?

"Chelsea, move your butt..."

Gianna’s voice cut through the thick tension like a knife. She quickly squeezed into the car, shutting the door with an air of urgency.

"I was trying to strike up a conversation with your boyfriend here, but he seems unable to speak. Is he a shy person?" Chelsea said, shooting a glance at Gianna, who looked both amused and exasperated at the same time.

"What did you just say?" Gianna’s voice held a note of incredulity and disbelief.

Chelsea shrugged, a playful grin forming. "You were displaying some major nerves, and I figured it was because you were anxious about introducing your boyfriend to me. But why would that be? I don’t care if he’s a gangster, and I’m definitely not Athena, who would..."

"Stop it!" Gianna shrieked with laughter, glancing between the driver and Chelsea. "That’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard! You know my principle—I don’t date colleagues."

"Colleague?" Chelsea echoed, turning her gaze back to the man driving. He had just started the car, seemingly eager to leave the awkwardness behind him.

"Yeah, I know he looks like a gangster, but Darius is a good jeweler, trust me," Gianna replied, a forced smile plastered on her face even as her cheeks ached from the effort of lying.

She stole a sideways glance at Sandro, hoping he wasn’t enduring too much discomfort from this charade. She could see the tension in his grip on the wheel and sensed that time spent in this arrangement was wearing thin for him, especially with Chelsea chattering like there was no tomorrow.

"Gianna, are you even listening to me? It seems like your mind is elsewhere..."

"You really can’t deal with not being the centre of attention, can you?"

Both Chelsea and Gianna were taken aback by the driver’s unexpected comment. Their jaws dropped, shock fleeting over their faces like a summer storm.

"What did you just say?" Chelsea finally managed to croak out, frustration and confusion bubbling within her.

"Deal with it," Sandro replied bluntly, his tone cool and unwavering.

Chelsea narrowed her eyes, feeling annoyance rise within her. There was a strange undercurrent in the atmosphere—something resembling hostility emanating from him.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Darius and Sandro were somehow related, despite the fact that Sandro had never mentioned any living relatives apart from his mother.

Turning to Gianna, her frustration tangible, Chelsea pressed on, "What’s the deal with your friend?"

Gianna hesitated, lost for words as uncertainty flickered across her face. "I..." She sighed, a hand finding her forehead in exasperation. Couldn’t he have waited for a few more minutes?

"Darius, one more word, and I’ll make sure HR finds out about your recent escapades," Gianna said with a pointed glare.

Chelsea didn’t know what "escapades" referred to, nor did it matter to her in that moment. However, she noticed how Darius’ tense shoulders visibly relaxed.

"Do you have any idea why he hates me?" Chelsea inquired, glancing back at Gianna, hoping for some clarification.

Gianna shook her head vigorously, perhaps too quickly for Chelsea’s comfort.

Sensing that fatigue was beginning to catch up with her, Chelsea gave up. She reclined into the seat, while trying to find a comfortable position as she let her eyes flutter shut for a brief rest.

Meanwhile, back at the lab, Athena was struggling to suppress her laughter as she scrolled through Gianna’s text on her phone.

Sandro had been the one to pick up Chelsea, and the added twist—him disguising himself—was simply too good to pass up. Athena couldn’t contain her mirth when Gianna sent her a picture showcasing Sandro’s ludicrous outfit.

"What are you laughing at?" Ewan’s gruff voice echoed through the lab, drawing Athena’s attention. Who was capturing her attention this way?

Without hesitation, Athena showed him the phone.

"Is that Sandro?"

"The one and only," She said, her mirth subsiding when Aiden stepped into the room.

"Where have you been, old man?" Athena inquired, aware of Ewan chuckling next to her as he viewed the image.

"Just taking care of a few things. I got a call from Colt. It seems they’ve located the mole. I’ll need to check it out now," Aiden explained briskly. "So, see you..."

"Tomorrow," Athena finished for him, her expression serious yet hopeful. "We’ll meet to tackle Morgan once and for all. Until then, take care."

"Right," Aiden nodded at Ewan before making his exit, his footsteps echoing as he left the room.

"Is he really that sensitive about his ex-wife?"