Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

I was trying to pull myself together on the veranda when I felt a familiar presence approaching. Francesca’s voice cut through the air before I even saw her.

“Well, Zoey, what a humiliating performance,” she said, emerging from the shadows like an unwelcome apparition. “Ruining a bottle of 1985 Brunello? That’s practically a crime by Kensington standards.”

I turned slowly, trying not to show how much her words stung. Francesca was flawless, as always, dressed in deep red that highlighted her features. Her eyes glittered with malice.

“It was an accident,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “Old corks are fragile.”

“Oh, darling.” Francesca laughed, a mocking sound. “Any child in our family would know how to handle that bottle. But you…” she drew out the words with disdain. “How could you know? You’re not part of our world.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Before I could muster a response, Gwen’s voice rang out behind us, “Francesca, haven’t you shamed the family enough by stealing trade secrets? Do you really need to attack someone just because she wasn’t born into this life?”

Francesca spun around, surprised at the interruption.

“Oh, the bastard speaks up.” Her venomous smile faltered slightly. “Here to defend your new little friend?”

“I’m here to defend basic decency, a concept clearly foreign to you,” Gwen shot back, stepping confidently to my side with the poise of someone who knew her place in the family-even if it wasn’t the starring role. “And for your information, Zoey has managed in days what you could never achieve in years: my brother’s genuine respect.”

“Respect?” Francesca laughed harshly. “Please. We all know how this ends. She’ll never be a real Kensington. Neither will you, dear Gwen.”

Gwen’s voice stayed calm, though I caught the tension in her jaw.

“You speak as if you were one. As if you still had anything with Christian. Get over it.”

Francesca opened her mouth to respond, but Gwen was already tugging me away by the hand.

“Come on, Zoey. Leave Fran here to stew in her bitterness. We’ve got better things to talk about.”

We moved to a quieter corner of the veranda, away from the curious glances of guests stepping out for air.

“Thank you,” I murmured, still processing the confrontation.

Gwen shrugged, producing a bottle of wine in her hands as if by magic and pouring herself a glass.

“Francesca’s always been a jealous cow. Since we were kids. She and Christian had… a complicated history, but that was ages ago. Long before this.”

She took a sip of wine.

“Listen, I can help you. Teach you the basics about our winery, about the family history. Enough to survive snakes like Isabelle and Francesca. Enough to surprise Christian, too.”

“You’d do that?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

“Of course. You’re officially my sister-in-law now. And besides…” she smiled conspiratorially, “I’d love to see Isabelle and Francesca’s faces when you start showing off what you know about wine.”

Before I could answer, the sound of firm footsteps approached. Christian appeared, looking relieved.

“There you are,” he said. “Gwen, your uncles are looking for you. Alexander brought news about the Virelia vineyard.”

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