The billionaire's only desire-Chapter 101: dinner with friends part 2

Maya had to grip the wine bottles tightly, scared they might fall due to her anger making her hands tremble. She carefully set the wine bottles on the table.

She whispered to Dalton, "You didn’t tell me they were dating."

Dalton looks as confused as she is. "I’m just finding out too," he said, giving Marcello a stern look.

"I’m starving! Can we start eating?" Valentina whined, already reaching for a platter full of Lemon Chickpea and rice Casserole and filled her plate.

Maya suppressed her anger and sat down in the chair that Dalton pulled out for her.

"Wow, this looks amazing. Did you cook all these Italian dishes by yourself?" Marcello asked.

"Yes," Maya smiled.

"Don’t tell me you intentionally cooked Italian dishes for me," Marcello teased a smug smile curving up his lips.

"Oh, she certainly did! Maya never misses an opportunity to show off her cooking skills. She wants everyone to know she is the best chef in the whole world. Right, sister?" Valentina threw Maya a smile, but beneath that smile was a hint of snideness, just like her words.

Maya gripped her fork tightly ; she wanted to commit murder.

Dalton placed his hand on her thigh under the table. "Don’t let her get to you," he said soothingly into her ear, calming her down.

Maya took a deep breath and ignored Valentina. She served herself pasta, garnishing it with fresh basil leaves and additional grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and drizzled a little extra virgin olive oil over it.

"Do you want pasta?"

Dalton shakes his head, declining. "I want the light bean soup." He replaces his plate with a bowl, filling it with light bean soup and pairing it with rosemary garlic focaccia bread.

"Can you pass the light bean soup to me? I would like some," Laura politely asked, reminding Maya of her friends’ existence.

Dalton beat her to it, passing the soup to Laura.

"What about you, Haven?"

"Uh," Haven hummed, glancing over all the dishes. "I think I will go with the shrimp scampi and a bit of Caprese salad." She scooped them onto her plate.

"And what about you, Natalia?"

Natalia ignored Maya her eyes particularly looming over Marcello.

"Natalia?" Maya called out to her again.

"I heard you; the ricotta dip and the garlic bread will be fine." Natalia stuffed her plate, her eyes never leaving Marcello.

Maya wondered why Natalia was staring at Marcello for a moment but quickly brushed it off, not giving it much thought.

"What is that?" River asked, pointing at a platter.

"Oh, that’s Caprese Chicken Saltimbocca," Maya replied.

River clasped his hands together. "Looks delicious. I will eat that."

"I’m going for the vegetarian stuffed mushrooms. They look healthy," Oliver said.

"I want the pasta," Aiden said as he handed his plate to Maya, who filled it with the fusilli, walnut pesto, and cherry tomatoes, garnishing it just as she had done for herself.

"I want pasta too," Marcello chimed in.

Maya served him as well, and she finally sat down when she realized that everyone had food on their plates.

The table was enveloped in silence as they dug into their food. The sounds of cutlery clinking and scraping against the plates filled the dining hall. fгeewёbnoѵel_cσm

"So, how did you meet Valentina, Marcello?" Aiden asked, starting a conversation.

Everyone halted eating, pricking up their ears attentively to listen.

"About a month ago, we met in Venus City" Valentina said, blushing at Marcello. "I was at the bar, feeling bored, when suddenly an Italian real-life prince charming appeared." She swooned. "He brightened up my night, and now he’s my baby boo." She made kissy faces at Marcello.

A gagging sound disrupted the atmosphere; it came from Natalia.

"Are you okay, Natalia?" Laura, who was beside her, asked.

"I just need water." Natalia poured water from a big jar into a glass and chugged it down.

Valentina glared at Natalia for interrupting her and resumed speaking. "He swept me off my feet, and now I’m totally in love with him. You are the best man in the world, sugar." She caressed Marcello’s chin with her long, manicured nails.

"And Marcello you’re also head over heels in love with her too, right?" Aiden asked sarcastically, smiling in a taunting manner.

Marcello coughed, clearing his throat. "I love you, Mia Cora." He tells Valentina. Everyone could see the grimace on his face as he uttered those words, except for Valentina, who was over the moon.

"Aww, baby boo. I love you," Valentina pressed kisses all over Marcello’s cheeks leaving red lipstick stains.

River burst out laughing. "Wow, those two are so in love. Don’t you think so, Natalia?" He was sitting to her right.

Natalia’s expression was grim as she gazed at Marcello and Valentina. It was typical of her to be grumpy, but Maya noticed that she seemed particularly intense today.

Natalia eventually shifted her gaze to River, muttering something to him, which made him laugh.

"I think so too," River winked at her. Maya’s attention shifted away from Marcello and her half-sister and turned to Haven and Aiden.

Haven and Aiden were close, with hardly any space between them as they engaged in conversation. Their voices were hushed; they seemed to be in their own world.

Maya smiled triumphantly. Leaving them alone at the ice cream shop last week had panned out. Aiden is a jerk, but he’s a reformed one. He will be a good partner.

"Aren’t they cute?" Maya said to Dalton.

He looked over at Aiden and Haven. "Hmm, is something going on between them?"

Maya rolled her eyes. "Isn’t that obvious? They like each other."

"I don’t think so. Aiden is just being a nuisance, and Haven is getting married."

Maya huffed. "You are so clueless, Dalton. Just sit back and watch."

"What do you mean?" Dalton searched her face as if he were looking for the answer.

"Ha—"

"Maya," Marcello called out.

"Valentina," he sought her sister’s attention next.

"Yes, baby boo," Valentina responded, jingling her breasts.

Maya was dying of embarrassment for her half-sister inside.

"Do you know what drawn me to you, Valentina? When I met you. Your eyes. It looks just like Maya’s."

Valentina clicked her tongue. "Because we are sisters, duh."

"You don’t only share the same eyes; you two also resemble a woman I met a long time ago. Her name was... Cecelia."

Maya dropped her fork. "Cecelia? Our mother’s name was Cecelia. You knew my mom, Marcello?"

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