All Chapters of The Bite That Changed Everything: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

I turned around, went back to my room, and called my parents.“Dad, Mom,” I said calmly, “I’ve thought it through. I’ll accept the family’s matchmaking plans.”There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before my parents spoke again, their voices hesitant.“Zoe, are you sure?” Mom asked softly. “You spent three years pursuing him just to be with him. Are you ready to give that up?”“I’ve made my decision,” I interrupted firmly.Dad sighed before speaking with unmistakable relief, “Good. Your mother and I never thought that the underboss was reliable to begin with. He’s just a mid-level leader, yet so arrogant. If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was the Don.”Then, he continued, “Do you remember Julian Rossi? The mafia boss based in Florence, Italy?”My phone buzzed as he sent me a photo. The man in it was tall and striking, with sharp features and an imposing presence.I was surprised. I had met him before. He was Greg’s superior.“When you were little, our

Chapter 2

Greg tightened his grip on Sydney’s wrist. His gaze swept over the bag in my hand, and a cold smile curled at his lips.“What? Are you not even pretending anymore?” he sneered. “You’re showing your true colors now, huh? You used to be gentle, kind, and considerate. And now you’re getting violent? Or is this just another act, pretending you’re leaving so I’ll stop you?”One of his friends immediately laughed and chimed in.“Mr. Willis, like she’d really leave. Last time you were hospitalized for your stomach, she stayed outside your room for three days and three nights.”“Exactly!” another rich kid with dyed blue hair added mockingly. “At that auction, Miss Lowe spent eight figures just to buy an antique watch you casually mentioned.”“I heard she didn’t even have enough money,” someone else said. “She took out a loan.”Sydney leaned against Greg’s shoulder, sobbing softly.“Greg, Zoe bullies me because she loves you too much,” she said through her tears. “She’s just jealous beca

Chapter 3

I hugged my resignation papers to my chest, watching the endless stream of cars pass by. My thoughts drifted uncontrollably.I remembered when Sydney had just returned from overseas, Greg had broken company protocol to hire her as his assistant. Back then, he had even explained it to me.“Zoe, she ran into some trouble. I’m just helping out. Don’t overthink it. I’ve known her for years. There’s really nothing between us.”I believed him. I even foolishly helped him with arranging a place for Sydney to live. Yet, what happened after that?At company dinners, every dish on the menu was something Sydney liked. She worked sporadically at best, yet she was always by Greg’s side, dumping all her responsibilities onto me. They shared a single straw when drinking iced coffee. Sydney would apply sunscreen for him, eat the lunch I made, and then replace it with the sandwich she brought. Once, she caught a simple cold, and Greg skipped my birthday dinner because of it. I forgave them again

Chapter 4

The warmth in Julian’s palm was steady and grounding. After helping me back to my feet, his arm naturally settled around my waist, firm and protective. He turned to face the entire room, his voice cold and sharp.“Who has the nerve to lay a hand on my fiancée, Zoe, at our engagement party?” Julian said evenly.The hall fell into absolute silence, as though the air had frozen. Greg’s face drained of all color. His body swayed, as if he had been struck by lightning.Staggering forward, his voice trembled so badly it was barely audible. “That’s impossible. Zoe, you said you only loved me. How could you be engaged to him?”I looked at him coldly and felt nothing in my heart. Calmly, I took out my phone and opened the photos he had posted earlier, along with that caption about acknowledging Sydney as his girlfriend if he gets ten thousand likes.“Mr. Willis,” I said, my tone flat but cutting, “you were the one who made it public that you wanted to be with Miss Carlson. You even blocked

Chapter 5

The music at the engagement party drifted back into the air, and Julian’s hand stayed firmly wrapped around mine, warmth seeping through our palms.His long fingers cracked open a nut shell and brought the kernel to my lips with such ease it seemed like he had done it a thousand times before.“Zoe, are you tired?” he whispered into my ear, his warm breath brushing my earlobe.I turned to look at him and found myself staring into his deep, steady eyes—the kind of eyes that always made me feel safe.Suddenly, Sydney rushed onto the stage. Instinctively, I gripped Julian’s arm tighter. She wore a white dress, her hair disheveled. Her hand shook as she grabbed the microphone, but she forced her chin up, trying to look composed.“Don’t let her fool you!” she shrieked. “Zoe spent nights in the rain pursuing Greg back then. Now, she’s just trying to climb up the ranks! She’s just a low-level employee from a humble background. She’s not fit to be your Donna!”A photo slipped from her fin

Chapter 6

After the engagement party, life seemed to return to normal, or at least, that was what it looked like. However, Greg clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t shake.That day after work, the moment I stepped out of the office, I saw him charging toward me like a man possessed, clutching a wooden carving. It was the same wooden carving I had spent months painstakingly carving, one stroke at a time, as a gift for him, representing my love.Now, his face was unshaven, his eyes wild and exhausted, and he shouted, “Zoe, I know I was wrong! Syd lied to me! Can we start over?”I looked at him coldly, my heart unmoved, and said calmly, “Greg… back when you humiliated me in front of everyone, and Sydney walked all over me, didn’t you ever think about what that would mean today?”He froze for a moment, a flicker of regret crossing his eyes, but then he quickly pressed on, desperate. “She had deceived me at the time. Zoe… please, just give me one more chance…”Before he could finish, a black sed

Chapter 7

Out of the blue, Julian suggested taking me to Florence to clear my head. I agreed without hesitation.Florence was bathed in gentle, golden sunlight. The square was crowded with tourists, and the air felt warm and alive. Without warning, Julian dropped to one knee. He reached into his pocket and took out a ring.The design was delicate and unique. The band was formed from tiny diamonds arranged like intertwining flower branches, and at the center sat a smooth, luminous pearl that glowed softly in the sunlight.“Zoe,” he said quietly, “I know you’ve been hurt before, but I want to give you a future that feels safe. Will you marry me?”His voice was low and gentle, his eyes filled with sincerity and hope.I froze for a moment. Then, my vision blurred as tears welled up and spilled over.Nodding through my tears, I whispered, “I will.”He slipped the ring onto my finger, then lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to the back of my hand. As the warmth of that touch made my heart

Chapter 8

My wedding to Julian was as grand as a fairy tale. Prominent figures from politics and even mafia families gathered under one roof, while flowers and applause wove together the most beautiful symphony of celebration.Julian stood before me, his gaze both steady and gentle. He spoke slowly, “Zoe, in this life, I will do everything I can to protect you. You shall not suffer even the smallest pain.”A warmth surged in my eyes, and tears slipped down my cheeks. I held his hand tightly, returning his devotion with all my heart.“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else but you.”Around us, the applause swelled, blessings echoing through the hall. Then, an unexpected guest appeared. Greg had shown up uninvited, dressed in a sharp suit, but his face betrayed a quiet sadness.He approached me, his voice rough around the edges. “Zoe, I came to wish you happiness, one last time.”I looked at him, my heart calm and distant, and said evenly, “Thank you. I’m very happy.”He

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