Chapter 222: 207. Conversation & Dinner
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Sandro grinned. "You have no idea." And with that, the tension in the air melted, leaving only the warmth of family and new beginnings as they settled over at the living room, where April and Nicole were led by Taylor to sit on the couch. While Sandro and Jack were left with the luggage, where the servants soon came in and took the luggage upstairs.
The living room was elegant but welcoming, with soft lighting casting a warm glow over the polished wood furniture and plush couches. The scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, blending with the faint aroma of tea from the adjoining dining area. Despite the luxury surrounding them, April and Nicole sat with stiff postures, their nerves evident.
Taylor, a woman of grace and quiet authority, took a seat beside them. Though she wore a warm smile, there was an unmistakable sharpness in her gaze, a look of someone who was used to peeling back layers and uncovering the truth beneath polite words.
With a simple gesture, she called over one of the house staff. "Bring some drinks and snacks for our guests."
April immediately shook her head, trying to be polite. "Oh, no need to go through the trouble, Mrs. Zhang, really we—"
Taylor waved a hand dismissively with a smile still on her face. "Nonsense darlings. You're guests in my home, and I insist."
Nicole hesitated for a moment but, seeing the firm yet kind look on Taylor's face, gave a small nod. "Thank you, then."
With that settled, Taylor turned her attention fully to them, her expression thoughtful. "So, tell me a bit about yourselves. Where were you both born?"
April straightened up slightly, her voice steady despite the nervous energy buzzing inside her. "I was born and raised in North Carolina. Charlotte, to be exact."
Nicole glanced at April briefly before adding, "I grew up in Chicago. But I moved around a lot growing up."
Taylor nodded, absorbing their answers like a seasoned professional. "And how old are you both?"
"Twenty," April answered quickly.
"I'm twenty one this year," Nicole followed.
Taylor's gaze didn't waver as she heard their ages, who was two and three years older than her sons. "And what about your families?"
April bit the inside of her cheek before responding. "I have two younger brothers and my parents are still together. They work regular jobs, nothing too crazy, but they've always supported me."
Nicole shifted slightly, her fingers curling in her lap. "As you know I have a twin sister, and the two of us were mostly raised by my mom. My dad… wasn't really around much."
Taylor gave a slow nod, her expression unreadable. "I see."
The way she said it made both women feel as if she had already drawn several conclusions about them. The lawyer in her was undoubtedly analyzing every word, every shift in body language.
The conversation continued, covering their aspirations, their experiences in FCW, and even some lighthearted stories about their wrestling journeys. Though Taylor never directly mentioned their relationship with Sandro, the unspoken weight of that topic loomed over every exchange.
Meanwhile, out on the terrace, Sandro found himself under the sharp gaze of his father. Jack stood near the railing, looking out over the vast expanse of their estate, his expression unreadable. The night air was cool, but the atmosphere between father and son was heavier than the humid Florida breeze.
Jack exhaled slowly before speaking. "Son, I need you to be honest with me. Do April and Nicole love you for who you are… or for what you are?"
Sandro blinked, taken aback by the directness of the question. "Dad, come on how could—"
Jack held up a hand. "Hear me out." He turned fully to face Sandro, his sharp eyes locking onto his son's. "You don't know how things were when polygamy was first legalized. I saw it firsthand, powerful men who thought they had found several love or just lust maybe I don't know, only to realize too late that their wives only saw them as a means to an end to reach the top."
Sandro clenched his jaw. "Okay, I get that, Dad. But April and Nicole aren't like that."
Jack studied his son for a long moment. "And how do you know that for sure?"
Sandro exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Because I know them. They've been with me long before I even thought about telling you and Mom. Before any of this FCW success and also I don't inform them of our family background before our relationship. We didn't start dating because of my background, we started because we just… connected."
Jack didn't look entirely convinced. "You're young, Sandro. You're a rising genius in the industry, and a lot of doors are opening for you. That kind of success combined with our family background, can make it hard to tell who's really there for you and who's just along for the ride."
Sandro frowned. "Dad, with all due respect, you've met them before. You know they aren't gold diggers or the likes of that."
Jack sighed, rubbing his temple. "It's not about them being obvious about it. Sometimes people don't even realize it themselves, sometimes they think they love someone, but when life changes, so do their priorities."
Sandro remained silent for a moment before responding. "I get why you're worried. I really do. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that April and Nicole aren't like that. We've been through a lot together already, and if this was just about my family name, I think I'd have figured that out by now."
Jack exhaled again, finally nodding slightly. "I won't pretend I understand this kind of relationship dynamic, but as long as you're sure, I won't stand in your way. Just promise me one thing."
Sandro tilted his head. "What?"
Jack's gaze was firm. "Keep your eyes open. And if you ever start to doubt things, don't ignore it."
Sandro nodded. "I promise."
Jack finally relaxed, clapping his son on the shoulder. "Then I'll support you."
Back inside, the conversation between Taylor, April, and Nicole had grown somewhat lighter, though the underlying tension remained, something that April and Nicole still felt.
When Sandro and Jack reentered the living room, Taylor turned her sharp gaze onto her husband. A silent exchange passed between them before Jack gave a subtle nod.
Taylor then turned her attention back to the two women, her expression softening ever so slightly. "Well, since you're both here for the weekend, let's make the most of it. I'd like to get to know you two better, not just as Sandro's… partners, but as individuals."
April and Nicole exchanged quick glances before nodding. "We'd love that, Mrs. Zhang," April said.
Nicole smiled. "Of course, Mrs. Zhang. We want you both to know us beyond just being with Sandro."
Taylor's lips curved into a slight smile. "Good. Because if you're going to be in my son's life, I expect nothing less than sincerity."
Sandro let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "That's Mom for you, always making sure no one's fooling her."
Taylor smirked. "It's what I do best. You do know before becoming your mom, I'm a lawyer darling."
The rest of the day passed in a much more relaxed manner, though there was always a subtle undercurrent of tension, particularly from April and Nicole, who were still adjusting to the environment of Sandro's family estate.
Taylor, despite her sharp, observant nature, made an effort to keep the conversation pleasant, allowing the two young women to ease into their temporary stay. Jack, on the other hand, remained mostly quiet after his conversation with Sandro, only speaking when necessary, his presence imposing yet not overbearing.
As the sky darkened and evening settled in, Taylor excused herself to instruct the chefs to prepare a lavish dinner to properly welcome April and Nicole. Sandro, knowing his mother's meticulous attention to detail, chuckled to himself. He had no doubt the meal would be nothing short of extraordinary.
When dinner was ready, the five of them gathered around the large dining table, its polished surface reflecting the warm glow of the chandelier above.
The scent of expertly crafted dishes filled the room, succulent cuts of steak, delicate seafood, vibrant vegetable medleys, and freshly baked bread. Everything was prepared with the kind of precision only top-tier chefs could provide.
Taylor, ever the gracious host, gestured for April and Nicole to take their seats first before the rest followed. "I hope you both came hungry," she said with a knowing smile. "The chefs went all out tonight."
Nicole, looking at the extravagant spread before her, let out a small laugh. "I don't think I've ever seen a dinner this fancy outside of a restaurant."
Taylor arched a brow, sipping her wine. "Well, consider this a normal dinner here, then."
April smiled, but there was still a hint of nervousness in her posture. "It all looks amazing. Thank you for having us, Mrs. Zhang."
Taylor waved a hand dismissively. "Please, call me Taylor. If you're going to be around my son, we might as well drop the formalities."
Sandro, sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, smirked. "Yeah, just don't try calling Dad by his first name. He's old school like that."
Jack, who had been cutting into his steak, looked up at his son with an unimpressed expression. "You're one to talk about being old school, considering your approach to relationships."
Sandro nearly choked on his drink, while April and Nicole stiffened slightly. Taylor let out an amused chuckle, shaking her head.
"Speaking of relationships," Taylor said, turning her gaze to the three young adults, "I think it's time we hear the story of how all of this started."
Sandro exchanged quick glances with April and Nicole, silently discussing how much they should reveal. There were certain details, like Brianna's involvement, that were best left out.
"Well," Sandro began, setting down his silverware, "it wasn't exactly planned. I met April first at a mall in Tampa, back when FCW was still just something we were trying to get our footing in. We clicked pretty fast, training together, pushing each other to improve, and before we knew it, things just… developed."
April nodded, her lips curving into a small smile as she picked up the thread of the story. "At first, it was just friendship. We trained together a lot, and Sandro was always this mix of infuriatingly confident and genuinely supportive. It was hard not to be drawn to that."
Nicole smirked. "Yeah, he does have that effect on people."
Taylor's sharp eyes flicked toward her, and Nicole quickly cleared her throat before continuing. "As for me, I was close to Sandro at first, but April's closeness with Sandro had an effect on me, and through her presence, I got to know my feelings more. At first, it was just harmless teasing, but somewhere along the way, feelings got involved, and we had to figure out what that meant for all of us."
Jack listened quietly, his face unreadable. "And you just… decided to go with it?"
Sandro nodded. "It wasn't an easy decision, but it felt right for us. We were open with each other from the start, and we made sure no one felt like they were being left out or treated unfairly. That's why it worked."
Taylor hummed thoughtfully, her fingers tapping lightly against her glass. "Interesting. And what about the public? Do you plan on announcing this at some point? You're all slowly stepping into the limelight with your wrestling careers. Sooner or later, fans are going to dig into your personal lives."
This was a topic they hadn't fully explored yet, but it was something they all knew was inevitable. Sandro took a moment before answering, his gaze flickering toward April and Nicole.
"For now, we're keeping things private," he admitted. "It's not that we're ashamed of it, but we just don't want our personal lives to be turned into some kind of spectacle before we're ready. Wrestling fans can be… intense. We've already had to be careful when we go out together."
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 19 (2009)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA
Brand: FCW
Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style
Faction: Dragon Boom (Tag Team)
Championship History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions & 1 FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion