CH-17

“Sister… I think I cannot breathe.”

Cara clutched her chest dramatically, her fingers pressing against the fabric of her dress as if the air in the room had suddenly vanished.

For a moment, everyone looked at her in alarm.

Vincenzo, however, simply rolled his eyes.

“Stop being dramatic all the time, Mom,” he said with visible annoyance.

But Aria, unlike him, did not dismiss it so easily. She quickly reached for the glass of water placed on the side table and hurried toward Cara.

Vincenzo leaned back slightly in his seat, convinced this was yet another one of his mother’s overly theatrical reactions.

She had a habit of turning every small emotion into a grand performance.

But this time… it was not an act.

Cara truly felt breathless.

The news she had just heard had struck her heart like lightning — overwhelming, unbelievable, and too beautiful for her to process at once.

Her son.

Her stubborn, emotionally barricaded son.

Had just said yes to marriage.

Aria gently placed the glass in her hands and began rubbing her back soothingly.

A warm smile rested on her lips as she watched Cara struggle between tears and laughter.

She could see it clearly — the pure happiness glowing in the older woman’s eyes.

Meanwhile Vincenzo, still thinking it was exaggerated drama, sighed impatiently.

But when he noticed his mother’s breathing still uneven, something inside him shifted instantly.

The annoyance vanished.

Concern replaced it.

He moved closer and grabbed her hand.

“Are you alright, Mom?” he asked, his voice suddenly softer, filled with genuine worry.

Cara looked at him.

For a moment she simply stared at his face as if trying to confirm that he was really standing there… that the moment was real.

Then her eyes filled with tears.

Before Vincenzo could react, she pulled him into a tight embrace.

Her arms wrapped around him with surprising strength.

And then she began to cry.

Not softly.

Not gracefully.

But with the overwhelming emotion of a mother whose deepest wish had finally come true.

“I am so happy…” she whispered against his shoulder.

Her hand moved up and down his back lovingly.

“You made me the happiest person on this earth today.”

The words struck Vincenzo like invisible blows.

Guilt, already sitting heavy inside his chest, sank even deeper.

His mother’s happiness felt undeserved.

Like something he had stolen.

Like a fragile glass he was secretly holding with cracked hands.

He tightened his arms around her protectively but said nothing.

Silence was safer.

Words would only expose the chaos inside him.

“That is wonderful news! Otello, have you heard this?”

Grandfather’s booming voice broke the emotional moment.

Cara slowly released Vincenzo from the embrace.

As Vincenzo straightened himself, his gaze drifted across the room.

That was when he noticed his father standing near the entrance.

Beside him stood a man roughly the same age — his posture proud, his eyes shining with emotion.

The man had his hand resting warmly on his father’s shoulder.

Both of them looked… happy.

Extremely happy.

Vincenzo suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at his father’s expression.

But when the stranger’s affectionate gaze landed on him, the sarcasm died before it could surface.

“I heard, Uncle,” Vincenzo said respectfully.

He stepped forward and bowed his head slightly toward his grandfather.

“I am very happy, son.”

Grandfather immediately wrapped the other man — Gia’s father — in a joyful embrace.

Everyone around them stood up, smiling and congratulating one another.

The room was suddenly buzzing with celebration.

“I should talk to Gia,” the older man said, stepping back.

But before he could move, Lorenzo’s voice stopped him.

“No need.”

The room quieted.

Vincenzo’s eyes shifted toward his brother.

Lorenzo stood there with his usual calm expression — unreadable, controlled.

Vincenzo almost smirked.

It was obvious Lorenzo already knew what had happened during the meeting.

And judging from that stoic face… he clearly was not thrilled with the outcome.

“I already know her answer,” Lorenzo continued.

Grandfather raised his brows curiously.

“And that is?”

Lorenzo looked straight at Vincenzo.

“It’s yes.”

For a second, time stopped.

Vincenzo felt as if a thunderbolt had struck directly through his spine.

His entire body went rigid.

It was as if someone had split him in half with invisible lightning.

His mind went completely blank.

The room erupted with cheers.

Voices filled the air.

Laughter.

Excited chatter.

But none of it reached him.

The sounds became distant… muffled… as if he were standing underwater.

He remained frozen where he stood.

Unable to move.

Unable to think.

Meanwhile Nate’s happiness exploded like fireworks.

He began jumping around the room like an overexcited child, celebrating as if he had personally won a championship.

And of course… he made sure to clap Vincenzo’s shoulder repeatedly, clearly enjoying the opportunity to irritate him even further.

Cara hugged Vincenzo again.

Others followed.

Hands patted his back.

Voices congratulated him.

But Vincenzo did not respond.

He barely even reacted.

The news had overwhelmed him too deeply.

“Vincenzo?”

Lorenzo’s voice finally cut through the noise.

Vincenzo blinked and looked up.

“Are you alright?” Lorenzo asked quietly.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine.”

He forced the words out while glancing around the room.

Everyone was glowing with happiness.

Everyone looked relieved.

Satisfied.

Excited.

Everyone except him.

His mind drifted back to her.

Gia.

So she had not taken his warning seriously.

Of course she had not.

He clenched his jaw slightly.

He should have known better.

He should never have trusted her silence.

He should have ended the proposal immediately.

Why had he allowed the possibility to remain open?

Why had he given her the chance to say yes?

Now he was trapped.

Completely trapped.

“Let’s perform the engagement ceremony as soon as possible,” Grandfather announced enthusiastically.

The words landed like a stone inside Vincenzo’s stomach.

His heart dropped heavily.

Once the engagement was done… there would be no turning back.

None.

He had to stop this before that happened.

And there was only one person who could change the situation now.

Gia.

He needed to see her immediately.

He had already played his cards earlier.

But now he had lost the game badly.

If anything could still reverse the outcome… it was her refusal.

Only Gia’s no could save him.

“Excuse me, Brother. I will be back in a moment.”

He had barely taken two steps when the voice he least wanted to hear right now echoed through the room.

“Papa.”

His body stiffened instantly.

He did not need to turn around to know who had entered.

Gia walked toward her father, and the older man immediately pulled her into a warm embrace.

His eyes closed briefly, clearly overwhelmed with happiness.

He looked like a man whose heart had finally found peace.

“Princess, I heard your answer is yes,” he asked, holding her shoulders as he stepped back.

Gia nodded gently.

Vincenzo shut his eyes in irritation.

“Are you sure about this?” her father asked again carefully.

“You can take more time if you want.”

For a brief moment Vincenzo almost hoped she would hesitate.

Just one second.

One pause.

One doubt.

But no.

She nodded again without hesitation.

And something inside him snapped.

If it were socially acceptable, he would have strangled her delicate swan-like neck right there.

Right in front of everyone.

“Great!” her father exclaimed happily.

“Then I do not want to wait any longer. We will do the engagement right now.”

Vincenzo’s patience cracked further.

“My queen, please begin the preparations,” Lorenzo instructed Aria.

“Give me five minutes!” she replied excitedly before disappearing like a whirlwind.

And Vincenzo stood there…

Utterly helpless.

“Umm… may I speak with my son-in-law?” Gia’s father asked politely.

Vincenzo looked up.

Lorenzo nodded.

“Of course, Uncle. He is all yours. Danny, take them to the family hall.”

The bodyguard gestured for Vincenzo to follow.

Lorenzo gave him a silent signal.

Reluctantly, Vincenzo walked behind the older man.

Inside the smaller hall, Gia’s father stopped beside a chair.

He looked slightly nervous.

Thoughtful.

Contemplating his words.

Despite everything happening inside his mind, Vincenzo could not ignore the discomfort of the elder standing before him.

He did not want to disrespect him.

“Please, have a seat, Uncle,” Vincenzo said politely.

“Amm… Prince—”

“Please call me Vincenzo,” he interrupted gently.

The man nodded with a grateful smile.

“Vincenzo… my Gia grew up without a mother.”

His voice softened.

“I tried my best to give her everything I could… but I know I could never fill that empty space.”

He paused.

“Now that you both are starting a new life… there is something you should know about her.”

Vincenzo listened silently.

“She is stubborn,” the man admitted with a small smile.

“But she is honest. Extremely honest.”

“I always encouraged her to speak her mind. Because of that… she never learned the word maybe.”

He looked directly at Vincenzo.

“For her, there is only yes… or no.”

“When she said yes today, I knew she was absolutely sure.”

His voice softened again.

“But as strong as she appears… her heart is fragile.”

His eyes filled with quiet concern.

“Please don’t hurt her.”

“If there is ever a problem between you two… come to me.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

“But please… don’t hurt her.”

The plea in his voice made Vincenzo’s chest tighten.

He could see it clearly.

The love.

The protectiveness.

The deep affection this man held for his daughter.

For a brief moment… Vincenzo envied her.

What it must feel like to receive such warmth from a father.

Such unwavering love.

His lips curved into a faint, painful smile.

He looked up at the hopeful man standing before him.

But he could not lie.

He could not promise something he knew he might never give.

“Honestly… I cannot promise you anything.”

The man listened quietly.

“Everything is happening too fast for my liking.”

“We barely know each other.”

“There will be disagreements… misunderstandings… things that may hurt us both.”

Vincenzo paused.

“But I can promise you one thing.”

His voice grew steady.

“I will make sure she feels comfortable wherever she is.”

The man studied him carefully.

Then slowly… he smiled.

It had not gone unnoticed that Vincenzo had avoided making grand promises.

But his one sincere assurance was enough.

“That is all I want,” he said softly.

“That my daughter feels comfortable… wherever she is.”

He nodded once.

“Come. Let us go.”

He stood up.

“After you,” Vincenzo said respectfully.

The older man walked ahead.

And Vincenzo followed behind… carrying a storm inside his chest.

**