Nico
“Didn’t you say you wanted to tell me something?” I demanded, watching as Gianna pulled on her athleisure, which was unnecessary. Today, I was only going to start by giving her a tour of the armory and getting her acquainted with weapons. She turned around, and her expression changed.
She seemed…scared?
“Yes,” she nodded, not meeting my gaze.
“Then tell me,” She shuffled around, pulling out a pair of sports shoes. Was she biding her time for some reason?
“Gianna…” I probed, stalking over to her. “What is it?” Gianna sighed and then gazed up at me. There was clearly something.
“I will tell you tonight,” she said. “I promise.” I frowned at her. Why was she dodging this? What was it that she wanted to tell me?
“No.
Gianna “Sit, cara.” She tugged off her gloves, set them aside, and poured steaming amber liquid into each cup. The faint fragrance of chamomile rose between us, calming, anchoring.I wrapped my fingers around the china, grateful for its warmth. We sipped in silence for a moment, listening to the soft hum of bees drifting between blooms.“You’re thinner,” Mama murmured, her eyes scanning my face as only a mother could. I looked down at my cup. The steam blurred my vision.“What is it, sweetheart?” she asked softly. “Talk to me.”“It’s Amara.”Her brow furrowed. “Amara? What about her?” I gazed up at her and realized it was time I told her the real truth about my marriage.“Gianna, what is it?” Mama pressed. I took a deep breath and then told her everything. And as always, she listened with utmost patience and compassion, allowing me to let it all out.My throat tightened. Saying it aloud felt like stepping into a wound I’d been avoiding. “She’s the one Nico has loved for eighteen year
GiannaI think I was in shock. But this soul-shocking feeling has been my general vibe lately, so I wasn’t so sure. All I could do was stare blankly at Amara. I was trying to form some words, but it just wasn’t coming anymore.“I will never be able to love you. I’m in love with someone else, Gianna.”“She is in the past…there is no reason to bring her up,” So the mystery woman I have wanted to meet, to look at all those nights when I have felt inadequate, not enough for him, when I have laid awake and wondered ‘why not me?’ or ‘what does she have that I don’t?’ I had simply no idea that the woman was none other than my sister-in-law?How was I even supposed to feel about that?But thinking about it…it made all the sense.Nico told me he had been in love with her for eighteen years, and I knew Amara had been with him for eighteen years. They trained together, fought together, and I have seen the way Nico had looked at her sometimes. With longing. Desperation. It was…it’s just that Ama
Gianna“Thank you for signing the papers,” Diego smiled politely as I handed him the documents he needed my signature on the next day. “Once these are verified, we will start with the process of transferring Signor Baldocchi’s assets to you.”“I really don’t care,” I muttered glumly.“Well, I am just doing my job and keeping with that, there was something else Nicholas wanted me to give you,” he said. I frowned at him, and something about the way he looked at me told me this can’t be good.“Wh…what is it?” I asked. Diego took a deep breath and then pulled out another envelope, handing it to me.“What is it?” I repeated, frowning at the envelope.“It’s…” Diego mumbled. “It’s…divorce papers. Already signed by him.” I froze, my fingers tightening around the envelope as if gripping it harder could somehow make the words inside disappear.“Wh…what?” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands shook as I held the envelope, and I felt my legs starting to shake.Diego shifted uncomf
GiannaMaximus looked like he had seen a ghost. He blinked at me, opened and shut his mouth multiple times, and ran his fingers through his hair.“Uh…You’re pregnant?” he mumbled.“Yes. Why is that so surprising? I was and still am married to Nico…he’s my husband…” I said, sounding way bitter than I intended to.“No…No, I meant…” he shook his head and took a deep breath before settling back with his confident, determined self. “I just…I am not sure why I reacted that way. But Gianna…I am so sorry…I really am. You shouldn’t have to go through all this.”“Well, now you know,” I hissed. “My life is going to shit, and I really don’t have it in me to deliver what you expect me to deliver to keep up with Bellavanti’s standards. I am no longer who you met three months ago, Maximus.”Maximus gave me a look before taking my hand and dragging me to the couch in the corner.“Wh…what are you doing?” I demanded. “Maximus, let me go!”“Just sit down…that’s all,” he said, his voice gentle enough fo
Sharp at eight next evening, I waited for Gianna to meet me. I had, of course, booked a private dining room and was now waiting anxiously for her to show up. I don’t even know if what I was planning to do would work.What if it didn’t? This collaboration was my only access to Gianna for the time being. I felt nervous and anxious for the first time in a long time. The last time I felt this nervous was when Drago found me fighting in the streets and decided to place a bet on me.A bet that changed my entire life.“Signor,” I shook my head and turned to the door, and the manager stood outside, wearing that fake, polite smile. “I have Mrs. Baldocchi for you.”He moved aside and…there she stood.She wore a simple white dress that looked way too loose on her shrinking frame. And yet she was still gorgeous. Absolutely breathtaking.“Thank you,” Gianna murmured to the guy who walked away, shutting the door behind him. She glanced at me and I gave her a smile, walking over to pull out the chair
MaximusI watched as Gianna gave me a strained smile before walking out. Seeing her after almost six weeks was both a relief and a shock. For the past month, I have been trying to reach out to her, but it has been fruitless. She was gone.I couldn’t reach her by phone, or anyway. I visited her home, but it was left abandoned. She was not there. I had tried to talk to Leonardo, but he had simply dismissed me. That guy had an ego the size of a mountain, and it annoyed my guts, but I held back. Because he was Gianna’s brother and she loved him.But I knew Nico was gone. I made sure of it when I threatened to hurt Gianna.And from all the info I have received so far, he has been gone a long time now and was nowhere to be found. Even my men couldn’t find him, which was worrisome because my idea was to eliminate him once separating him from Gianna. I knew Nico well enough to be sure he wouldn’t leave by telling her the truth.He’d never want her to worry. Fool that he was, he’d rather make