Twisted Fixation

『 Chapter 76 』

Yuri inched her face closer to Giancarlo's, her eyes filled with sincerity. "Giancarlo, you are the one who makes my heart skip a beat, both in reality and in my wildest dreams. No one else could ever compare to the love I have for you. If we are in a sinking ship right now where I have to decide who to save between you and Keanu Reeves, I would choose you without hesitation. I love you so much."

Giancarlo felt a surge of emotion as he listened to her heartfelt words. He reached out and gently cupped her face in his hands, his own eyes brimming with love and adoration. "I love you too so fucking much. You are my everything, and I cannot imagine my life without you. You could have chosen someone else, but you chose me, and I am forever grateful for that."

There was a lump building in her throat as she struggled to respond to that. "I am the one who was supposed to say that. There are many women who would give anything to be in my position right now, but I am the one who gets to call you mine. Out of all the billion chances in the universe, what are the odds that we would find each other and create this life together?"

Giancarlo pulled her in closer, his arms wrapping tight around her. "I refuse to imagine a life without you in it. You and our baby give my life purpose and meaning. Fate brought us together, but it's us who choose to stay together."

***

Yuri was able to sleep soundly throughout the night, and when morning came, she woke up to the aroma of freshly baked croissants wafting through the air. When she snapped her eyes open, she saw Giancarlo and some maids preparing a lavish breakfast spread on a table on the balcony of their room, where it overlooks the breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea.

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow on the azure waters, creating a picturesque scene that took Yuri's breath away.

"Good morning," Giancarlo said, kissing her on the lips and offering her to sit down, which she gratefully accepted.

An array of delicacies laid out before her. The table was adorned with fresh fruits, pastries, a steaming pot of coffee, and a bottle of her usual apple juice.

"I hope it isn't too early for you. I want to show you the perfect view of the sea from here. Do you like it?"

She smiled and nodded her head profusely in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the breathtaking sight before her. The warm breeze gently tousled her hair as she took in the tranquil atmosphere. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing background melody, further enhancing the serene ambiance.

"I may have to leave you for a couple of hours. There is something I need to do, but Lorenzo is going to keep you company. He can show you around and make sure that you will be taken care of while I am not here," Giancarlo said as he filled her plate with some of the pastries and slices of fresh fruit.

She smiled at that, but deep down, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. She had been looking forward to spending the day with Giancarlo, especially exploring the beautiful beach together. But of course, she understands that he has responsibilities and commitments now that they are here in Sicily.

They were in the middle of enjoying breakfast when a maid approached them with a man behind her.

"Good morning, Signorina. Did you sleep well?" the man asked her with a warm smile.

"Yes, the bed was very comfortable. Thank you."

The man did not respond further. and instead turned his attention to Giancarlo. They started conversing in Italian, and judging by Giancarlo's expression, it seemed like they were discussing something important.

After a few more exchanges of words, the man averted his gaze back toward her. "We're looking forward to seeing you later, Signorina," he said before leaving the room.

When the man had completely left the room, that's when she looked at Giancarlo quizzically.

"There will be an auction tonight. Mother wants you to attend as a representative of the family. That man last time was the donna's consigliere."

Yuri did not know how to react to that. She has never attended an auction before except for that one time when she was part of the security team for a client who attended one when she was still a mercenary.

"What am I going to do exactly there? Do I need to place a bid or just observe and report back what I can find?" she asked Giancarlo, hoping for some guidance.

Giancarlo looked at her intently before responding, "You are going to model the item that the family is going to auction off. Your job is to showcase the beauty and elegance of that item so that potential buyers are enticed to place higher bids. It's an event that members of the family attend annually, and usually it's the duty of the women to take on the role, although I am quite sure that the donna is planning to undermine you. After all, we are not allowed to participate in the auction directly."

Hearing that it's usually the duty of the women in the family to take on the role of showcasing the item somehow makes Yuri relax. Although she couldn't get rid of the possibility that Giancarlo's mother may be plotting against her.

Whatever it is, she knows that she just needs to do her best.

"Well, if it's true that she is planning to do something like that, then that's more reason for me to do it and step up my game. Just hope for the best, and trust me, would you?"

Giancarlo smiles at her determination and reassures her, "I have complete faith in you. You are capable of handling any situation that comes your way, so I am quite sure that this is nothing to you already."

If she were given a chance to choose between attending that auction or staying inside a room with a murderer, she would definitely choose the latter one. If the people last night at the party did not take well to her being non-Italian, what more if she were to attend an auction filled with judgmental individuals?

Giancarlo reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you for doing these things for me. Nonna Fiorella approves of you already, so the opinions of the others do not matter to me, but still, you are willing to do this for me."

She smiled at that and squeezed her hand back. "I do not want you to hate your family more than you already do because no matter what, they are still your family. I also want to prove to them that you were not wrong about choosing me. and that I deserve to be with you because of how much I love and care for you. Their approval may not matter to you, but it matters to me because our child will grow up in this family."

Yuri wanted to add that, as much as possible, she wouldn't want Giancarlo to kill another family member because of her. She doesn't want his legacy to be remembered as that of a tyrant who brought harm to his own family.

Giancarlo just smiled at that, and he tilted her chin up with his finger. "I would rather betray this family than see any harm come to you or our child," he whispered, his voice filled with determination.

"I will do whatever it takes to protect both of you, even if it means going against everything I've ever known."

Yuri crossed the distance between their lips and kissed him passionately. "I know that you mean every word you say. Let's just avoid bloodshed as much as possible."