Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 29 ~ Gianna

Gianna Rostova

Before she found out the secret

I had exactly an hour until I would see Matteo again, I spent that time taking a walk to nearest mall and bought a some chocolate for us.

I used to stay up at night in university and chocolate really helped my concentration, and as a bonus it tasted good too.

I wanted to take a walk because I hadn't taken one in a long time and I didn't mind being out of the house again, despite the euphoric trip to Italy. The streets were busy as usual, consisting of couples and families all looking happy.

My heart swelled what would happen if me and Matteo had our own little family too, the thought of having a son or daughter that Matteo and I could call our own along with Matteo being protective over his kid like he is to me made me smile.

Once I got to the mall, I made it to my favorite candy store and stocked the basket with sweets and chocolate. Yes, I got a few stares from people wondering why I was getting so much sweet stuff, but I wanted to make sure Matteo knew how much I appreciated our trip to Italy.

When I returned from the mall, with enough chocolates and sweets to feed a whole family for several months, I hoped that this gesture would serve as a thank you for not just taking me to Italy, for everything. For being there for me. For the late night kisses. For the movies. Even the things he's done for me that I didn't know of. Everything.

As I approached the house, the atmosphere seemed unusually quiet. But I didn't dwell on it, I went to my room and brought out my favourite sticky note and wrote 'Love Gia, thanks for Italy❤️' on it. I pressed the sticky side to the handle of the basket with my thumbs.

I thought it looked pretty good, I was excited for us to be together again, we would cuddle, talk, whatever really, as long as it was with him.

Angie saw me, "Oh, dear where are you headed?"

"Just to see Matteo? I wanted to give him these gifts. Why?" My head tilted to the side in confusion.

A look of nervousness and hesitation crossed over her features, "How about I give them to Mr Moretti for you?" She offers.

"No, it's okay, it's a gift I want to give it to him myself." I smile at her but for the first time Angie doesn't smile back instead she looked afraid.

"Just leave them outside his door, okay?" She says.

I was a little confused at that but I nod anyways. Not paying much attention to her warning. I made my way towards Matteo's study, the basket in hand and humming a soft tune however, before I could push down on the door handle I heard something that made me stop in my tracks.

His father's voice followed, i remembered the sound of it from our last meeting when I go to this house for the first time, I could hear it dripping with malicious intent. "So Gianna means nothing to you, correct?"

Nothing? Of course, I didn't mean nothing to Matteo, I loved him and he loved me. I mean, he didn't say it but his gestures proved otherwise.

The way we cuddled, talked, I told him about everything all that couldn't have been fake, he cared, I know he did.

"Correct." His tone sounded serious, a little too serious.

A crack formed on my heart.

"So why are you always with her, smiling nonetheless, even I've never seen you smile."

"She's good in bed, and it's a small price to pay." Matteos emotionless voice sounded though the door separating us. My heart shattered into what felt like a million pieces.