Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 46 ~ Matteo

Matteo Moretti

We got to the dock, and as planned and ordered the yacht was waiting for us. I had taken her on a yacht date before but I wanted her to remember the good times, this time without the lie.

She didn't say anything, but I could feel the tension between us like an unspoken challenge. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but quickly closed again. I could tell she remembered the last time we were here.

"Matteo, what is this?" she finally asked, her voice steady but carrying the weight of uncertainty.

I stepped closer, keeping my gaze locked on hers. "It's different this time, Gianna. No more lies. No more games."

She looked away, her jaw tightening as she took a hesitant step toward the dock. Her hesitation cut through me more than her words ever could.

For a moment, I thought she might turn around and walk away, but instead, she stepped onto the yacht, her movements careful, as if testing the waters both literally and figuratively.

I followed her aboard, feeling the familiar hum of the engine beneath us. The yacht set off smoothly, cutting through the water.

I guided her to the upper deck, where a table was set with dinner, illuminated by soft candlelight. The breeze gently tugged at her hair as she stood there, staring out at the horizon, her back to me.

"I know I've hurt you," I said quietly, standing behind her. "But tonight... I just want to give you something real."

Gianna didn't respond right away. Instead, she reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You say that now," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of the waves. "But how can I trust it's real this time?"

Her words hung in the air between us, heavier than the silence that followed.

"I don't know how, but I know that I will dedicate every second of my life to you,"

He breath hitches a bit and her eyes look up to mine, she parted her lips but before she could speak, a maid appeared. Angie. Angie was her favorite maid and they clearly haven't seen each other in a while, so I thought I would bring her here as a surprise.

Giannas eyes lit up, "Angie!" She ran past me to hug her, and Angie accepted her embrace happily.

"Hello, dear!"she said happily. 

Gianna's face transformed with a brightness I hadn't seen in a long time. Her guard dropped for a moment, replaced with genuine happiness as she hugged Angie tightly. The sight of them together—Gianna smiling, laughing softly—felt like a small victory, a fleeting glimpse of what we used to have.

I watched as they exchanged a few words, Angie smiling warmly, her hands resting on Gianna's shoulders as if to anchor her in the moment. The two of them had always had a special connection, one I'd noticed from the start. It was part of the reason I'd arranged for Angie to be here tonight. I needed Gianna to feel at ease, even if it wasn't with me.

But I couldn't ignore the tension lurking beneath the surface. No matter how much I tried, I knew that Angie's presence wasn't enough to erase the past or the uncertainty that lingered between us.

After a few minutes, Gianna pulled back, her smile still there, though not as bright. She glanced over at me, and for a moment, I saw something in her eyes—a flicker of hope, maybe. Or perhaps it was just the reflection of the candlelight. Either way, it was something I hadn't seen in her for months.

"I can't believe you brought Angie here," Gianna said, her voice softer now, almost vulnerable.

"I figured you hadn't seen each other in a while," I replied, stepping closer but still keeping my distance. "I wanted tonight to be special."