Bound to Us (Bound Duology Book#1)

Meeting the Ferraros

When Ilario invited Emma over to his place to work on another project, she hadn't thought much of it—until she found herself standing outside a grand, historic villa on the outskirts of Florence, her heart racing. She'd always known Ilario came from a prominent family, but seeing his home in person made her realize just how different their lives were.

Ilario opened the door with a smirk. "What? Thought I lived in a shoe box?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "I mean, the palace vibe was a bit unexpected."

He chuckled, guiding her inside. The walls were adorned with ornate paintings and antiques, a testament to the Ferraro family's long-standing wealth and status. As they walked down a long hallway, voices echoed from a nearby room.

They stepped into the kitchen, where a petite, dark-haired woman was busy stirring a pot of sauce. She looked up, her eyes lighting up when she saw Ilario.

"Ilario, tesoro, you brought a friend!" She set down her spoon and came over, beaming. "You must be Emma! I'm Lucia, Ilario's mother."

Emma smiled, taken aback by Lucia's warmth. "It's so nice to meet you, Signora Ferraro."

"Oh, please, call me Lucia." She squeezed Emma's hands. "I've heard so much about you! Ilario didn't mention you were this bella."

"Mamma!" Ilario muttered, looking slightly embarrassed.

Emma's cheeks flushed, but Lucia just chuckled. "Come, sit! I'll make you some tea." She bustled off, leaving Ilario and Emma alone at the table.

As they settled in, the sound of footsteps filled the room. Emma looked up and saw an older man enter, his features stern and his eyes sharp. He barely spared her a glance before addressing Luca.

"Working on that school project, are we?" the man asked in a clipped tone.

"Yes, Dad," Ilario replied, his jaw tightening.

The man—who she quickly gathered was Ilario's father, Antonio Ferraro—looked at Emma with a polite but distant nod. "And you must be Emma. Ilario's new... friend?"

Emma forced a smile. "Yes, sir."

But Antonio's attention had already shifted back to Ilario. "You know, Ilario, while you're busy with... school projects, your brothers are working on real responsibilities, learning to manage the business."

Ilario's face hardened, his hand clenching on the table. "Not everything's about the business, Dad."

Antonio scoffed. "Easy for you to say. You've never had to worry about anything."

The tension in the room was thick, and Emma felt like an intruder. Lucia, sensing the same, quickly interjected. "Emma, would you like to see the garden? Ilario, why don't you show her?"

Ilario stood up, his expression tight, and nodded at Emma. They walked out in silence, winding through a side door that led to a lush, sprawling garden. The fresh air was a welcome relief from the stifling tension inside.

They walked in silence until they reached a stone bench under a large olive tree. Ilariosat down heavily, running a hand through his hair, his face clouded with frustration.

"Sorry about my dad," he muttered, looking anywhere but at her.

Emma sat beside him, hesitating before speaking. "I didn't know... things were like that with him."

Ilario sighed, his gaze fixed on the ground. "It's always like that. My dad has this whole plan for my life, this... expectation that I'll just follow in his footsteps, take over the family business, like my brothers. I'm supposed to 'carry the family legacy,' or whatever."

Emma listened, feeling her heart ache for him. She'd never seen him this vulnerable, this... real.

"Do you want that?" she asked softly.

He shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. "No. I want to live my own life, not get trapped in a job I hate just because it's what my dad wants."

Emma reached out, her hand brushing his. "You know, you're allowed to want something different. It's your life, Ilario."

He looked up, his eyes softened. "You actually get it, don't you?"

She nodded, giving his hand a squeeze. "More than you think."

For a long moment, they sat there, the silence between them comfortable. It was a side of Ilario she hadn't seen before, and her heart felt strangely full. She could see how much he struggled with the weight of his father's expectations, the way he tried to mask it with his confidence and bravado. And for the first time, she realized just how much he'd been holding back, how much he'd been hurting.

Finally, he sighed, his usual smirk returning as he turned to her. "Anyway, enough of the family drama. We should probably get some work done before my dad decides I'm a complete waste of time."

She laughed, grateful for the lightness in his voice. "Good idea. Don't want to get you grounded from our 'school project.'"

He rolled his eyes, his smile genuine. "Come on, straniera. Let's go make this project the best thing my dad's ever ignored."

As they walked back inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them. For the first time, they weren't just teasing and sparring—they were beginning to truly understand each other.

Tried to make it long,

Should i make Matteo's book??

Bisou,