During lunch, I sat with Sienna. She was busy chatting about various things, and my mind wandered from Gio. I barely knew him. If I were to judge based on what I knew, I didn’t know much about him.
Favorite food? I had no idea.
Favorite color? I had no clue.
Even a few basic facts about Gio, I had no knowledge of. Was he this secretive about his life?
“Dario!” I suddenly thought of asking Dario instead. I had this sudden urge to learn everything about Gio from the people who had known him for a long time. I knew he wouldn’t tell me if I asked him directly.
Dario stopped walking and turned to me. He greeted me politely with a smile when he saw me.
“Ma’am Millie,” he greeted me.
I smiled back at him, wanting to appear friendly.
“I just wanted to ask about Gio. Do you happen to know his favorite color or food?” I would start with the basics before delving into deeper questions.
Dario furrowed his brow slightly, but quickly concealed it.
“Sorry, Ma’am. I don’t.”
Impossible! I wanted to shout that, but I refrained. It seemed impossible that Mariana didn’t know these things about Gio, considering they had grown up together.
“Seriously? Not even his favorite food?” I raised an eyebrow. Dario shook his head. His blank expression left me wondering if he genuinely had no knowledge.
“Sir Gio is not someone who will share trivial things like that with us, Ma’am. If you want to know, why don’t you ask Sir Gio himself?” Dario smiled with a hidden meaning and walked away.
I sighed, contemplating whether to approach Gio. I was hesitant because I knew he wouldn’t answer my questions directly. He would simply tell me he had no favorite food, color, and so on.
“Sis, I’m going out, okay? I’ll be home later tonight, promise!”
I quickly caught up with Sienna after hearing her words. Where was she planning to go? This was the first time she had mentioned it.
“Where are you going, Sienna? Why are you telling me just now?”
My sister stopped walking and turned to me. I let out a resigned sigh at her appearance. She was dressed in a halter crop top and a skirt. Clearly, she was heading out for a night of fun.
“I’m just going to my friend’s house-”
“I know you’re going out. Just be home by 10.”
“Sis, seriously? You’re like Mom!” She laughed. “10? The fun’s just getting started.”
She approached me and playfully nudged me. I understood because I had my fair share of late nights at bars back in the day.
“Please, Sienna. Be careful, okay? Use our driver to pick you up later.”
I instructed one of our drivers to pick up Sienna. I was starting to feel uneasy, thinking that my current lifestyle might put Sienna in danger.
Sienna kissed my cheek before saying goodbye. As I watched her leave, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. I missed going out with friends. I didn’t think Gio would allow me to do that now.
I was on my way to my room when one of the house staff stopped me. She hurried to catch up with me, looking pale and anxious.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. I couldn’t help but feel nervous myself based on her appearance.
“You have a visitor,” she said.
I headed back downstairs, wondering who they were referring to. I wasn’t expecting anyone today. Maybe it was someone visiting Gio? I tried to recall if Gio had mentioned any visitors, but I couldn’t remember.
“Where is she? Have you let her in?”
I walked toward the door to see who the visitor was. The household staff had already opened the front door for me, and the person was right in front of me. I gasped, a mixture of surprise and nervousness. Her eyes were very familiar to me. I was used to those icy and cold gazes.
“Hi,” I stammered, my voice trembling with anxiety. I couldn’t feel my knees, and my feet seemed rooted to the floor. When was the last time I felt like this? Right, the first time I faced Gio.
“Can I come in?” Her voice was equally cold. Without saying a word, I stepped aside to let her enter, as if I were the homeowner and she was my boss, and I had to follow her lead.
She walked straight into the living room. The household staff she encountered showed great respect for her. I took a deep breath before following her. My hands were trembling, and I felt queasy with anxiety.
Once we were both in the living room, facing each other, I forced a smile. “G-”
“Gianna,” she cut me off, though I wasn’t sure if she preferred to be addressed that way. In her presence, surrounded by her aura, she was unmistakably like Gio. “Gio’s twin sister.”
She remained silent, her cold gaze fixed on me. I gulped instantly. I figured I’d only be comfortable around Gio, but not with other members of his family.
“Are you here to visit? Gio isn’t home yet, but I can tell him if you want.”
“I’m not here for my brother,” she interrupted me. “I am here to see the woman my brother chose to marry when he swore never to get married.”
Her gaze turned sharper, like a ready dagger aimed at me.
“I am here to meet you, Amelie Pearce.”
Everyone in the room, those who should be, shivered upon hearing her mention my name.
~*~
I could no longer hear the world around me, only the pounding of my heart in my ears. Gianna Locatelli, my husband’s twin sister. I had only just met her now, as she was usually everywhere but here.
Like Gio, she displayed no emotions, and her eyes held a chilling expression. No matter how beautiful her eyes were, they were unsettling due to the absence of any emotion.
I shuddered. I hadn’t even noticed myself being drawn into her gaze, which was fixed directly on me. I tried to muster a smile, but Gianna didn’t return it. She observed me from head to toe, as if she were ready to pass judgment on my entire being at the slightest sign of imperfection.