“We have no grudges against the Locatelli family. Why would we go against them when we know we’re no match for them? Besides, we’re not a threat to them. Compared to their empire, our company is small. I also can’t fathom the reason Gio did this,” Marion looked back at me. “Gio is the reason our wedding was called off, Millie. He’s the reason we went bankrupt. He’s also the reason why Dad had a heart attack, and Mom fell ill.”
“Hold on a minute, why would you blame Gio for your father’s death and your mother’s illness? Even for your canceled wedding?” Nin asked Marion, a frown on her face.
“It’s connected to Millie why he did this to us. When news broke about the Huff and Pearce merger, something unfavorable happened to our company. When we went under and Uncle Enrique postponed our wedding, suddenly, the Locatelli family made an offer to Millie. Coincidence? I doubt it.”
“Okay, let’s say it’s true, but it’s not right to blame Gio for what happened to your parents. What happened to your father and mother was not within Gio’s control,” Rae pointed out. “But yes, yes, we get your point.”
“However, the question remains, why would Gio do this? Does this mean he wants to marry Millie, so when he learned that she would marry someone else, he sabotaged the family’s company, knowing that Uncle Enrique would postpone the wedding because he didn’t want to inherit a failing business? Uncle Enrique was eager to marry Millie back then because their company was also in trouble. So what Uncle Enrique wanted was a marriage that could save his business, not a marriage that would sink him further,” Nin suggested.
They all looked at me, but I didn’t say anything. Why indeed? At the beginning of our marriage, Gio seemed unwilling, as if he were forced. I never saw him before the wedding, and I couldn’t remember meeting him then.
As I reached home, Gio wasn’t there yet. I went to the bedroom and decided to wait for him.
I was restless as I waited for him to return. I paced back and forth, pondering the reason behind his actions. But no matter how much I thought, I couldn’t find a satisfactory explanation for why he did this.
If Marion’s suspicion was true, and it was because of me… why? I had never met Gio before; we had no interactions, and he had never shown any interest in me in the past. He only started being nice to me recently.
Exactly at five o’clock, Gio arrived. The door opened, and when he saw me, he glanced at me briefly. To him, it was just another day, but for me, it was not.
He entered the bathroom, and after a few moments, he emerged to head to the walk-in closet. He was shirtless. On a normal day, I might have been entranced by his physique, but now, it was different.
I stood up as I saw him coming out of the closet. He went to a table where his bourbon was placed. He did this sometimes, sipping on alcohol after dressing up, though he never got drunk.
“You’re early. I thought you’d be out late since you’re with Nina and the others,” Gio said. I knew Gio was at ease when I was with my friends. Besides my guards, he trusted them.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I walked up to him and did what I had wanted to do all along.
I placed the envelope I had been holding on the table next to his bourbon. He looked at it but didn’t take it.
“How true is it that you’re behind the Huff company’s downfall, Gio?” I asked him directly.
Gio immediately turned to look at me. His brow furrowed, and it seemed I had his full attention.
“Who the hell told you that?”
In his response, he didn’t deny it at all. I hoped he would say… no, which was why I asked him, but the fact that he inquired about who had told me spoke volumes.
“Answer me first! Is it true?” I asked again.
Gio sighed heavily. In my mind, I wanted him to tell me it wasn’t true.
“And what about it, Millie? Will you be angry with me if I did?”
My jaw dropped at his response. You couldn’t see any trace of remorse in him for what he did to a family’s livelihood. After all, if taking a life was so easy for him, this would be even simpler.
“Why would you do something like that? Look at what’s happening to Marion now! All because of what? Why did you ruin them, Gio?” I couldn’t contain my anger. I had been trying to convince myself that Gio had a reason, but I couldn’t think of a good one, especially since Marion’s company didn’t seem like their competition.
Gio shook his head and walked away. Great! He’s going to escape from this, and he’ll order me to shut up! He’s going to end this conversation because he doesn’t want to explain… and I want answers.
“None of your business,” Gio calmly stated.
“It is, Gio! The Huff family is close to us.”
“And what? Are you concerned because my actions caused your marriage with Marion not to happen, is that it?” He didn’t raise his voice, but I could feel his rage crawling beneath his skin.
“Why are you doing this, Gio? This isn’t about me and Marion! Why would you ruin the company of people who have done nothing to you-”
“Because Marion Huff was bound to marry you! And if I didn’t do anything, you’d be married to him. You don’t expect me to just watch, Millie!”
In addition to his chilling tone, my body stiffened at his words. I stood up straight, especially when Gio faced me.
He came closer to me, grabbing both of my arms, almost lifting me off the ground.
“Why are you asking me this now, Millie? Do you prefer to marry Marion Huff over me?” Gio’s expression was both nerve-wracking and ticklish.
My throat went dry, and I didn’t know how to respond, so I decided to remain silent.
“Answer me, Amelie. Do you prefer him over me?”
My knees weakened. The anger I had just felt when I learned what had happened melted away along with the strength in my legs. If Gio weren’t holding onto my arms, I would have collapsed by now.
I lowered my head. My boldness had been deflated. Just like that! I felt like a helpless lamb in his presence. To make things worse, I still couldn’t find the words to respond.
Of course, I preferred Gio! Back then, I didn’t care who I would marry as long as it pleased my father. Now… I would choose Gio.
I was grateful that I had married him, but that didn’t mean I celebrated the Huff family’s downfall.
“What I’m asking is, why did you do that to the Huff family? Why did you ruin them, Gio-”
“Isn’t it obvious, Millie?” He pressed his body closer to mine. I let out a breath, feeling suffocated. It was as if I were being suffocated by him. “Because you can’t marry him. I don’t want you to marry him, and even if it wasn’t the Huff, I will hunt whoever dares to take your hand and will destroy them.”
I gathered the courage to look at him. He released his hold on my arm. That’s when I felt my knees weaken even more. It was like Gio was draining my strength.
Gio caught me just as I was about to fall. He wrapped his arm around my waist, and the other one gently brushed my cheek. He tucked the strands of hair behind my ear.
“I love you, Mrs. Amelie Locatelli. I have been in love with you for a very long time now.”
If a moment ago my knees felt like jelly, now they had turned into complete mush. My eyes widened as I gazed at Gio.
Did he just say he loves me?