“I don’t know. I just feel like I’ve been a significant distraction and hindrance to you. You were always at the top of your game before you married me and before you started opening up to me about your feelings. But I pulled you down with me.” I broke free from his embrace and held Gio. “But I don’t regret marrying you, Gio. I hope you don’t either. So, as much as possible, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. I want to be a source of support, not a burden you have to carry. Many people rely on your decisions, and I’ll always be there to support you, Gio. I’m not the old Millie who used to doubt you constantly. I understand your line of work, and I comprehend everything. If you need to distance yourself from me because you think I’m encroaching on your territory too much, I understand.” I tried to add some humor to my last statement, but it turned out to be an emotional moment.
Gio just looked at me, and I laughed at myself before smiling at Gio.
“I just want to say that I’m here to support you, Gio, whatever decision you make.”
Gio held my hand. Despite his firm grip, it felt different from the way he usually held me. It was still chilly, and it seemed like he had something unsettling on his mind. His mischievous yet dark aura was frightening me, but I trusted Gio, so I didn’t want to give in to the fear I was feeling.
“I don’t,” he replied tersely. “I don’t regret anything. And don’t see it that way, Millie. You’re not a burden to me. There are many things to say, but I can’t say them right now.”
I wasn’t entirely reassured by Gio’s words because I had a strong feeling that he was doing something I wasn’t aware of, that something was running through his mind that I couldn’t comprehend. Whatever it was, I hoped it wouldn’t harm him or them. I might not be able to bear losing someone else close to me. My heart couldn’t take it.
I had a hard time falling asleep that night because I had a lot on my mind. Consequently, I woke up late in the morning.
Gio was gone again. He always left the house very early, so we didn’t cross paths. I wasn’t even sure if he had time for breakfast. I hoped that amidst all his work, he didn’t forget to eat.
“Alicia?” I called out. Breakfast was prepared, but it was strange that the household staff was nowhere to be seen. I hadn’t even noticed my guards.
“Ma’am Millie…”
I jumped when I suddenly heard Mariana’s voice. I turned to look at her and breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled at me before greeting me again.
“You startled me, Mariana.” I held my chest because my heart was racing.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I’m back to being your guard. Please have breakfast. Let me pull up a chair for you.” She pulled a chair for me, and I sat down.
“Where’s Alicia and the others?”
She seemed surprised by my question. “I don’t know, Ma’am. They might be busy with their tasks and scattered around the house. Sir Gio left, and he has something to attend to. It seems like they’re planning a major operation, and they have many associates with them.”
Perhaps they had found Nicolas, and they were now executing their plan.
“Mariana, come and join me. It’s lonely eating alone.”
I knew she might refuse, so I played the pitiful card with her. In the end, she joined me for breakfast.
“Do you know what Gio is doing right now?” I asked, just to be sure.
“I think they’re looking for the one who kidnapped you,” Mariana replied. Her expression suddenly darkened. “Are you okay, Ma’am? With everything that’s happened? I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
I sadly smiled at her. “I’m coping, but… there are times when I’m still saddened by what happened to Sienna and Dario. It’s like a nightmare every time I think about it. I can’t believe it.”
Mariana’s eyes became even sadder. I knew she was also grieving for Dario.
“How are you, Mariana? I didn’t get the chance to ask after what happened.”
Mariana offered a faint smile. “Like you, Ma’am, I’m managing, but… I’m not used to not having Dario around.”
Neither am I. I got used to always seeing Dario. Despite our occasional disagreements because of his strict nature, with Gio being the only one he would listen to, I had become close to him.
At home, whenever I visited my father’s place, I expected Sienna to welcome me, even though I knew he was no longer there. There were times and moments when I could accept it, but I kept returning to the times when I still couldn’t. I wished for a miracle that could bring them both back. Was that too much to ask?
I noticed that there was no cream for my coffee. I stood up to get some because I couldn’t see around. It was strange that there was no one here except for Mariana and me. It seemed like this had never happened before.
“Mariana, would you like some coffee too?”
I was about to continue speaking when I heard the click of a gun behind me. I took a deep breath.
I turned slowly to face the source of the noise and saw Mariana standing in front of me, pointing a gun at me.
I held my breath even though it was hard to do so. My breathing quickened, but I tried not to let her see my fear. I didn’t want her to know that I was scared.
“What’s going on, Mariana?” I asked her.
The sadness I had seen in her eyes earlier slowly disappeared. I saw a chilling smile form on her lips. She laughed loudly upon hearing my question.
“What’s going on?” she mocked me. “Don’t you understand your situation, Ma’am Millie?”
I had a suspicion of what this meant. I had heard from Taddeo and Gio multiple times about the traitor, but I didn’t expect Mariana…
“You’re not the traitor, are you? You wouldn’t do this to Gio. Mariana, you grew up with them! You grew up alongside them! Why are you doing this?”
“And who do you think is to blame for my upbringing without my parents, huh? It’s them! The Locatelli family is the reason I grew up without my real parents!”
“Mariana, we’re not your enemies here. Whoever ordered you to do this is deceiving you!”
“No one is deceiving me. I willingly conspired with them because I know the darkness of the Locatelli. My parents? They were killed by Sir Gio and Sir Agatone when they murdered the members of the Belleza family!”
I furrowed my brow, unable to understand what she was saying.