Getting away with the Alpha's Pup

Chapter 142

Fern's Perspective

Giovanni and I settled into a routine. He would come over almost every night if he was home and not traveling.

I would play the piano and sing soothing songs, and we would spend a lovely evening together, as all passionate couples do, unless he had to attend to communal business.

When that happened, we would have breakfast together before he went off to work or on a business trip, while I continued with my day.

No matter how late he came or how busy his day had been, he always brought me a gift of some sort. It amazes me how thoughtful he can be. Usually, he brought me flowers, even though I had a whole garden of them outside my door.

"What are you going to do today?" Giovanni asked over breakfast one morning. He usually asked this question at breakfast, but this day turned out differently than I expected.

"I don't know," I replied, as I usually did. I had just finished buttering a piece of toast and was about to take a bite when he folded the newspaper he had been glancing at and set it aside. "Maybe go shopping. It's going to be fall soon, and I want to knit you a scarf, but I seem to be running out of wool."

"Oh, do you need to go to the store and get some more?" he asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Maybe," I said. "I know you don't like me going into town without you. Will you be around today?"

"I have a very important meeting off-island today," he said, his tone disappointed. "But I'll send a couple of my best men with you."

"Giovanni, that won't be necessary." It reminded me of when I was first brought here by Giovanni. I did like some of those guards and often wondered about them and if they got in trouble for me running away. But that didn't mean I wanted to be followed again.

"I can tell them to keep their distance. Trust me, I just want to make sure you're safe," Giovanni suggested.

I compromised. "Okay, that'll work."

Giovanni reached out and squeezed my arm. "I know you're safe here, Little Tree. It's just that I can't help but worry about you if I'm not around. Just do it for me, okay?" His blue eyes looked at me with sincerity and loyalty.

"Alright," I said, smiling.

A warmth washed over me as I looked at his bright smile, but with it came a vague hint of uneasiness. I forced myself to push these negative emotions down and continued talking to Giovanni.

"I'll be back early tonight," he said. "Maybe we could have dinner together?"

I was curious. "Is there a special occasion?" I asked.

"Every day with you is special," he said with a smile.

His phone rang, making him mumble, "Let me get that."

I nodded, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone and leaving the table to talk to the caller.

I sat at the table and stared at Giovanni's tall back as he spoke on the phone not far away, feeling mixed emotions. On the surface, calm was gradually returning to my life, as if everything was going in the direction I had hoped for. But only I knew that behind this calmness lay a great secret.

The one who knew the truth was often the one who suffered, wasn't it?

"Are you okay, Little Tree?"

Giovanni's voice cut through my thoughts. I looked up at him, and I could tell by his expression that I must have looked very depressed. He was looking at me with deep concern.

But I couldn't tell him the truth.

Giovanni blew out a deep breath. "I have to go."

"Okay." I squeezed out a smile, but my mind was a mess.

"Are you really okay, Little Tree?" he asked again.

"I'm fine, really" I told him, barely managing a real smile as I looked him in the eye.

"If you need me, I can cancel my meeting and stay here with you today. We can go shopping and have lunch."

"No," I shook my head. "You should go. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" He cocked his head to the side, studying my face.

"Yes, I'm sure. You should go." I smiled at Giovanni.

"Okay," he said. "But if you need me to come back, you call me, and I'll be here. Little Tree, I juat want you to be happy."

"Thank you, Giovanni," I told him.

That night, Giovanni and I had dinner as usual, talking about everyday chores.

Giovanni laughed and shared an anecdote from his workday, and I echoed a few chuckles.

Moments like these always made me feel like I was in a trance for a moment, as if things could really be this peaceful. However, this beautiful illusion would always be shattered by my deepest fears.

"Giovanni, have you ever thought about what will happen to us in the future?" I asked suddenly.

Giovanni turned his head to me and smiled, "Of course I've thought about it. I hope we can stay this happy until we both get old, and maybe we will have two or three kids."

A wave of warmth went through me, but it was also accompanied by a deep concern.