Getting away with the Alpha's Pup

Chapter 192

Fern's Perspective

The morning sunlight streamed through the cracks in the curtains, spilling onto the tabletop and adding a touch of warmth to the humble cottage. Sleep still lingered on Daniel's face as he lazily rose from his bed, his eyes—so deep and dark, like Giovanni's—slowly opening as he gazed out the window at the distant view.

"Mommy, are we going to the market today?" His voice held a note of anticipation, and despite his young age, he always seemed older than other children.

I smiled and nodded, a warmth filling my heart.

Since I started working, I'd rented a small house near my company and began living independently with Daniel, despite my parents' strong objections. But I wasn't a little girl relying on my parents anymore; I was a mother now.

Besides, after the day of my interview when I learned I'd be working for Giovanni's company, I'd worried that he might uncover Daniel's existence through his investigation of my background. That's why I had to leave my parents behind.

"Yes, Daniel, we're going to the market today. Can you help Mommy with something?" I bent down and gently pinched the top of his soft hair.

Daniel nodded vigorously, a maturity in his eyes that didn't belong there. He looked at me and smiled slightly, a steady, knowing smile—one that seemed to say he held secrets adults couldn't fathom.

"I'll help Mommy with the heavy stuff," Daniel said, a hint of mischief in his voice, though there was also determination.

I sighed softly. This child... always able to offer me inexplicable comfort and strength when I least wanted to face the world. I knew Daniel wasn't an ordinary child. He shared the same bloodline as Giovanni, and his fate was tied to a past I couldn't escape. I'd never told him the truth about his father—the man I loved and hated in equal measure. Yet, I loved him with a fierceness that felt like my very life depended on it, and I did everything I could to protect him.

After breakfast, Daniel followed me out of the house. The town's streets were quiet and simple, with occasional greetings and smiles from neighbors as they passed. They didn't recognize us for who we were, nor did they know our past. To them, I was just another town resident, and Daniel was a sweet, innocent little boy.

"Mom, can I really help?" Daniel asked again, his serious expression catching my attention.

"Of course." I smiled and ruffled his hair. "Can you carry a couple of bags of potatoes and onions for me? Just be careful not to make them too heavy, so you don't hurt your hands."

Daniel nodded and ran ahead, eagerly greeting the market vendors. He was well-known here, and the townspeople smiled and waved when they saw him, as though he were part of the fabric of their lives. I watched him walk away with a twinge of unease. Though life here brought me peace, there was always an undercurrent of worry I couldn't shake.

I think back to six years ago, when I walked into the future with Giovanni, full of hope, only to be met with despair amidst the devastation of that war. I had to choose to fake my own death and leave the man I had once loved so deeply, leaving him with my unborn son, Daniel. For his sake, I decided to sever all ties with my past. However, Giovanni's presence always lingered, like a shadow that could not be shaken off. Everything about him was etched deeply in my heart.

Suddenly, a familiar scent hit me. I froze, my heartbeat quickening uncontrollably. That scent—it was so familiar, yet so foreign now. It had haunted me through countless nights, driving me mad and breaking my heart.

"Diana?" A low, magnetic voice came from behind me.

I stopped in my tracks, almost too afraid to turn around. The voice was more than familiar—it was Giovanni's.

"Diana, what are you doing here?" His tone was low, incredulous, tinged with disbelief.

I turned slowly, meeting the face I knew down to the marrow of my bones. There was no hint of surprise in Giovanni's eyes, only suspicion and an unspoken question. He studied me as if trying to find some answer within me.

My heart raced, but I kept my expression composed. "Mr. Giovanni, why are you here?"

I swallowed hard and did my best to keep my voice steady. In my mind, I was terrified that he would notice Daniel not far away.

The Giovanni before me was unchanged from six years ago—still as handsome and determined as ever, exuding an aura that was impossible to describe. A wave of long-lost emotions surged within me, but I forced myself to suppress them. I couldn't let him see the turmoil I was feeling.

"How did you… get here?" I asked again, trying to sound indifferent, doing my best to maintain control.

Giovanni furrowed his brow, a flicker of complexity in his eyes. "I thought I was mistaken at first, but seeing your eyes... I'm sure now."

He stepped closer, as if trying to probe for more of the truth. I tightened my grip on my hands, forcing myself not to overthink it.

"You…" I stopped myself, realizing I was no longer the girl who wore her emotions so openly. I was a mother now, Daniel's mother. It was my responsibility to protect him, even if it meant cutting myself off from my past—including Giovanni.

"Did you come alone to get groceries?" Giovanni's voice dropped, a mix of emotions seeping through. I could tell he felt something, but he hadn't yet realized that the person standing before him was no longer the one he had once loved so deeply. I was someone else now, living a completely different life from the one we had shared.

I pressed my lips together and remained silent. No matter what, I couldn't let the past return to our lives. For my own sake, and for Daniel's, this had to end. I was no longer Giovanni's mate, and Daniel's father was not Giovanni.

"Yes…" I said, forcing myself to break the silence. "Sorry, I have to go do something." I quickly changed the subject. "See you later, Alpha Giovanni."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away, my mind too full of conflicting emotions to remain calm.

Daniel was still at the market, dealing with the vendors. He was quietly waiting for me, and I knew I couldn't let the past intrude upon our lives. I couldn't let Giovanni back in. Not now. Not ever.