Getting away with the Alpha's Pup

Chapter 203

Fern's Perspective

I never imagined I'd be standing in front of Giovanni at a moment like this. Six years had passed—six years enough for me to almost forget that painful memory, those deep and tangled emotions. But today, fate had brought me face-to-face with those eyes, eyes that once pierced so deeply into my heart.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might jump out of my chest. Instinctively, I hid Daniel behind me, doing my best to block Giovanni's view. Even though I knew Giovanni's gaze was far sharper than I'd ever anticipated. My body tensed, frozen, barely able to move, and the clash of reason and instinct sent a wave of vertigo through me.

Giovanni didn't speak right away. His gaze sliced across my shoulder with the precision of a blade, cutting through my tight grip on Daniel's hand. I was sure he could see me hiding my son behind me, because the brief flicker of emotion in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by an icy coldness that almost took my breath away. His eyes swept past me and seemed to take an intense interest in Daniel, still hidden behind me.

My heart beat faster. Why would he notice Daniel? Couldn't he see the panic and unease on my face?

"Diana," Giovanni finally spoke, his voice low and husky, with a strange tone I hadn't heard before. It was like an echo from another world, tearing through the calm I'd grown accustomed to. "Aren't you going to introduce the little friend?"

The "Aren't you going to introduce him?" wasn't a question, but a cold statement, with an edge of scrutiny and silent accusation, as if he already knew everything. I felt desperation grip me, as though I were being pushed to the brink of death. I took Daniel's small hand and almost instinctively pulled him closer, trying to shield him from Giovanni's gaze.

Daniel glanced at me, sensing my anxiety. He frowned lightly but said nothing, only moving closer to me. This little guy had an innate intuition. He could feel the tension within me and the oppressive aura Giovanni exuded.

Giovanni took a slow step forward, his movements steady and forceful. Each step seemed to carry an invisible pressure, making it feel as though there was no way to escape. "There's no need to hide, Diana. No one can hide forever." His words were layered with meaning, his voice devoid of warmth, but carrying an oppressive quality I couldn't ignore.

I wanted to scream, but I knew that staying calm was my only option. I took a deep breath, doing my best to steady myself, my eyes flickering slightly as I tried to hide the panic gnawing at me inside.

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in the distance, breaking the suffocating silence.

It was Elena.

Elena's presence shifted Giovanni's attention, if only slightly, from me.

She was dressed in a stunning gown, walking with graceful strides and a hint of a pout in her eyes. Her gaze briefly swept over me before landing on Giovanni with a flicker of displeasure.

"Giovanni, you shouldn't have stayed away for so long." Elena's voice carried a hint of provocation, but also an undercurrent of nervousness she couldn't quite hide. "My father's been waiting for you."

Giovanni didn't glance at Elena. Instead, he kept his unwavering focus on me, his eyes carrying an unreadable emotion, like a silence that demanded its own space. He didn't seem inclined to acknowledge Elena, his response cold and dismissive: "Your father can wait a little longer."

His eyes never left mine, and the chill in them remained.

Elena froze for a moment, then smiled, as if brushing it off, before walking over to Giovanni. She gently tugged at his arm, but her tone held a few sharp edges. "You promised me you wouldn't be delayed by anything else."

Her eyes swept over me, carrying a hint of provocation and what seemed like a silent declaration of her place in Giovanni's heart.

A dark sneer twisted inside me.

Elena was undoubtedly an intelligent woman; she could see Giovanni's indifference toward her, as well as the disbelief and questions in his eyes when it came to me. So, she chose to create distance between us in a flippant, almost dismissive way.

At this point, though, I found myself oddly thankful for her stirring the pot—maybe it would help me get out of my current predicament.

I glanced around nervously, buying myself some time. I needed to get Giovanni out of the way, and I had to end this as soon as possible.

So, I took a deep breath and spoke in a tone I hoped would sound calm. "Mr. Giovanni, you seem to have more important matters to attend to."

There was a slight tremor in my voice, but I forced myself to remain composed. "Elena is right—her father is waiting for you. Perhaps you should attend to something more pressing."

There was a noticeable bite of provocation in my words. Though my insides were a mess of shock and anxiety, I had to do it. I had to provoke him. I knew Giovanni's temperament—once riled, he'd be desperate to leave and end this farce.

As expected, Giovanni's eyes turned ice-cold in an instant, his jaw tightening as a sneer curved his lips. "You really think I'll take advice from you?" His voice was low and laced with sarcasm. "You think I'll let you lead me around by the nose?" He chuckled darkly, but the flicker of viciousness beneath his gaze was unmistakable.

Elena's face shifted, a faint realization dawning on her that the situation was slipping away from her control. Still, she clung to Giovanni's arm, whispering urgently, "Giovanni, don't forget your responsibility."

But Giovanni didn't even glance at her. His eyes never left me. "You think you can stop me?" His tone was so cold it practically radiated frost. "You're in no position to tell me what to do."

I could feel the anger in his words—under it, a raw, almost painful undertone that I couldn't ignore. His eyes bored into mine, as if trying to pierce through me. I fought to hold myself together, my breath shallow, but I forced a sneer onto my lips. "You're a smart man, Mr. Giovanni. You should know what you need to do."

The words were almost spat out through gritted teeth. A sharp pang of unease gripped me, but I knew this had to be done. I couldn't give him any more time. I couldn't let him find Daniel.

Giovanni remained silent for a moment, his eyes darkening with even more intensity. Then, finally, he gave me a cold look, as if he had seen right through me. Without another word, he turned, gently pushing Elena's hand away, and said, "I'm leaving."

He didn't look back, just strode off, his figure fading into the distance toward the far hall. As he passed, he threw me one last glance—meaningful, yet cold—and in that moment, I felt the unmistakable crack of my heart breaking.