BEYOND REVENGE

ting me closer to Giovanni while concealing my actual goals. I understood that g

s like a dagger in my heart, becoming mor

making sincere moves at me. Every morning, beautiful flowers would come to my

o this kind of attention, yet each petal was l

the hardest heart. He phoned me often. I wasn't h

a step more into the society he lived in, a wor

al given how different they were from mine as a child. They were stunning,

galleries in the city. The elite, the sort of individuals who could chang

d back in an understated but sophisticated manner that magnified my face, and my dress was a sle

feel the crowd's eyes turning to watch us. With his hand resting possessivel

ance, the ideal pair to anybody observing.

alk and introductions, the type of point

to a flame with his charm and charisma. I was the lady at his side, secr

ure at one point, which showed a wild sea with

give and steal life in a single breat

ll were to the wrath of nature and was bo

nk? Giovanni looked at the artwo

k. "It serves as a reminder that, despite our perceptions o

if to understand what I had spoken. "Elena, you never ceas

on me, I faked a grin. "I guess my p

replied, "I like that about you

is riches and influence but were cast aside as soon as they were unnecessary. I questioned if they h

nt tone despite my racing he

in a carefree but personal gesture. "Elena, tell m

espond. I had nearly forgotten who I was because I had spent so much

ttle things in life, like love, family, and

I said, sidestepping the query. "My lif

e wasn't sufficient. Elena, everyone

d his inquiry was weighing heavily on my ch

e him. To pull him down from the inside,

ecting my words with care. "Having experienced a great deal, I've

as he seemed to think about this for a bit. In the en

ever heard in his voice before. I nearly thought he wasn

that mindset. Not now, not when m

near, too focused, and I could feel the barriers I had built with such care startin

an end. Giovanni had made arrangements for a vehicle to drive us back to my flat, and I c

knee, Giovanni said, "I ha

ng the internal conflict

ved closer. Elena, I don't want this

ace him. Giovanni, are you sure you're prepared

a glimpse of doubt. But then it vanished in an instant, to be

ined voice, he said, "I th

ut my eyes were cl

door and leaned his hand on mine as he b

to overwhelm him, the need in his eyes.

of me. What if I ended up being stuck instead of him? What would ha

ar gone to go back now. My family had been decimated by Giovanni

me, uncertainty continued to lurk, mutte