Page 71 of Ruthless Royalty

I can’t bring myself to say anything more, so I just nod, my gaze dropping back to my canvas. The silence between us is almost unbearable now, and after a few more moments, Leo sighs softly.

“I should go. I have some things to take care of before the break.”

He turns to leave, but he hesitates, looking back at me one last time. “Chiara … take care of yourself, okay?”

I nod again, not trusting myself to speak. He gives me a small, sad smile before walking out of the studio, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As soon as he’s gone, the tension in the room dissipates slightly, but it’s replaced by a heavy sense of guilt. I didn’t promise to go to his debut, but the truth is, I can’t say no to him. Not when he’s been nothing but kind to me, even when things got complicated.

But I also can’t ignore everything that Nikolai and Giovanni have warned me about.

I sit there for a while, staring at the invitation in my hand, my mind spinning with indecision. Eventually, I pack up my things and head back to my Suite.

When I get home, I’m greeted by the familiar sight of Giovanni lounging on my bed, a lazy smile on his lips as he looks up at me.

“Hey, Kitten,” he says, his voice smooth as silk. “Missed you.”

I force a smile, trying to push aside the thoughts of Leo and the invitation tucked away in my bag. “Hey, babe.”

He stands up and crosses the room to pull me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me in a way that’s both comforting and possessive.

“Long day?” he asks, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

I nod, leaning into him, letting his warmth seep into me. “Yeah. Just … a lot on my mind.”

Giovanni pulls back slightly, his hazel eyes searching mine. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I say, but the word feels hollow even as I say it. I’m not sure if I’m okay, not with everything that’s been happening. But I don’t want to burden him with it, not right now. “Just tired, I guess.”

His eyes narrow slightly as he studies my face, clearly picking up on the fact that something’s off. But instead of pressing, he offers me one of his trademark grins, the kind that makes my heart skip a beat despite the heaviness in my chest.

“Hold on,” he says, his voice laced with mischief as he steps away from me. “I’ve got something for you.”

I watch as he reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. My curiosity piqued, I raise an eyebrow as he hands it to me.

“What’s this?” I ask, already feeling a little better just from the playful look in his eyes.

“Open it and find out,” he replies, his grin widening.

I open the velvet box and my breath hitches— nestled in silk is a slender chain holding a pendant shaped like a dagger.

The blade is sleek and silver, sharp and gleaming, hanging from a simple gold chain. The hilt has a twisted design, almost like a vine, and there’s a small stone set into it—maybe an opal, I’m not sure.

My eyes widen as I take in the beauty of it, but also thesymbolism. It’s not just a piece of jewelry; it’s a promise, a protection, and a reminder all in one.

“Gio…” I whisper, my voice catching in my throat. “It’s beautiful.”

Giovanni takes the necklace from my hand and gently fastens it around my neck. His fingers brush against my skin as he does, sending a shiver down my spine. Once the pendant is secure, he slips his arms around me from behind and kisses the crook of my neck.

“You’ll always have a piece of me no matter where you are, Kitten,” he says, his voice low.

My heart warms at his words, the gesture sinking deeper than I expected. It’s like he knows exactly what I need, even when I don’t. I reach up to touch the pendant, feeling the cool metal against my fingertips.

“Thank you,” I say softly, turning around and meeting his gaze. “I love it!”

His expression softens further, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with something more tender.

“I’m glad you like it. I wasn’t sure if it was too much, but … I wanted you to know how much you mean to me.”

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