Page 97 of Ruthless Royalty

She takes a deep breath, her eyes searching mine. “Better, I think. I’m … I’m still scared, but… it’s not as bad with you here.”

I feel a swell of emotion at her words, and I lean in to press a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m not going anywhere, Chiara. I’m right here, and I’m going to stay right here.”

She nods, but I can see the doubt still lingering in her eyes. “I know … but it’s hard, Gio. It’s hard to believe that I’m not … that I’m not ruined.”

My heart clenches at the pain in her voice, and I pull her closer, trying to convey with my touch what I can’t put into words.

“You’re not ruined, Chiara. You’re not. What happened … it doesn’t define you. It doesn’t change who you are.”

She closes her eyes, her hand resting on my chest as she takes a deep, shaky breath. “I want to believe that. I really do. But it’s going to take time, Gio. A lot of time.”

“And that’s okay,” I say gently. “I’m here for as long as it takes. We’ll take it one day at a time, okay? No rush, no pressure on my part.”

She opens her eyes again, and there’s a fire in them that wasn’t there before. “I know,” she says softly. “And that’s why I’ve made a decision.”

I frown, unsure of what she’s getting at. “What decision?”

She takes another deep breath, her gaze steady on mine. “I’ll marry you, Gio. But only after school is over. I need to finish my degree first, but after that … I’ll marry you.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. Marry me? She’s agreeing to marry me?

“Chiara, you don’t have to decide that now,” I say quickly, my heart racing. “You’ve been through so much, you don’t have to?—”

“I want to,” she cuts me off, her voice firm. “I’ve thought about it, and I know it’s what I want. I love you, Gio, and I trust you.”

I stare at her, stunned. This isn’t what I expected. I wanted her to be safe, to feel loved, but I never expected her to make this decision now, not after everything that’s happened.

“Are you sure? I mean, I love you more than anything, but I don’t want you to feel pressured into this because of what happened. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this to prove something, or to feel safe.”

She smiles, a soft, genuine smile that makes my heart ache with how much I love her.

“I’m not doing this out of fear. I’m doing this because I love you, and because I want to build a life with you. But I need time. I need to finish school, to figure out who I am outside of all of this. And then, when I’m ready, we can start the next chapter together.”

Her words leave me speechless, and all I can do is nod, pulling her closer, my heart swelling with love, pride, and a little bit of awe.

“You amaze me, you know that?” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “You’ve been through so much, and yet here you are, still fighting, still moving forward. I don’t know how you do it, but I’m so damn proud of you.”

She blushes, ducking her head slightly, but I can see the smile playing on her lips. “I’m not that amazing,” she says softly. “I’m just trying to survive.”

“You’re more than just surviving,” I say firmly, lifting her chin so she has to meet my eyes. “You’re living, baby; you’re fighting for your future, for our future, and that’s more than amazing. That’s extraordinary.”

She smiles again, a small, grateful smile, and leans in to kiss me, her lips soft and warm against mine. It’s a slow, tender kiss, full of all the emotions we can’t quite put into words, and when she pulls back, I can see the love in her eyes, the same love that’s burning in my chest.

“I love you,” she whispers, her voice barely audible, but it’s enough to send a rush of warmth through me.

“I love you too,” I say, my voice just as soft. “And I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much.”

CHIARA

As I stand in front of the mirror, brushing out the last tangles in my hair, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that’s settled deep in my chest. We’re supposed to leave for the Mikhailov estate soon, and I’ve spent most of the morning trying to push away the anxiety about leaving Giovanni’s home.

I glance around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. The room feels like a safe haven now, but I know that safety is fragile, that it can be shattered in an instant. Still, I take a deep breath and try to steady myself. I’m stronger now. I have to be.

As I’m about to reach for my bag, the door creaks open, and I freeze. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is—the heavy, suffocating presence tells me everything. Giovanni’s father. The room seems to grow colder, the air thick with tension as I slowly turn to face him.

“Mr. Basile,” I greet him, trying to keep my voice steady.

He stands there, tall and imposing, his dark eyes boring into mine with a mix of disdain and cold calculation. For a moment,neither of us speaks, the silence stretching out like a noose tightening around my neck.

---