My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 128

Ellie

The first light of morning trickled through the curtains, and my eyes fluttered open. For a moment, I lay there, disoriented.

"Damn," I whispered, my body tensing from the residual sadness I felt from hearing Giovanni’s story.

I could still see the pain in his eyes. We were not much different, him and I. We both suffered at the hands of someone who was supposed to love and protect us.

Giovanni must’ve already left, so I pushed myself out of bed and began my new routine.

First, I went to Elora’s room where she lay, cooing softly in her crib. As I picked her up and cradled her in my arms, I felt a surge of love for this tiny thing. I sat down in the rocking chair, allowing her to latch onto my breast as she drank hungrily.

My thoughts kept drifting to Giovanni, his caring nature shining through even in the darkest moments of my life.

"Elora, your adopted father is an incredible man," I whispered softly, kissing her forehead as she finished feeding.

With Elora settled back in her crib, I walked to the kitchen where Lucas was already sitting at the breakfast table, munching on cereal.

"Hi Mommy," he greeted me cheerfully, milk dribbling down his chin.

"Hey, buddy," I replied with a smile, sitting down across from him while pouring myself a bowl of cereal. "Started without me?"

"I was hungry," he said between bites. "But when’s Uncle Gio coming home?"

"Later tonight, I guess," I answered, my heart pounding as I remembered the haunting pain in Giovanni’s eyes. Despite his troubled past, he had shown himself to be nothing but love and devotion toward us. The contrast between the man I thought he was and the one who held me close at night was staggering.

"Mommy?" Lucas’s voice brought me back to the present.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about something," I admitted, taking a bite of my cereal. "Did you ask me something?"

"Could I go to the garden with Mary?" he replied, eagerly shoveling more cereal into his mouth.

I nodded. "Sure. Finish your breakfast first."

As we continued with our breakfast, my mind was consumed by thoughts of Giovanni. His caring nature had been hidden beneath the surface, but now that I’d seen it, there was no going back. I couldn’t wait for him to come home, so I could hold him close and let him know just how much he meant to me – and our family.

As the day went on, every action I took and every thought I had was filled with anticipation of our upcoming wedding and the future we would share together.

My heart raced at the idea of standing beside Giovanni, united as husband and wife, ready to face whatever challenges life had in store for us. And through it all, I knew that my love for him would only grow stronger.

A sudden realization hit me. I had fallen in love with Giovanni.

I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I dialed Ivy’s number. The excitement of planning our wedding was mixed with a touch of nervousness. As the call connected, I took a deep breath.

"Hey, Ivy, it’s Ellie," I said when she picked up.

"Ellie! How are you? What’s going on?" Ivy’s voice was filled with curiosity and concern.

"I...I need your help. I want to go dress shopping for my wedding," I confessed, my voice shaking with anticipation.

"Of course I’ll help you find a dress! Do you want to go later today?" Ivy asked.

"Yes," I said, feeling slightly overwhelmed but still thrilled at the prospect of finding the perfect dress for my big day.

"Absolutely, let’s do it. I can’t wait to see you walking down the aisle in a stunning wedding gown," Ivy replied, her enthusiasm practically radiating through the phone.

"Thank you, Ivy. I’m so glad you’re going to be there with me." My voice wavered with emotion as I thought about how much her support meant to me throughout this entire journey.

"Of course, Ellie. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Now, let’s get you that dress!" Ivy declared, her excitement contagious.

We made plans to meet up at a bridal boutique in the afternoon, and I hung up the phone with a sense of relief that I wasn’t alone in this.

The morning passed in a blur of preparations and taking care of Elora and Lucas. Mary helped keep things running smoothly, and Lucas was thrilled when she took him out to explore the garden, leaving me with some quiet time to myself.

As the afternoon approached, I got ready, slipping on the red sweater Giovanni gifted me last night. It fit me perfectly. I never really liked shopping, but this time, things were different. I was going to be a bride.

When Ivy and I arrived at the shop, her enthusiasm was infectious. We greeted each other with a hug, and she immediately launched into discussing dress styles, colors, and themes. Walking into the bridal boutique together felt surreal yet exciting.

Ivy led me through the rows of gowns, each more beautiful than the last. The soft rustle of fabric and the faint scent of lavender filled the air. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of nerves mixed with excitement bubbling up inside me.

"Ellie, this one," Ivy exclaimed, holding up a gown with delicate lace that sparkled in the light. I ran my fingers over the intricate details, marveling at how it caught the light and seemed to shimmer like magic.

As I stepped into the gown and looked at myself in the mirror, I was stunned. The dress hugged my figure in all the right places, the ivory color making my red hair and green eyes pop. I felt like a princess from a fairy tale.

Ivy’s eyes widened with delight, her smile reflecting my own joy. "Oh, Ellie, this is the one. You look absolutely stunning."

I twirled in front of the mirror, watching how the skirt billowed out around me like a cloud. It was as if this gown was made just for me as if it was meant to be worn on my special day.

Tears pricked at my eyes as I realized that this dress was more than just fabric and lace—it was a symbol of love, hope, and a new beginning.

"Aidan and I will be buying this for you, of course," Ivy said.

I looked at her with surprise. "Wait...what?"

"Don’t protest, Ellie. You are his only sister, and he wants to take care of everything, so let him," Ivy said firmly.

Ivy’s generosity overwhelmed me, and tears welled up in my eyes. "Ivy, I don’t know what to say..."

"You don’t have to say anything," she said, her voice warm and reassuring. "Aidan insisted. He wants this day to be perfect for you, just like you deserve."

I nodded, feeling incredibly grateful for Ivy and her brother’s kindness. "Thank you, Ivy. Please tell Aidan how much this means to me."

"I will," Ivy replied with a smile. "Now, let’s get you all set up for your fitting. We have to make sure everything is perfect for the big day."

As we left the boutique, Ivy linked her arm with mine. "I’m so happy for you, Ellie. Giovanni is a lucky man."

"Thank you, Ivy," I said, fighting back tears.

~-~ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Later that night, after tucking Elora and Lucas into bed, I sat on the bed, waiting for Giovanni. I wondered if he thought about our wedding day like I did.

The image of myself in that beautiful gown lingered in my mind, reminding me of the love and hope that filled my heart.

I glanced at the clock, realizing Giovanni was late.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, and my heart skipped a beat. I looked at the door and found Giovanni standing there, a tired but warm smile on his face.

Without a word, I stepped into his embrace, feeling his arms wrap around me in a familiar and comforting hold.

"Hey," he murmured into my hair, his voice soft and filled with tenderness.

"Hey," I whispered back, holding onto him tightly as if afraid he might disappear.

"Miss me, amore?" Giovanni asked, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes.

"Yes," I replied without hesitation. "I found the most amazing wedding dress today, Giovanni. I can’t wait..." I stopped as I realized I was starting to sound like a giddy school girl. Gosh...I felt so silly.

Giovanni narrowed his eyes. "Finish your sentence. You can’t wait to what?"

"I...I can’t wait to wear it," I breathed.

"And I can’t wait to see you in it," he said, brushing a gentle hand over my cheek. His touch sent a wave of warmth through me, easing any lingering nerves.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "What will you wear? Should we get you a suit?"

Giovanni chuckled softly. "I will wear whatever you want me to, mia cara. I will show up naked if you asked me to."

"Maybe not naked," I teased, pressing a playful kiss to his cheek. "You might scare off the priest."

He grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Can’t have that."

I love you, Giovanni," I whispered, feeling the words slipping out of me easily.

His dark eyes widened in surprise and for a moment, he didn’t say anything.

"This is the part where you say, I love you too, Ellie," I teased.

Giovanni’s expression softened, and he cupped my face in his hands. "I love you too, Ellie," he said, his voice filled with sincerity and a depth of emotion that took my breath away.

Those words echoed in my heart, warming every corner with their truth. I felt like everything was exactly as it should be.