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Part 4
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2023-11-08 16:28:44"Zio!" Mrs. Claire's shout halted Ignazio in his tracks. Ignazio stood still for a moment, clutching the straps of his backpack tightly. He seemed unwilling to turn around at all, choosing to harden his heart and deafen his ears even though he knew his mother was grieving over the choice he had made.
"Where are you going?" his mother asked, her voice choked. Ignazio still didn't answer her. "Don't you have any pity for Gianna? She's still a baby, Zio. She just lost her mother; how can she lose her father too?" Mrs. Claire lamented sadly.
"I'm sorry, Mom," he said softly, but his words were still audible to the people behind him. "But I can't take care of that child. My heart hurts, and I don't want to resent her and blame her for Gretta's departure.
"If Mommy truly loves me, let me go. I believe that you can take care of her. I'm sure that with you all, she will be happier. Just pretend I don't exist. Take care of her because she's what Gretta wanted in her remaining life, not me," he replied, his voice filled with torn feelings, his eyes brimming with tears.
After saying that, Ignazio walked faster toward his parked car, and without looking back, he drove away from his parents' home.
Mrs. Claire cried. She went into her husband's embrace, mourning the fate of her eldest son and her granddaughter.
"What should we do?" she sobbed to her husband.
Mrs. Claire, who was usually very adept at controlling her emotions, seemed not to be trying to hold back this time. She cried in her husband's arms while her stepdaughter rubbed her back to soothe her.
"Via." Mrs. Claire turned to hug her stepdaughter, as if hanging her hopes on her. "What should I do now? Your brother has gone, and Gianna... she lost her parents."
"Be patient, Mom," Flavia said in her gentle tone. "Ignazio might need time to heal his wounds. For now, let's just leave him be. Let him recover his feelings." Flavia intervened, supported by her father's nod. "Zio is just grieving and needs time to embrace his sorrow.
"I'm sure he will come back to us. Anyway, this is his family. This is where his daughter, the fruit of his love and Gretta's, is. We just need to give him time to reflect. Meanwhile, we pray to God that he will come back to us soon, Mom."
Mrs. Claire wiped her tears roughly and nodded. Her rational mind tried to understand the situation even though her heart couldn't accept it easily.
Flavia and Antony led Mrs. Claire back into the house. As they guided Mrs. Claire towards the living room, she shook her head and chose to walk towards the room where baby Gianna was.
Not wanting to leave her mother alone, Flavia assisted her mother as they walked towards Gianna's room.
The door was open, just as Mrs. Claire had left it earlier. And what surprised them was when they saw the tall mirror in the room reflecting Gianna sleeping in Olivia's arms. Olivia was gently rocking Gianna while stroking the baby's forehead with her index finger, softly humming a lullaby.
Without many words, the middle-aged woman stepped back from the room, took her stepdaughter's hand, and moved away from where Gianna and Olivia were.
The silence of the night after the funeral was filled with the cries of a baby from the second floor, where Gianna was. Yes, after the incident earlier in the evening, Gianna was finally moved to the upstairs room where Claire had prepared a nursery for her, using items and furniture taken from Ignazio and Gretta's residence.
Mrs. Claire glanced upstairs, visibly worried about her granddaughter. With quick steps, she climbed the stairs to her granddaughter's room. Olivia observed this in silence. Her forehead creased with curiosity. What was happening with Gianna? Why wouldn't the baby stop crying? Was she in pain, or was she hungry and impatient because the nurse hadn't given her milk yet?
Before her questions could be answered, a hand tapped Olivia's right shoulder from behind. Startled, she turned and saw who it was. It was one of the Quirino family's house assistants.
"Why, ma'am?" Olivia asked, confused.
"Grandma is asking you to go upstairs," whispered the woman in her forties. "To Miss Gianna's room," she added when Olivia furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Do I need to bring something?" Olivia asked, suspecting that Mrs. Claire might need something like milk or a baby bottle.
The house assistant shook her head. "Miss Gianna's needs are already taken care of upstairs. You're just requested to go up." The assistant said no more. Without further inquiry, Olivia stood up and made her way towards the stairs.
In front of Gianna's room, where the baby's cries hadn't ceased, Olivia knocked softly. The door opened, and the nurse entrusted to care for Gianna let her in. The woman's face was pale with panic, and Mrs. Claire was gently rocking Gianna, trying to soothe her.
The little baby squirmed in her grandmother's arms, her face red, and her mouth open, protesting for reasons unknown.
"What's wrong, grandma? You called for me?" Olivia asked, bewildered.
Mrs. Claire nodded and waved her hand, careful not to jostle Gianna, signaling Olivia to approach, afraid the baby in her arms might fall.
"Please, help me, Olivia. Gianna won't stop crying, and the nurse insists that she's fine." Mrs. Claire said in panic. Unexpectedly, she handed Gianna over to Olivia very carefully.
Why was Mrs. Claire giving Gianna to her? Why not the nurse who was supposed to care for her?
However, Olivia didn't ask many questions. She simply accepted Gianna and positioned the baby in her arms to make her comfortable.
"You managed to calm her earlier this afternoon. I hope you can do it again now," Mrs. Claire said, looking at Olivia hopefully.
Olivia glanced at baby Gianna, but the little one continued to whimper in her arms. She glanced at the warm bottle of milk on the bedside table, the one that had been offered by both the nurse and Mrs. Claire in turn and had been rejected by Gianna.
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Thinking of giving it another try, Olivia reached for the baby bottle and carefully placed it in Gianna's mouth. Strangely, Gianna accepted it readily, sucking the milk inside hungrily. This sudden development left Mrs. Claire and the nurse exchanging puzzled glances."It seems, Miss Gianna likes Miss Olivia's scent," the nurse suddenly remarked.Olivia raised her head, her forehead creased in confusion. The woman smiled."It's hard to explain logically or medically. But many babies choose scents. They find comfort in the 'smell' of certain people. Most children cling to their mother's 'scent,' and sometimes their father's. And some find comfort in the 'smell' of specific individuals."You know, Miss, babies who resist being with anyone but their own mother. So they cling to their mother's embrace constantly and refuse to be apart. If they are even slightly detached, the baby will cry and squirm, wanting to return to their mother's arms, making it impossible for the mother to do anyth
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"UNCLE SICK, Zio." The soft notification made Ignazio's heart throb painfully. It was a voice recording of his cousin, Geremia, saved in the voice recorder on his cellphone."Some time ago, he was treated for a heart attack. Excessive stress was the cause." His cousin continued again.Geremia knows better about Ignazio's father's condition because, for one thing, the man lives in the same town as Ignazio's family. And secondly, Geremia is a heart specialist. So he knows the ins and outs and effects of his father's condition."Uncle is trying to be strong. But no matter how strong he is, too many thoughts are not something he can easily bear, Zio."Go home. Apart from Uncle's sake, do it for your younger siblings and..." Geremia's words didn't continue because Ignazio had already turned off the recording.Ignazio sat in his portable chair. Raise his head and look at the starry sky in the dark of night.Five years.He has been running from real life for five years. He was trying to esca
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Twenty minutes later, Ignazio again set foot in front of the thirty-story building.Five years have passed. Ignazio was curious if the apartment was not rented to someone else. Before marriage, he asked his youngest brother, Meizar, to manage all his property.If the apartment is occupied, inevitably, Ignazio will have to look for another place to live temporarily before he is truly ready to face his parents.The smile of the apartment security guard looked friendly."Mr. Ignazio?" he greeted in disbelief. Of course, the man would be surprised to see Ignazio's current appearance. Because Ignazio, six years ago, when he was still single, looked very neat and took care of himself. Meanwhile, the current Ignazio?Ignazio now has a bigger physique. His hair, which used to be dark brown, tending to black, has now turned lighter due to frequent exposure to the sun, as has his skin. His hair was long, and he deliberately tied it carelessly. And his face, Ignazio didn't even take the time to
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ALARM BLARED. With sleepy eyes, Olivia fumbled under her pillow, searching for her phone to turn off the alarm. She lay still for a few moments, trying to shake off the drowsiness, stretching her muscles before sitting up on the bed.It was five in the morning, and outside her bedroom window, people were already bustling, starting their day. Olivia got out of her bed and made her way to the bathroom inside her room.Her residence could be described as a studio apartment, measuring four by six meters, with a bathroom and a small kitchen area of two and a half by one and a half meters. But she wasn't in an apartment building or a boarding house; instead, she was in a housing complex for employees built at the back of the Quirino family's house. A family of Italian-American descent. It was where Olivia worked.Olivia had been working for the Antony-Claire family for five years. Her position? Well, Olivia herself couldn't accurately classify what her role in the house was. All she knew wa
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FLASHBACK"Why?" Mrs. Claire asked when Olivia stated her intention to move out of the Antony-Claire residence and quit her job as Gianna's nanny."Gianna can do everything on her own now, Granny. She's very independent. So I feel like I'm not really working here, just collecting a paycheck," Olivia answered honestly."It's not like that, Olivia. Gianna still needs you," Mrs. Claire pleaded. "It's okay if you want to go to college. I'm even willing to pay for your education, but don't leave this house, Oliv."What kind of classes do you want to take? Regular? Evening classes? Or perhaps online courses? Where do you want to study? What major are you interested in? I'll fund it all."Olivia couldn't answer because she hadn't looked for the college she wanted to attend yet."If you feel the need to be active, you can work in an office, a hotel, or even a restaurant. You just have to choose where you want to work, and I will hire you there."But don't truly leave this place, Oliv. Because
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With some effort, Olivia pressed the code next to the door and proceeded towards the elevator. Olivia didn't particularly like being in small, enclosed spaces. People referred to it as claustrophobia. Fortunately, Olivia's claustrophobia wasn't too severe. As long as she didn't spend too much time in the elevator, she believed she would be fine. She couldn't imagine having severe claustrophobia, as it would mean having to climb the emergency stairs all thirty floors every time she visited the place.Olivia stepped out of the elevator, walked towards the door on the right, and entered the opening code. And there it was—a penthouse dominated by glass walls, offering breathtaking views of the city.Olivia had been going back and forth to the penthouse for two years. But every time she entered, she felt amazed. Looking out the window, it was like observing a beautiful metropolis painting.She placed her bag on the bar table, walked towards the island set, and started organizing the items
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Honestly, throughout her life, she had seen shirtless men not just once or twice. Even since she moved in with the Quirino family, the sight of broad chests and six-pack abs seemed like a normal occurrence to Olivia.However, seeing the Quirino sons never tempted Olivia, let alone elicited the intense thudding in her chest like it did now. With messy long hair and a bathrobe revealing a small part of his broad chest, for some reason, Olivia suddenly felt uncomfortable. Her hands seemed itchy, wanting to reach out and touch the tanned skin.And again, seeing stubbles and mustaches had become a daily occurrence for her since she started working for the Quirino family. But seeing the tanned stubbles and mustaches on the man earlier made Olivia...She shook her head vigorously and quickly walked towards the kitchen.Olivia took out the beef she had just put in the freezer. She thinly sliced the steak meat she had bought from the supermarket. Then, she took out some button mushrooms from t
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Olivia continued her work, leaving her guest to eat alone. As she lifted her cloth to wipe off dirt, her eyes widened in shock. A memory flashed into her mind. She turned back towards the dining table to make sure what she had seen was real. Earlier, she noticed a resemblance between the guest and her other employer. However, at that time, Olivia dismissed it, thinking they might be from the same country, and that's why their facial features looked similar. But now, after giving it some thought, what Olivia initially considered common was not ordinary at all. It was familiar. His face, although not identical to the photos in the Antony-Claire family's residence, was strikingly similar. The man currently having breakfast looked quite messy. His long hair was haphazardly tied at the back of his head, with strands almost covering two-thirds of his face. This appearance was vastly different from the person Olivia often saw in the family photos, the ones she had no idea when they were t
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"OLIVIA IS SOUND ASLEEP on Ignazio's chest, her naked body covered only by a thin blanket on the top of the sofa. Ignazio smiles, lowers his head, and gazes at his young wife's face, gently brushing aside the strands of hair covering her face. He tenderly kisses Olivia's forehead, causing the young woman to snuggle even closer, seeking a comfortable position in the not-so-spacious place.Ignazio and his desire. Days without touching Olivia have evidently tormented him. Olivia's body has become his addiction; Ignazio can't imagine anything else when he looks at his wife, except for touching her. Keeping a distance from Olivia these past few nights has been truly agonizing for him, even more so than before they were married.Ignazio spends his nights restless. He chose to separate himself from Olivia, but he is the one suffering. Countless times every night, he leaves his workspace and intentionally goes upstairs just to see Olivia peacefully asleep. Ignazio wants to touch her, unveil t
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"WHAT SHOULD I do now?" Olivia asked desperately to her sister, Rianna, as she dropped off Gianna, who wanted to visit her cousin after school.Olivia finally told Rianna about Ignazio, who asked her to return to work at Kralligimiz as his personal assistant, which Olivia refused, citing that there was no one to take care of Gianna if she spent her time working.Olivia was truly confused. She thought that when the issue of the Mama's call was settled, her matters with Ignazio were also settled. But Olivia was wrong.When Gianna enthusiastically talked about having a new mom to her friends and teachers at school, Ignazio behaved coldly toward her. Two nights had passed since their return from Kralligimiz. In front of Gianna, Ignazio acted as if their relationship—Olivia and Ignazio—was fine. He smiled warmly and even chatted with Gianna whenever they were in the same room. However, when they were alone, Ignazi
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Before more accusations could come from Ignazio's mouth, Olivia quickly covered his mouth with both of her hands. "Not like that," she said, half whining.Ignazio still looked at her with merged eyebrows, making Olivia feel afraid. The demanding gaze of the man made Olivia's heart pound rapidly due to panic, while her mind was working hard to find the right words to say to Ignazio without offending or angering him.Olivia couldn't afford to lie to him because if she uttered one lie, she would have to weave more lies."So, what is it? Explain," said Ignazio coldly, demanding after Olivia released her hands from his mouth."I..." she began, confused. "I'm not ready to have a child," Olivia answered honestly."Why?" Ignazio demanded, not satisfied."Zio, I'm still too young to have a child," she continued nervously.Ignazio sighed. "And I'm
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"But, Zio..." Olivia whispered softly as she felt Ignazio's kiss on her neck."Hmm?" Ignazio asked without moving his lips away from Olivia's neck, sniffing it as if savoring the scent of her body."Until when are we going to be here?" Olivia asked nervously. The remnants of her sanity began to make her anxious about what people might think of their relationship. She really didn't like it when people gossiped about her.Yes, they were already married. Even though their official papers hadn't come out yet, they were still halal to be together whenever and wherever they pleased.Nevertheless, Olivia wasn't ready to answer the questions of those who might see them. Just imagine what Ignazio's receptionist or secretary might think tomorrow when they saw Olivia leaving Ignazio's office in the morning, afternoon, or maybe evening without ever having seen her enter?Or wondering about h
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OLIVIA WINCED SOFTLY. She felt aches all over her body. She wanted to get up, but the soreness in her body made her want to curl up longer. Her eyes slowly opened. The first thing she saw was a wide glass window with beautiful tiny rays of light.Is there a fireworks party outside? she asked herself. But those rays of light didn't move like fireworks usually do. Olivia tightened her blanket and chose to gaze at the scenery a little longer."Are you awake?" The soft low-toned question made Olivia realize that she wasn't alone. Memories flooded back to her instantly. Scene after scene she did a few hours ago made Olivia widen her eyes.She turned and saw Ignazio sitting behind her. The man was leaning forward, looking in her direction. His large hands slowly reached out and parted Olivia's hair."Awake now?" he asked again, touching Olivia's forehead with the back of his hand. "Thank goodness, your fev
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"What should I call you?" Olivia asked, confused."We're clearly not role-playing as master and servant, are we? You're my wife, so call me by an appropriate term." Ignazio commanded firmly.Olivia fell silent, her mind seemed to be contemplating the right way to address Ignazio. Not wanting the girl to daydream any longer, Ignazio suddenly bent his knees, causing Olivia's body to be pushed, and she screamed, unintentionally calling out "Zio!" loudly due to the surprise."I like that term." Ignazio replied with a smile on his face. "I like it when you call me Zio.""W-what?" Olivia asked, confused."I like it when you address me with the term Zio." he repeated, making Olivia wide-eyed and blush.Another decision they successfully made today was to choose a nickname."So, aren't you going to continue?" Ignazio asked, casting his gaze on th
Become The Widower's Wife Part 106
"M-Meaning?" Olivia asked, bewildered. Ignazio sat on the edge of the bed, smiling. "I mean, surrender yourself to me. Here, right now. I won't take your virginity, Olivia. You'll have to give it to me willingly," he said, still with his mischievous smile, leaving Olivia not only wide-eyed but struggling to swallow hard. "Surrender my virginity?" Olivia asked, confused. Ignazio nodded slowly. "I won't touch you, but you will touch me," he said with a sly smile. "Forget the conventional way where the husband usually takes the wife's virginity. This time, I want you to deflower yourself, with me," Ignazio continued. "B-But how?" Olivia asked, still confused. "I won't touch you, but you will touch me," he repeated, emphasizing his point. "Make love to me, in your own way," Ignazio continued softly. Hearing the word "make love" made Olivia's femininit
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The man glanced at Olivia briefly, weighing the decision he needed to make. He then closed all the documents on his computer screen, switched the screen to sleep mode, took his phone, and excused himself from Olivia.Olivia grinned to herself. At least there was someone who felt more nervous and dominated by Ignazio than she did.Taking another deep breath, Olivia approached the door and knocked softly. After waiting for ten seconds without receiving a response, Olivia finally opened the door and found the room empty.Where is Ignazio? She wondered to herself. It couldn't be that the secretary lied to her, right?Olivia glanced at the right side of the wall, where there was a door leading to a special recording room for Ignazio. To outsiders, it looked like a normal wall, but behind one of the bookshelves was an elevator that would take her up to Ignazio's secret chamber.Olivia entered the elevator and pressed the button to go up after taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.The lif
Become The Widower's Wife Part 104
OLIVIA STOOD right in front of the Kralligimiz building. Her head tilted upward as she gazed at the tall structure. It seemed like she had taken a deep breath and exhaled heavily several times. Now, standing in front of the building, her feet felt too heavy to take a step."This isn't right," she mumbled to herself while turning around, intending to walk towards the entrance gate. "But if not now, when else can I talk to Ignazio?" she questioned herself again, turning back to face the building."This is too impulsive," she continued, shaking her head and turning her body once more. "But I've traveled far enough to reach this office; I can't just leave without talking to Ignazio. They need to resolve this 'Papa's Wife' issue and reassure Gianna. Otherwise, Ilya might refuse to come home, especially since the little one's desire is strongly supported by Olivia's sister, Rianna.""If Gianna doesn't want to come back, just let her be. Luna is happy to have Gianna here. Recently, I can't a
