Chapter 5 Honest Commitment
903 Words
"Not really. I'm just out of options," Edward said with a heavy sigh, "If this goes on for too long, I fear Tony might just give up."
"He's stronger than that," Giovanna countered confidently.
"Excuse me?" Edward raised an eyebrow.
While many other things remained mysterious, her brief encounters with Antonio had given her a glimpse of his resilience. Her eyes sparkled with conviction as she reassured Edward, "Whatever comes his way, even if it's as grim as amputation, he'll handle it. You wouldn't have pinned such hopes on him otherwise, right?"
Compared to other kids of the Hooper family, Edward's affection for Antonio was obvious.
Besides, he never stopped favoring Antonio despite his dire situation, which proved how exceptional he was. How could such a tough guy yield to despair?
A realization dawned on Edward. 'Maybe... Giovanna can be the one to unlock Tony's inner fortress.'
Giovanna might not be a beauty queen, but her sharp intellect was undeniable.
His face, lined with age, slowly lit up with a smile. "Good. I'm entrusting Tony to you. By the way, about Yolanda, don't take it to heart, She's just spoiled."
"I won't let you down," she smiled lightly.
*****
The polite smile she had been wearing faded instantly as she stepped outside. These wealthy families were like theatres with dramatic plays on stage every single day.
Though Edward maintained a polite facade, Giovanna knew the stakes: fail to heal Antonio, and she might not walk out those doors.
Meanwhile, Eric had just returned to his room with some information.
"Mr. Hooper, I've looked into it. Your wife did study medicine, but it was a brief stint at a nondescript medical college before she left. I can't track down anything after that."
Antonio wasn't surprised. Her precise technique suggested a skilled hand, but with all the famed doctors failing him, could she succeed?
Yet, having felt a flicker of sensation after just two sessions hinted at her potential.
There must be something more about this mysterious girl. Otherwise, he wouldn't have regained his sensation so quickly
"You mean you can't find anything else after her stay in meds school?" he pressed.
"Yes, completely blank," confirmed Eric.
Antonio's gaze darkened. "There's something off then. Dig deeper, whatever it takes!"
Eric nodded. "Yes, sir."
Just then, Giovanna opened the door, looking as composed as ever. "Are you talking about me?"
Eric cleared his throat awkwardly, surprised by his target's boldness.
Instead of excusing herself like most would, Giovanna chose to confront them.
Antonio narrowed his eyes. "You heard everything?"
Without hesitation, Giovanna closed the door and snatched the documents from Eric.
"Easy, my life is an open book. It's normal to be curious, but if you're unsure, just ask me directly."
She sat down beside Antonio on the bed and gently took his arm. "We're married now. Shouldn't we be honest with each other?"
Flustered, Eric quickly left the room.
Antonio looked at her hand on his arm. "Let go."
Giovanna noticed his disdain for physical contact. In fact, she wasn't trying to intrude;
She just wanted to lighten their investigative load. What was wrong with that?
"Fine." She reluctantly let go of his arm, pouting in disappointment.
Just then, Antonio noticed the contrast between the roughness of her face and the smooth skin behind her ear.
Was she hiding something?
Instinctively, he reached towards her and flipped away the scattered hair on her shoulders. He then slightly pinched her earlobe, his fingers clean after the touch. It proved that her actual skin tone was completely different from how she appeared.
As he reached to touch her face, Giovanna dodged, her eyes wary.
"Hey, why touch my ear?"
"It's my right as your husband," Antonio stated bluntly while staring at her. "It's nothing out of the ordinary."
As a couple, they were even supposed to be more intimate than that.
Giovanna looked up at him, her eyes shining. "Then why did you act like an angry cat when I touched your arm?"
"That's just how I am. It's nothing personal."
"Well, so am I. Even if we're married, we aren't that close yet."
Giovanna retorted immediately.
Antonio paused, taken aback by her quick wit. "Can you now tell me what exactly you're hiding?"
Giovanna decided to come clean. Without his trust, she couldn't proceed with the treatment.
"I worked in a hospital once by getting in through connections. My grandmother was a doctor and taught me everything."
"That's it?" Antonio remained skeptical.
"What else were you expecting? Do you think I'm some kind of big shot?"
Reflecting on their previous interactions and her help with his leg, Giovanna felt this was a chance to bridge their gap.
Even if she couldn't extract everything about her grandmother's death, she would have a better understanding.
"Let me give your leg a massage. It might help with your recovery. I'm sure you'll be pleased with my unique technique."
Antonio coughed and blushed, caught off-guard by her boldness.
Giovanna quickly patted his back. "Slow down. No one's rushing you."
Once he had calmed down, Antonio suddenly seized her wrist and pulled her towards him.
Giovanna stumbled, and her lips brushed his chin.
At that moment, they both froze in shock.
Antonio studied her unattractive face, hidden partly by thick bangs and black-framed glasses, suddenly wondering what she would look like without them.
Curiosity piqued, he slowly reached towards her eyes...
- Writer
