Chapter 3 She's Different
1108 Words
Giovanna was caught off guard and fell to the ground, exposing her hideous look.
"Oh my God, Grandpa must be crazy. Even if Antonio is paralyzed, he doesn't deserve this. Just look at what you're wearing! Even our maids dress better than you."
Giovanna adjusted her glasses, her eyes sharp and penetrating.
"I'm your sister-in-law now. You should show me some respect."
Yolanda was taken aback by her sharp tongue.
"Respect? If your sister wasn't infertile, you wouldn't even be here. Do you think you're fit to be my sister-in-law?"
Giovanna smiled faintly, "In that case, please leave. Don't disturb my husband."
"Husband?" Yolanda was dumbfounded. "You ugly bumpkin! You can't marry my brother! You don't deserve him!"
Deliberately putting on a sweet smile, Giovanna wrapped her arm around Antonio's.
"Our marriage certificate says we're already husband and wife. Sorry, but could you leave us alone? We need some privacy."
Antonio looked down at her, amused by how naturally she called him her husband. It was quite endearing.
Apparently, she wasn't that boring kind of woman. Though she seemed cheesy and wasn't quite easy on the eye, her demeanor was something different.
Yolanda was livid. "You... shameless!"
Giovanna kept provoking her. "We're married by law. Any objections?"
Yolanda stomped her foot and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. "Just you wait!"
Giovanna sighed in relief. As she moved to release Antonio, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"Antonio, let go!" She struggled but was surprised by his strength that locked her firmly inside his embrace.
His cool breath brushed her ear. "Tell me, who exactly are you?"
Giovanna froze briefly and then looked up at Antonio, feigning confusion. "Am I not your newlywed wife?"
"You know that's not what I mean."
"Explain yourself, please?" She couldn't break free, so she didn't even bother trying.
"Don't you play dumb with me." He tilted her chin up, his eyes gleaming with suspicion.
Giovanna's clear eyes showed no sign of panic, only an unsettling calmness.
"You don't need to be so tense. I'm not here to harm you."
Antonio scoffed, amused by her confidence, "And what could you possibly do to me?"
"I can cure you. Your legs aren't suffering from ordinary paralysis."
She had examined him earlier and noticed that his legs were gradually stiffening. Within three months, he would be at risk of amputation.
Antonio frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Someone tried to harm you during your treatment by adding something to your medication. I need more time to figure out exactly what it is," She spoke with a seriousness that left no room for doubt.
Antonio wasn't surprised to hear someone wanted to harm him. As the heir to a wealthy family, many of his enemies were hidden within it.
But for this girl to deduce this just from an examination, she certainly wasn't ordinary.
He released her and leaned back against the headboard. "If you don't want to waste your youth here, you'd better leave."
"I'm not leaving. We're married, and I take our vows seriously. My grandmother always taught me to keep my promises."
Moreover, Edward wouldn't allow it either.
Staying in the Hooper family gave her a chance to investigate her grandmother's death and treat Antonio's legs. When she eventually left, she wouldn't owe him anything.
Antonio's eyes narrowed. "I'm paralyzed. I can't give you the physical relationship you want."
"I don't care about that," she said without hesitation.
Antonio wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or insulted. Did she not care, or did she think he was incapable?
Just then, Gary knocked on the door. "Mr. Hooper, Mr. Edward Hooper requests Mrs. Hooper downstairs."
Giovanna finally had an excuse to leave. "I'm leaving. And please, keep the curtains open, Mr. Fake Vampire. It'll help with your recovery."
She got up, packed her medical tools back into her small suitcase, and left the room.
After Giovanna left, Antonio called for his assistant, Eric Ford.
"Mr. Hooper," Eric greeted.
"Look into Giovanna's background. I want to know everything about her, down to the smallest detail."
Antonio's intuition told him there was more to her story.
*****
As Giovanna descended the stairs, she received a call. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Rene Dyson.
"Didn't I tell you not to call unless it's urgent? I'm busy right now."
She didn't want to risk exposing her identity and attracting trouble.
"Boss, I really need to talk to you. Alan just called and said someone's looking into you."
Giovanna's long eyelashes fluttered. She had already guessed who it was. "It's Antonio."
"Antonio? Your husband? Why is he investigating you?"
Despite being married, it seemed Antonio still had his doubts. But the name Antonio Hooper sounded familiar to Rene, prompting him to check his records.
"Whoa, Boss, your husband is quite something! He took over the company at just 20 and controlled the entire economy of Chicago. Now, he's basically the king of the local market! Every word he says and every move he makes can shake the whole market. You two are quite the match."
Rene exclaimed in shock but then continued, "But it's a pity that he rarely handles company matters since that car accident last year. Even so, his reputation in Chicago remained intimidating, and nobody dares challenge his status."
"Cut the crap and get to the point. I don't have much time," Giovanna interrupted, annoyed.
"Ahem... Should we let him find anything or not?" Rene asked.
"It will only make him doubt me even more if he can't find anything. However, he can't learn about everything. Reveal that I have medical skills. It might be useful later."
With his unmatching status, Antonio was undoubtedly meticulous.
He had already started to suspect her after less than half an hour together.
So, she would need to be extra careful when they spent time together.
"Got it. Also, there's a new project at the company. I sent the details to your email. Take a look when you can."
"You guys handle it. I might not be available much," said Giovanna.
"Understood. Over and out," Rene said. After he hung up, Giovanna deleted the call log.
After dinner, Giovanna brought some prepared medicine to Antonio's room.
Antonio wrinkled his nose. "What's that smell?"
"It's a herbal concoction I prepared for you. Drink it, and I'll give you some acupuncture. We'll see how things go in a couple of days."
Antonio hadn't expected her to be so invested in his treatment. His voice took on a hint of menace, "Giovanna, why are you so keen on staying here and curing me? What's your motive?"
- Writer
