Chapter 206: No Embrace to Offer
Perched by the window, Anna's fingers danced nimbly through loops of yarn, the skeins taking on new life in her hands.
"Wow, Anna, are you knitting a scarf?" came an impressed voice.
"Yeah, how did you know?" Anna replied, curious, as it seemed out of character for someone his age.
"I saw it on the news once," Charlie explained, "but, Anna, your knitting looks neater than theirs, and well, you’re way prettier. You should do this in your next live stream; you’d get loads of fans loving it, I bet."
Anna's mind jogged to the realization that it had been days since her last live stream. She hoped her fans were still around when she returned.
"Hey Anna, you don't have to give me a shoutout every time you go live, you know," Charlie continued. "Every time you call me out and send me gifts, it might make other fans feel left out. It'd be better if you spread the love, give everyone a chance. That could really boost your popularity."
Wise beyond his years, he was.
Anna flashed a bright smile. "Sure, I’ll mix it up. Thanks to my dear Giorgio-fan, cute Charlie, and pretty little one; anyway, it’s all about saying hi to you."
Only that way did she feel like she was still by his side.
Charlie bobbed his head in agreement. "Smart Anna, love you!"
"Love you back, my number one fan, Nana."
Engrossed in their sweet banter, neither noticed the perturbed expression on the face of Giorgio, resting in the hospital bed nearby.
Charlie was Nana's number one fan? Anna casually expressing ‘love’ and handing out gifts, to her son?
Had his own child played him for a fool?
No wonder Little Tony hadn’t figured it out for so long!
"Oh, Anna, there's something else," Charlie said, puffing up with pride. "Some troll showed up in your stream, kept saying you were too easygoing. Made me so mad, I blocked his computer and account on the spot. He hasn't shown back up since."
To Charlie, bullies stood no chance; he was Anna’s knight in shining armor.
Anna frowned. "There are people like that? What’s so easygoing about live streaming crafts? Good riddance—you blocked him just right, made that troll squeal."
"Yeah! And when I get the chance, I’ll trace that troll's IP, block his entire family's internet, and see how he likes it then. I’ll even turn his picture into a monster doll and send it to him as a gift."
Suddenly, a male cough cut through their conversation.
Charlie cut himself off, "Dad, what’s wrong?"
Anna set aside her knitting and stood up, "Are you feeling okay? Should I get you some hot water?"
Giorgio watched the pair, his handsome face shadowed by a flicker of something profound. "No need, I'll just rest a bit."
He settled into the warmth of his blankets and unceremoniously uninstalled the live streaming app from his phone.
He never wished for his son or Anna to know that the troll—that black stain they mentioned—was him.
But just as he laid there, Little Tony, who had retreated back into the building recalling an unreported matter, was about to reenter the fray.
"Mr. Vittorio, I apologize, but I haven't located who compromised your computer and account yet. Do you think we need to escalate this to a senior investigative team?"
Charlie knit his brows together, "Someone hacked Dad's computer?"
No one did.
Giorgio stood up, ready to speak, but Little Tony blurted out without missing a beat:
"Yeah, Mr. Vittorio got hacked during Miss Stefanelli's live stream."
Silence hung in the air, thick and heavy as a pall.
One second, two seconds, three seconds passed...
Charlie walked over to Anna and whispered conspiratorially:
"Anna, can you believe it? Dad's the hacker. Shh, let's just pretend we don't know, or he'll lose face."
Without a word, Giorgio sank back. His face couldn't get any redder.
That night, Charlie bunked with Giorgio, while Anna retreated to a separate rest room.
The next morning at six, Anna rose early, set up her phone's camera in the hospital room, and began organizing things with utmost care.
Disturbed by the noise, Giorgio's eyes fluttered open, and he spotted Anna bustling around. "What are you up to?" he asked, his voice a low murmur.
"Shush," Anna gestured for silence, then whispered while pointing to the streamers in her hand, "I'm preparing a birthday surprise for Charlie."
She continued her bustling preparations.
Giorgio watched as she took out colorful ribbons and started adhering them to the wall, followed by an assortment of unfamiliar trinkets that furrowed his brow.
It was only six in the morning and she had risen especially early to prepare a birthday for the child? And she bought all these things?
No one had ever been so considerate before.
Anna decorated with a variety of items, leaving only the prince balloon to be placed above the "Happy Birthday" banner for the finishing touch.
She wasn't tall enough, though. Standing on a stool, she stretched on her tiptoes and reached with difficulty.
A lean arm reached from behind her, took the balloon from her hand, and easily placed it on the wall.
Anna turned in surprise to see Giorgio's handsome face, strong nose, right behind her. His chest was close enough to her back that she could feel the warmth of his body, the healthy vigor, causing her breath to catch:
"Thank you," she managed.
His gaze swept over her face, a slight smile touching his lips. "You're going out of your way for Charlie. I'm the one who should be thankful."
The proximity was too close; his breath fanned her face with a warm, tickling sensation.
For some reason, being near him always made Anna feel flustered.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she stammered, "No bother, I really enjoy doing this for Charlie. Excuse me, I still have things to prepare..."
With that, she stepped away, completely forgetting she was standing on a stool.
"Ah!" Her foot found nothing but air, and she tumbled forward, caught off guard.
Giorgio's reflexes sprung into action as he reached out, wrapped a strong arm around her, and both of them landed on the floor with a thud.
He was down, she was on top.
His brows knitted with a flicker of pain.
Anna didn't feel a thing. Her eyes, once scattered, focused on the distinguished man beneath her, an awkward tension suspended between them:
"Sorry, it wasn't on purpose."
He knew that much. She didn't mean to fall. Why the rush to explain? Was she worried about a misunderstanding?
"Relax, I don't think you're throwing yourself at me," he said, his voice a husky, seductive drawl.
Her cheeks flamed. That wasn't what she intended, but his blunt words sent an odd shiver through her.
Hastily getting up, she saw Charlie stirring awake in the bed. It was time!
She grabbed two colorful party poppers from beside her and handed one to Giorgio: "Just pull here when I do."
Giorgio stood, eyeing the unfamiliar object in his hand, slightly puzzled.
Before he could inquire further, Charlie was already sitting up, eyes blinking open.
"Charlie, happy birthday!" Anna beamed, pulling the popper string. The room exploded with vibrant streamers and tiny sparkling confetti. Simply stunning.
So that's what it was for.
Giorgio followed suit.
The room erupted in celebratory color.
Charlie, never expecting a visual treat upon waking, was dumbstruck. The next second, his joy was uncontainable:
"So beautiful! I love it! Thanks, Anna! Thanks, Daddy!"
Anna smiled and beckoned, "You're welcome! Come here, I've got another surprise for you."
"Yeah!" Charlie hopped out of bed and scrambled over to the table, lifting the lid of a large gift box.
Again, he was spellbound.
Nested inside was—
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