Chapter 207 - A Scarf is Too Intimate a Gift
A neatly folded, exquisitely crafted scarf!
"Wow, Anna, did you knit this scarf yourself, just for me?" he exclaimed with radiant eyes.
"Mhm, I figured your dad could buy you anything, so a scarf knit by me seemed more special. On cold days, it will be like having me by your side, warm and happy," Anna said softly.
As she spoke, she lovingly draped the scarf around Charlie's neck with tender care.
overjoyed, Charlie hugged Anna tight: "I really love it, Anna. It's the best birthday present I've ever had. No one's ever made anything just for me before."
Anna’s heart twinged. She knew that Katherine, with her disposition, would never treat Charlie like her own. That he craved motherly love was inevitable.
Alas, she couldn't claim him, couldn't take him away from the Vittorio family.
She could only secretly prepare a gift for him each year when she was putting together a birthday present for Penny, hiding it away in a cabinet at home, shrouded in dust.
"Hey, Anna, why is there an extra long one here?" Charlie's soft voice piped up.
Anna quickly composed herself, let go of Charlie, and said, "That one's for your daddy."
Giorgio raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Oh?"
Today wasn't his birthday, nor was it any special occasion. Why would she give him a scarf?
Locking eyes with him, Anna felt a tightness in her chest.
A woman giving a scarf to a man did carry a hint of intimacy, a whiff of romance. While knitting the scarf last night, Giuseppe's words had unbiddenly crossed her mind, leading her to feel that he could use some warmth.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she explained, "I had bought too much yarn and just made it along. Consider it a thank you for looking after Penny before. If you don't want it, I'll take it back."
She reached out to retrieve it.
Giorgio took it from her hands: "Since when do you take back a gift once given? I'll keep it."
Anna lowered her gaze. By saying he would keep it, did that mean he would wear it?
The thought of her hand-knitted scarf on his distinguished person sent ripples through her heart.
Charlie watched the two, his eyes bright and thoughtful.
Daddy and Anna sure looked like a good match! And among the many women who adored daddy, none had ever made him a personal gift. Anna was rare indeed.
Regrettably... Once mommy woke up, Anna would have to leave. What could be done for them to stay together?
As he had promised Charlie to spend the whole day with him, and considering his health was no longer a concern, Giorgio checked out of the hospital at ten and left.
"Decided what you want to do?"
"Yep! I want to go to the snowy mountains and see the snow! And ski!"
There was a mountain outside the city that had snow all year round, but it was a two-hour drive.
Giorgio glanced at his watch. They wouldn't have much time to play if they went now, and they'd return late.
Charlie saw through his hesitation and said, "Let's go today and come back tomorrow — don't even think of backing out."
Reluctantly, Giorgio had to call Little Tony to handle his orders and cancel the family dinner.
After all, who could say no to their own child?
The Vittorio Group.
The secretary walked into Giuseppe's office to report: "Young Master, the latest news is that Mr. Vittorio and Anna are taking Charlie to the snowy mountains for his birthday, and they probably won't return tonight."
Giuseppe put down his paperwork, adjusted his glasses, and said, "The snowy mountains... a fine place indeed. And an opportunity. Arrange it, but make sure it's untraceable."
The secretary nodded: "Understood, Young Master."
At noon.
The three of them arrived at the snowy mountain.
The distant high mountains were blanketed with thick snow, shrouded in a mystical fog that gave them an otherworldly appearance. Closer by, the trees, houses, and roads were also adorned in coats of snow, creating a breathtaking panorama of pure white beauty.
"Wow! Look at all that snow!" Charlie exclaimed as he dashed over and dove into a snowdrift, leaving a sizable impression in the powder as it blossomed around him.
"Be careful, don't catch a cold," Anna voiced her concern, walking over to help him up, brushing the snowflakes from his little hands.
Excited, Charlie wasn’t phased: "It's not cold at all! Anna, Daddy, let's build snowmen! Daddy can make a big, cool snowman, Anna can make a beautiful medium-sized one, and I’ll make two cute little snowmen. Then we’ll see who’s looks best!"
Building snowmen was an essential part of snow days, and faced with his son's enthusiasm, it was impossible to refuse.
Without giving it much thought, Anna dropped the luggage in the hotel room, put on her gloves, and joined in on the snowman-making fun. Having done crafts with Penny before, Anna found it relatively simple. She rolled a large oval base, added a smaller sphere for the head, and drew a face. Then she found twigs for arms, used flowers as decoration, and finally added a garland scarf. Just like that, a beautiful snowwoman was complete. Anna seemed to always have a knack for creativity.
Giorgio looked on with a deepening gaze. She seemed to him like a delicate flower that had landed in their cold, hard world—lovely, splendid, and unique.
After five seconds, Giorgio shifted his attention back to his own creation. Nearly an hour later, their snow people were complete.
Just as Charlie had dictated, Giorgio's snowman was dignified and aloof, much like himself. In contrast, Charlie's two little snowmen, one sporting a black hat and the other a pink scarf, were brimming with cuteness.
"Charlie, you did an amazing job!" Anna sincerely praised.
Charlie's eyes curved like crescents, "Anna, yours is great too! Now, let's put them together for a picture to remember!"
He eagerly grabbed his tools and began carefully relocating the snowmen.
Giorgio, assuming he wanted a simple photograph, stepped forward to assist.
Anna did the same.
But they had not expected what came next—once the four snowmen were positioned together, Charlie exclaimed with innocent joy, "The snowmen look so pretty together, like a happy family~~ It would be great if Daddy, Anna, me, and Penny could always be together just like them."
The speaker was unintended, but the listeners were struck by his words, especially given the matchmaking intentions of a child so clear. If they hadn't realized it by now, they would be foolish!
Anna's face flushed red, caught between embarrassment and surprise.
How had she not seen it coming? Now that she looked at it, the grouping of snow people was quite conspicuous...
"Daddy, don't you think the snowmen look really nice?" Charlie asked Giorgio innocently.
Given his previous wish for them to be together like the snowmen and now this question—the implication was undeniably more than innocent.
Giorgio swept his gaze over Anna's flushed cheeks, landing on the snowman. "Hmm, nice," he said, his voice casual, his expression earnest as if he were merely commenting on the craftsmanship of the snowman.
Anna frowned. Was he not getting Charlie's hint?
Of course, he didn't!
Not wanting to dwell on the subject, she quickly changed the topic. "Charlie, let's go do something else. Didn't you say you wanted to go skiing the most? I'll take some great videos and photos of you."
Charlie nodded, his face lighting up with excitement. "Yeah, and Anna didn't contradict Daddy, yay! I'm off to the front!" With that, he took off, his feet making deep impressions in the snow.
Anna stood frozen in place, her embarrassment obvious.
It wasn't like she hadn't contradicted him; she had simply chosen to ignore him!
Worried about a misunderstanding, she turned to Giorgio and clarified, "That's not what I meant. Don't take it the wrong way."
Giorgio's dark, penetrating eyes held hers as he asked, "Misunderstand what?"
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