Chapter 222 Stop Picking on My Beloved Anna
Yet Anna knew that the doctor was either teasing or looking to stir up some buzz.
She was irritated and faced the doctor, "As a professional, shouldn't you be capable of making your own assessments? Or do you not have confidence in your prescriptions?"
The doctor's face stiffened with the question, and he quickly bowed his head, "No, Mrs. Vittorio, that was not my intent, I apologize."
Anna's face remained unsmiling as she instinctively adopted Katherine's cold and haughty demeanor for the first time, "I feel fine now. When can I be discharged?"
The doctor replied with respect, "Given your weak condition, Mrs. Vittorio, it would be prudent to stay a few more days. But if you have the right conditions at home, you can also rest there and recuperate with nutritional support."
"Then please proceed with the discharge. I'll leave after my IV today."
"Yes, of course." The doctor quickly exited the room.
Giorgio closed the file in his hands, turned around, and asked, "Are you sure you won't relapse once you're home?"
Anna was clueless about the specifics, but one thing was crystal clear: the run-in with the doctor had left her with no desire to stick around the hospital. Her heart longed for Penny and Charlie.
"It's okay; I just want to savor these last couple of days with the kids, rather than waste them in a hospital bed."
Giorgio's eyes momentarily darkened when he caught the phrase “last couple of days.” He stood up and began to pack, throwing out a casual question as he did, "What do you plan on doing afterwards?"
Anna knew he was referring to her life post-subbing for Katherine. She responded naturally, "I'm heading back to Vista Heights with Penny, of course. I'll look after her and keep up with the live streaming. With the money from the Stefanelli family, maybe I'll even open a little store and rake in some cash without lifting a finger."
Her voice bore the lilt of happiness, her eyes alight with a breezy optimism, as if she were truly excited about the future. And she was.
For the past two months, Giorgio was acutely aware that Anna, unlike some women, had no desire to be tethered to his side as ‘Mrs. Vittorio.’
He said nothing, packed his bags with a cold nobility, and then coolly reminded her, "Don't forget you're not allowed to leave until you've apologized and made things right with me."
Anna couldn't help but think... Talk about overbearing!
Thankfully, Charlie was always ready with advice, and, filled with newfound confidence, she nodded:, "Got it, I'll remember!"
...
This time, they didn't return to the Vittorio mansion, but to the cozy charms of their villa.
Penny and Charlie were delighted to see them return, "Mommy, Charlie and I were planning to have a barbecue tonight; it's so great that you guys could come back!"
Charlie also said, "Anna, I've prepared some of your favorites—tri-tip, chicken wings, and brisket."
Just hearing about these simple dishes made one's mouth water.
Anna happily said, "You guys are awesome, then let's have a barbecue tonight,"
"Yup!"
That evening, the two adults and two children sat down at the dining table to enjoy the barbecue.
Considering Giorgio didn't eat spicy food, they had made sure to prepare some non-spicy options.
Anna felt it was a shame that those who couldn't eat spicy food were missing out on something wonderful.
She was about to grill a piece of tri-tip when Giorgio reached out with his tongs, intercepting her tongs, and moved the meat to the less spicy part of the grill.
She frowned in confusion, "What's the matter? You don't eat spicy food, but I do! Or do you expect me to serve you and grill for you? That's hardly fair; I'm starving too!"
She was so hungry that she could eat everything on the table.
Charlie and Penny stood up for her, showing their concern, "Daddy, Anna is a patient right now; you can't pick on her."
"Uncle, boys should take care of girls, just like how Charlie grills food for me. If you bully Mommy, I won't like you anymore."
The kids were sweet and adorable.
Anna felt a warm softness in her heart, "You two are so considerate; you’re the best comfort for Mommy."
Charlie's eyes, distinct in their contrast of black and white, widened. "Anna? What about Mommy?"
That slip of the tongue jolted Anna back to reality. She glanced at Giorgio, whose gaze had turned inquisitive, and laughed off her mistake.
"Oh, sorry about that. I've been playing Katherine so much that I just said it without thinking. Charlie's such a sweetheart, anyone would love to be his mom."
It made sense, then.
Charlie chuckled. "Anna, I'd like you to be my mom, too."
But Giorgio's face clouded over. A husband in name to Katherine and a father to her child—he was the overlooked one? Did she value the child more than him? The stinging implication that he mattered less than a little boy didn't sit well with him. It was a bitter pill—a stark, unwelcomed comparison.
"Stop picking on my beloved Anna," Charlie's voice piped up. "Daddy, if you're hungry, I can serve the food for you!"
Giorgio's train of thought derailed as he saw his own son offering to serve the food, with Anna giving him a look as if to say, 'you're being outdone by a three-year-old'. His lips parted in a chilly retort.
"Who said I needed her to cater to me?"
Not catering to him? Then what?
Confusion spread among them.
Under their watchful eyes, Giorgio's cold voice cut through the tension, "You should be aware of your own condition, shouldn't you?"
That was when it dawned on her. She was on her period and just got discharged from the hospital; the doctor advised her to eat spicy foods sparingly.
He'd been considering her health, and they'd misunderstood his intentions!
Anna's heart fluttered with a mix of regret and embarrassment.
Charlie, puzzled, said, "Dad, although Anna is not feeling well, her throat is fine. Why was she advised not to have spicy food?"
Giorgio looked at him and said, "This involves medical issues that you'll come to understand in time. For now, just know it's best for her to avoid spicy food these next few days, or it could cause her more pain."
The words shook Charlie, who quickly suggested, "Then you should eat the non-spicy food with Daddy, and we can have the spicy food after these days pass."
After saying this, he didn't forget to praise his dad, "I didn't realize Dad could be so attentive, considerate, and gentle. You're really good to Anna; this is the first time I've seen Dad care so much about someone else."
Penny also said, "Uncle is like a hero in the movies, who cares about people. We misunderstood you before... Sorry."
The words of the two children, whether intentional or not, seemed to carry a special meaning to Anna's already disordered thoughts.
She hadn't expected the cold and aloof man, who loomed above everything else, to notice such a minor detail and go out of his way to remind her. It must have been his prior experiences of taking care of Katherine that taught him.
Yes, that had to be it!
No wonder some women have a thing for married, mature men; they just know too much.
‘What am I thinking about? Why has my mind been so cluttered these past days?’ Her mind was a mess as question after question popped into her head.
"Your food is overcooked," a voice chimed in.
Anna snapped out of her reverie. Startled, she glanced at Giorgio. "Hmm?"
"Oh, oh!" Anna quickly picked up the food, her embarrassment causing her to speak in a fluster, "It's okay; a bit overdone can be quite tasty too."
Noticing her flustered state, like a chicken with her head cut off or a scared, skittish deer, Giorgio elegantly passed a napkin with his long fingers, "What's got you all flushed and flustered?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
