Chapter 229 Beauty and the Beast
About five minutes later, Charlie came back, tugging Giorgio along. "Dad, come on; you have to remember what kind of movies Anna likes. We're running out of time before the birthday cake ritual."
Giorgio loomed tall, his presence as austere and untouchable as ever, the quintessential figure of unapproachability.
Not wanting to trouble him, Anna quickly interjected, "Please, don't bother yourself. I can pick something. If you're busy, go on with your work."
Giorgio spared her a fleeting glance, settled onto the couch with his effortless poise, and coolly dropped four words, "Beauty and the Beast."
What? 'Beauty and the Beast'! The same movie she saw advertised a couple of years back?
She had been too preoccupied taking care of an ailing Penny back then, without time or money to spare for movies.
How did he know she was drawn to that title?
Stunned and taken aback, Anna stared in disbelief at Giorgio.
Sitting there, his demeanor unflappable, he made the casual home theater setting feel like an executive boardroom, his elegance never faltering.
Perhaps he had guessed? Many girls adored that kind of fantasy romance, so maybe it was a lucky shot?
Yes, that had to be it. After all, it wasn't like him to be attentive toward her, to make such mindful gestures.
With a faint smile, she joined them on the couch, which was more than roomy enough for their small gathering.
Charlie and Penny found themselves together. Anna naturally seated herself between the two kids on one side and Giorgio on the other, the atmosphere tinged with a hint of awkwardness.
Thankfully, the movie started soon after.
They were watching "Beauty and the Beast," the live-action remake of the classic Disney animated feature. It told the story of a handsome prince cursed to live as a beast, trapped in an enchanted castle within the forest. The heroine embarked on a quest to save her father and ended up at the castle, where her fear gradually turned into a deep affection for the Beast.
The film was a feast for the eyes—enchanting and beautifully crafted, with the lead actors delivering stellar performances that made the experience thoroughly enjoyable.
Anna, like any girl swept up in fairy tales, found herself enamored with the story. She watched with rapt attention, completely oblivious to the fact that the kids next to her had succumbed to boredom and fallen asleep. Nor did she notice the intense gaze that Giorgio couldn't help but cast in her direction.
Throughout their lengthy acquaintance, Giorgio had seen many sides of Anna. Yet, there was something about Anna lost in a movie—how she blushed during the tender scenes, how her lips curled into a smile during moments of joy, and how her eyes brimmed with tears during the sadder parts. Her expressions were a spectacle in themselves, more captivating than the film. She was watching the movie, while he was watching her.
The room was filled with sounds from the movie's soundtrack.
Eventually, the film came to an end, and Anna sighed with heartfelt sentiment, "That was wonderful, a perfect ending."
No one responded.
Turning her head, she discovered the kids sound asleep, their cherubic faces the picture of innocence.
When she turned again, she met Giorgio's deep and striking eyes, causing her to stutter in surprise, "Wha-what's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Giorgio averted his eyes, "No," his tone was cool as he got up to wake the children.
"Let them be; don't wake them," Anna interjected softly.
Giorgio explained matter-of-factly, "Charlie wanted to blow out the candles and make a wish with you."
Anna too had desired that moment, but after seeing the children sleeping so peacefully, how could she bear to disturb them? "My only wish is for the kids to be healthy, safe, and grow up happy. Waking them just for a wish goes against all that. Don't worry, I can blow out the candles later by myself, and we can all enjoy the cake tomorrow. Let's just carry them back to their rooms now."
She was always thinking about the children.
This made Giorgio appear somewhat cold-hearted in comparison.
Without any further fuss, he clicked a button, and the couch slowly transformed into a makeshift bed. He casually grabbed a Giorgio-branded throw blanket and draped it over the sleeping children. "It's better not to move them; they might wake up. Let them sleep here."
"Okay," Anna replied, with the words hanging in the now oddly hushed and awkward air.
She ruffled her hair, desperately searching for a topic to break the silence, "Um... maybe you should go rest in your room, and I'll stay here with them?"
Giorgio gave her a quizzical look, "I thought you wanted to blow out the candles?"
With those words left hanging, he strode out with an air of refined elegance.
Anna stood there, utterly baffled. Was he intending to join her for the candle-blowing after all? In disbelief, she followed him out, only to find... the dining cart in the living room was indeed crowned with a lit birthday cake candle, as music from a phone serenaded the room with a "Happy Birthday" tune. The entire space dazzled with fairy lights strung up everywhere—it was a total romance overload!
The distinguished man stood before the cart and tended to the flowers on the table, like a prince straight out of a painting, impossibly handsome and flawless.
Could it be that he was really here to make a birthday wish with her?
"Why stand there all evening? Won't you come over?" His voice, deep and resonant, beckoned.
"Oh, right, coming!" Anna hastened over and stood before the cake. With her eyes closed, she made her wish.
True to her word, she wished for nothing more than for Charlie and Penny to be safe, happy, and grow up healthy and strong.
Opening her eyes, she blew out the candles—a perfect conclusion.
"Thank you, I'm off to be with the kids now," she said, taking a step to leave.
Giorgio's gaze turned icy.
She had burst out in excitement after Simon's call earlier, and she was beaming upon her return. Was this all the attention he got, always on the verge of leaving?
"What did you and Simon do in the car earlier?"
The question slipped out, tinged with an odd tone.
Anna stopped in her tracks.
She and Simon... they hadn't done anything. Why was he asking now?
Turning to face him, she naturally replied, "Simon brought me a gift, and we chatted for a bit. Then he got a message and had to leave. Really, nothing happened."
"Nothing happened?" Giorgio clearly didn't believe her. His expensive black leather shoes moved closer until he was almost upon her, the twinkling fairy lights playing in the reflection of his attractive yet dangerous eyes.
He probed, "Nothing happened? Then why blush?"
Blush? Where?
"I'm not blushing! I was just a little embarrassed, that’s all!" Why was she even explaining herself?
"Mr. Vittorio, I don't see why I need to explain anything to you, do I?"
Her clear, unyielding eyes were like those of a fawn ready to stand its ground, utterly harmless.
From her demeanor, Giorgio surmised that nothing significant had occurred between her and Simon, and considering Simon's current situation, nothing would. His irritation inexplicably faded.
"I merely asked in passing, not for an explanation. It was you who retorted immediately, making a point to explain to me. What's the matter? Do you care about what I think, worried about my jealousy, or a misunderstanding? Hmm?"
His tone lifted playfully, eyes as deep as an ocean of stars, teasingly intimate, as if to say, how much she cared about him!
Anna felt a lump in her throat and began blinking rapidly.
What a joke! How could she possibly care about his feelings, or worry about his misunderstanding or jealousy?
She explained only because... because he asked her directly!
Yes, that was it!
Staring back at him, she held her ground,
"Mr. Vittorio, you're overthinking it. We don't have that kind of relationship; why would I worry about you being jealous or misunderstanding anything? A high-and-mighty big shot like you—of course not, right?"
Trying to diffuse the awkwardness with a joke, Anna flashed a playful smirk, but Giorgio's intense gaze was locked onto her firmly. He took a step closer, his breath fanning her face as he spoke in a husky whisper, "What if I said I would?"
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