My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 114

Aidan

I took Ivy aside so I could talk to her in private, away from her parents’ earshot. "I don’t think you should tell them what about what I really do," I whispered.

Ivy looked at me wide-eyed. "Lie to them?"

"Yes, Ivy. Lie," I said, my eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Like you’ve never spun a tale for your parents before?"

Ivy shifted uncomfortably, her expression pained. "Well, there was that one time I told them I was having a sleepover at a friend’s house when I actually went to a RAVE. But lying about the father of my baby being involved in the Mafia? That’s a whole other level." She winced.

"Well, Ivy, sometimes the truth can cause more harm than good. Trust me on this one," I insisted, my voice low and urgent.

She bit her lip nervously and glanced back at her parents, who were chatting happily with Lila. "But what if they find out eventually? Won’t that be worse?"

I shook my head, my tone firm. "They won’t find out, Ivy. And even if they do, I’ll handle it. Just trust me."

"Also, didn’t my father owe you money? The whole reason your men kidnapped me and we are in this situation now? How come he didn’t recognize you?" Ivy pointed out. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

I shrugged. "I didn’t deal with him personally. My men always communicated with him."

Ivy seemed unconvinced, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I’m scared, Aidan. What if this all goes wrong?"

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, my grip firm yet gentle. "I won’t let anything happen to you, Ivy. I promise."

She searched my eyes for a moment before nodding slowly. "Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll keep the truth from them."

I gave her a small smile, grateful for her compliance. "Thank you, Ivy. This is for the best."

As we rejoined my parents, Ivy’s mom shot me a suspicious glance. "What were you two whispering about over there?" she asked.

I flashed a charming smile, my eyes meeting hers with practiced ease. "Just telling my lovely girlfriend how much I love her."

She raised an eyebrow. "Right. We’re looking forward to the celebrations tonight."

Ivy and I exchanged a quick glance, her expression still tinged with worry. I squeezed her hand discreetly under the table, offering silent support. The doorbell rang and I welcomed the distraction. "It must be Ellie and Giovanni with the kids."

Ivy’s mom looked at us questioningly.

"Aidan’s sister and her..." Ivy stopped, not knowing how to introduce Giovanni. The man wasn’t Ellie’s boyfriend or husband. It still made me furious that Ellie chose to live with him. What did she expect will happen? Was she expecting him to declare his undying love for her?

True, I noticed Giovanni softening up when he was near the kids at the park. I even saw him stealing glances at Ellie. The way I stole glances at my Ivy. But that didn’t mean I could trust him. Ellie was my little sister, so I was worried about her getting hurt.

"It’s complicated," I interjected smoothly, steering the conversation back on track. "But they’re family, and that’s what matters."

Ivy’s mom nodded slowly, her curiosity not entirely satisfied but willing to let it go for now.

When the door was opened, Ellie entered confidently, pulling Lucas along with her. Giovanni trailed behind, carrying the stroller holding little Elora. Our eyes briefly met before he looked away.

I couldn’t help but stare at my sister in utter amazement. She was a stunning sight in her emerald green dress, which perfectly complemented her red hair and striking green eyes.

A delicate emerald necklace adorned her neck, matching her dress and undoubtedly costing a pretty penny. But what truly took my breath away was the radiant smile on her face as she looked at me. I had never seen her so...happy. It left me speechless.

In that moment, I knew I might have to swallow my pride and thank Giovanni for whatever he had done to make her feel this way.

Ellie’s footsteps quickened as she approached us, her breaths coming in short bursts of excitement. "Aidan, Ivy!" She exclaimed, her voice laced with barely contained joy.

"Blackwood," Giovanni greeted me dryly.

I nodded and grinned at him to let him know I was not planning to start a fight with him. His shoulders relaxed a bit.

Ellie hugged Ivy first. "Happy Birthday, Ivy," she said.

"Thank you. I am so glad you are here," she replied, returning the embrace.

As Ellie released her from the hug, she turned to me with a smile. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her in a comforting hug. "You okay, Elle?" I asked, even though the answer was written all over her radiant face and sparkling eyes, mirroring the joy and excitement radiating from within her.

Ellie smiled at me as she stepped back from the hug. "I’m okay, Aidan. I’m really happy to be here," she beamed, her eyes shining with joy.

I couldn’t help but smile at her infectious enthusiasm, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Whatever Giovanni had done to bring this glow to my sister’s face was worth it. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as I had thought.

Giovanni cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "Lucas has something to give to the birthday girl, don’t you piccolo?" he asked, looking down at Lucas.

"I have a present for you, Auntie Ivy!" he chirped.

Ivy beamed. "Do you!? I can’t wait to see it."

Lucas handed her a small box. "Mommy and Uncle Gio helped me pick it out."

"I am sure it’s lovely, Lucas," Ivy said as she held the box like it was the most precious thing in the world.

I took Ellie and Giovanni to introduce them to Ivy’s parents, and Lila then asked them to follow me to the main dining hall. I had something special planned for Ivy there.

As we made our way to the dining hall, Giovanni walked beside me with Ellie, his expression unreadable. I couldn’t help but steal a glance at my sister, who seemed to be walking on air. Her laughter tinkled in the air, and I felt warm all over.

Once we entered the dining hall, I saw the table set beautifully with candles flickering and flowers decorating the space. Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in the scene. "Oh, Aidan, this is amazing," she gasped, turning to look at me with gratitude shining in her eyes.

I gave her a smile and a nod before gesturing for everyone to take their seats. As we settled around the table, Giovanni leaned over to Ellie, whispering something in her ear that made her giggle softly.

I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease gnawing at me as I watched them interact. Despite the lightness in Ellie’s laughter and the genuine smile on Giovanni’s face, my protective instincts flared up. But seeing Ivy so happy and carefree beside me softened my resolve just a bit.

I raised my glass to make a toast, thanking everyone for being here to celebrate Ivy’s birthday. The clinking of glasses filled the room, marking the beginning of a night filled with laughter and joy.

And then, it was time for the big finale.

I ushered Ivy to the center of the room, the anticipation palpable in the air. She looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and excitement, her eyes shining with joy. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I knelt down on one knee before her.

"What are you doing?" she screeched.

"Ivy," I began, ignoring her outcry. My voice was steady despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. "From the moment I met you, my life has been brighter, fuller, and more beautiful. You are the light that guides me through every dark moment, the laughter that fills my days with joy."

Ivy’s hand flew to her mouth in surprise, tears glistening in her eyes. The room fell silent, every eye fixed on us as I reached into my pocket and pulled out a the tiffany blue velvet box.

"Ivy, will you marry me?" I opened the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring that sparkled in the soft light of the room.

The silence stretched taut as Ivy stared at me, her emotions playing out across her face like a symphony. And then, with a trembling voice filled with emotion, she whispered, "Aidan, you know you don’t have to marry me because I am pregnant. I love you even if we..."

"Ivy, for fuck’s sake, I am not asking because of your pregnancy," I said impatiently. "I love you. I think I told you this a hundred times already, but I can’t live without you. We will be together whether you say yes or not but I want you to be my wife."

Ivy stood there, stunned, the tears now slipping down her cheeks. The room held its breath as she hesitated, her gaze flickering between the ring in the box and my earnest eyes. A wave of emotions crashed over her face - disbelief, joy, love, and a hint of fear.

The seconds felt like hours as Ivy grappled with her response, her hand still covering her quivering lips.

Finally, Ivy’s eyes met mine, a fierce determination shining through the tears. She took a deep breath. "Yes," she whispered, her voice filled with raw emotion. "Yes, Aidan, a thousand times yes."

Relief flooded through me as I slid the ring onto her trembling finger. The room erupted into cheers and applause as Ivy threw her arms around me in a tight embrace, sealing our love and commitment at that moment.

"Oh, good. Now, this is a great surprise," Ivy’s dad commented, making her giggle against my chest.