My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 90

Ellie

"It’s raining," I whispered to Elora as I stared out the window.

It had been three days since I had brought Elora back home. Lucas was overjoyed to see his little sister and was eager to perform his brotherly duties, like putting her to sleep or telling her stories that he had just heard from Ivy.

The house felt warmer with the sound of Lucas’s laughter and Elora’s tiny coos. Despite the storm outside, there was a sense of peace within these walls.

I glanced down at Elora, her tiny hand curled around my finger. "Your big brother is quite the storyteller, you know," I murmured, smiling. "He’s going to take good care of you, just like I will."

As if understanding my words, Elora gave a little yawn and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. I gently placed her in her crib, tucking her in snugly. Standing there, watching her sleep, I felt a mix of overwhelming love and fierce protectiveness. She was my world now, and I would do anything to keep her safe.

The past few days had been a whirlwind. Giovanni’s unexpected proposal still lingered in my mind.

Why would he, a man with no apparent ties to us, want to claim my daughter as his own?

Silly man...

A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Come in," I called softly, not wanting to wake Elora. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ivy stepped in, her face lit with a warm smile. "How are you holding up, Ellie?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I’m managing. What did Aidan say about the birth certificate? Can he take Giovanni’s name out of it?"

Ivy walked over to me, her expression turning serious. "Aidan’s been working on it. He spoke with the hospital administration, but it’s going to take some time. Apparently, there’s a lot of paperwork involved, and they’ll need to verify the details before they can make any changes."

I let out a frustrated sigh. "This is such a mess. I never wanted any of this confusion for Elora."

"I know," Ivy said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "But we’ll get through it. Aidan’s determined to fix this, and we’ll make sure everything is set right for Elora."

I nodded, grateful for Ivy’s reassurance but still feeling the weight of the situation. "It’s just hard to understand why Giovanni would do something like this. It doesn’t make any sense."

Ivy gave me a sympathetic look. "People can be unpredictable, Ellie. Giovanni might have his reasons, even if we can’t see them right now. Maybe he feels some kind of responsibility or connection."

"Responsibility?" I scoffed softly. "He barely knows me, and he certainly doesn’t know Elora."

"Maybe he sees something in you," Ivy suggested gently. "Something worth protecting. Or maybe he’s just an odd man." Ivy grinned.

I grinned back. "I’d go with the second reason."

Someone tapped at the door, so we both looked. Molly was standing there with a big smile on his face.

"Someone sent you some presents, Miss Ellie. And for Elora, too," she said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Presents? From whom?"

Molly shrugged. "They are in the living room. "

Ivy and I exchanged glances before heading there.

Ivy let out a small gasp as I stared at the grand display in front of us.

The room was filled with beautifully wrapped boxes of all shapes and sizes, accompanied by a stunning bouquet of freshly cut flowers. Among the gifts were a few custom-made plush toys, but the most impressive was a handcrafted wooden crib that showed great skill and care in its creation.

Ivy picked up a card that was nestled among the gifts and read it aloud:

"For my new daughter and the fiery woman who birthed her. - G"

"Giovanni," I muttered, shaking my head. "Who else would it be?"

Ivy looked at me with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Who else indeed?" Ivy said, setting the card down. "This is... quite the display. He really doesn’t hold back, does he?"

I walked over to the handcrafted crib, running my fingers along the smooth wood. It was beautiful, and the attention to detail was astonishing. I could feel the care that had gone into making it.

"This must have cost a fortune," I murmured, my mind reeling. "Why would he do this?"

Ivy shrugged, a thoughtful look on her face. "Maybe he thinks this is his way of showing he cares. Or maybe he’s trying to prove something to himself—or to you."

I sighed, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. "I just don’t know what to think."

Lucas bounded into the room, his eyes widening at the sight of the gifts. "Wow! Presents!"

I smiled at his excitement. "Yes, Lucas. These are gifts from someone who wants to make sure Elora has everything she needs."

Lucas picked up one of the plush toys and hugged it. "Can I give this to her?"

"Of course," I replied, watching him hurrying to the nursery. The sight of Lucas caring for his sister brought a sense of warmth to my heart.

As I continued to look at the gifts, my thoughts turned back to Giovanni. His actions were generous, but they also felt like a way to insert himself into our lives. I needed to understand his true intentions.

"Look at this one," Ivy said, holding a box.

I looked at the white box wrapped in a pink lacey bow.

"It has your name. A special present just for you," Ivy said, her eyes twinkling mischievously. I had a sneaky suspicion she was secretly enjoying this.

"Go on, open it," Ivy urged, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment, my gaze fixed on the box. It was a gift from Giovanni, a man I barely knew, and yet it felt strangely personal. The curiosity that had been building within me won over, and I found myself intrigued, unable to resist the urge to uncover its secrets.

Taking a deep breath, I untied the pink bow and carefully removed the wrapping paper.

"Oh," I whispered, lifting a delicate, beautifully crafted dress from the box.

"Wow!" Ivy breathed when I held the dress in front of me to show her.

It was a stunning piece, made of soft, flowing fabric in a deep shade of emerald green that matched my eyes. The dress was elegant and sophisticated, with intricate lace detailing and a fitted waist that flared out into a graceful skirt. It was the kind of dress that made you feel special just by looking at it.

"Ellie, it’s gorgeous," Ivy said, her voice filled with admiration. "He has great taste."

"Why," I mumbled. "Why did he send me this?"

Ivy’s expression shifted, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "Maybe he’s trying to make an impression, or maybe he wants to show you he cares. Whatever the reason, it’s clear he put a lot of thought into this."

I sighed, running my fingers over the delicate lace. "He doesn’t care about me. That’s just ludicrous. He is doing this to get those codes out of me even though I told him I don’t have them."

Ivy looked skeptical. "He is making this grand gesture just for some secret numbers? Seems unlikely."

"I don’t know, Ivy. But I am going to find out," I said.