novelxo Chapter 239
Gifts
Chapter 239
This snaps Kent out of it, somehow, and he drops my arm, taking a step away from me. Both the man and the woman nole this action and twin smiles grace their lips as they turn their attention to me, clearly wondering who I am. I go pale under their united gaze, realizing that I’m in the presence of two very, very dangerous people.
Kent opens his mouth to speak but someone beals him to it.
“Uncle Alessi!” I hear from the landing above, and suddenly Daniel is pounding down the stairs, a huge smile on his face. “Natalia!”
The man grins proudly up at Daniel, who has showered and looks much fresher than he did at breakfast, opening his arms. The moment he reaches the landing Daniel wraps the man – his uncle, apparently – in a tight hug. I glance at Kent, seeing that he still hasn’t moved, as Daniel moves on to greet Natalia just as warmly, taking her hands and placing two kisses on both of her checks. “It’s so good to see you!” he exclaims.
The two newcomers say something quickly to him in Italian, and I’m shocked to hear Daniel reply in the same tongue – I didn’t know he spoke it – and then Kent is moving forward, shaking the man’s hand warmly and leaning forward to place a fond kiss on the woman’s cheek. She laughs up into his face, clearly
Chapter 239
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pleased to see him, and raises a hand to smack his cheek gently, familiarly.
All four of them chat pleasantly in Italian for a moment before the man- Alessi – turns to me. “And who is this one?” he asks in English, gesturing towards me, “with the beautiful red hair?”
“This,” Kent says, turning towards me slowly and putting a hand out towards me in invitation for me to approach. I accept, doing my best to give them a little smile as I walk over to the group, my hand extended to take Kent’s. “Is Fay Alden. Daniel’s fiancé.”
My steps falter as I hear Kent utter the words that place me, squarely, back in the box I thought I’d gotten out of. I don’t take Kent’s hand and just stare at him instead. Kent lowers his brow, shaking his head almost imperceptibly at me to let me know not to protest. Luckily, Alessi steps forward and takes my hand instead, lowering himself in a charming little bow and pressing his lips warmly to my knuckles.
“Ah, the new Donna of the Lippert Family,” Alessi says,
straightening up and studying me anew. “It is a pleasure to meet. you, my dear.”
I take a beat, but then give him my most charming smile in return. Because, after all, if I’m going to be part of this world?
I’m going to have to learn how to play the role assigned to me. And use it to my advantage.