Chapter 5: The Jealousy trap

 “Not Just Acting Anymore” 

Rome was all marble and chaos. And Valentina.

Giulia saw her the second they walked into the hotel lobby for the merger press event. Red dress. Red lips. Red flags.

“Marco.” Valentina’s voice was syrup over knives. “I heard the news. Engaged? How… sudden.”

Marco’s arm tightened around Giulia’s waist. “Valentina. This is Giulia. My fiancée.”

Valentina’s eyes raked over Giulia like she was checking for flaws. “She’s young. Pretty. But can she handle Bianchi Towers without you?”

“I can,” Giulia said before Marco could. “I ran his board prep for 2 weeks. We closed the Milan deal under budget.”

Valentina laughed. “Cute. But he’s not talking about board prep, tesoro.” She stepped closer to Marco. “Remember Paris? The suite at Ritz? You said I was the only woman you’d ever—”

“Valentina.” Marco cut her off. “Don’t.”

“Oh, she doesn’t know?” Valentina turned to Giulia, smile sweet and poisoned. “Ask him about Paris, amore. Ask him how many ‘fake’ relationships he’s had before you.”

Giulia’s chest went cold. She looked up at Marco. His jaw was locked. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Let’s go,” he said instead. “We have a meeting.”

In the elevator, Giulia crossed her arms. “Paris?”

“It was 3 years ago. Before you.” Marco pressed the button for floor 22. “One night. It meant nothing.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it didn’t matter!” The doors closed. They were alone. “Because you’re the only one who ever mattered, Giulia. Since we were 17.”

The elevator stopped. But neither moved.

“So this is real for you?” Giulia whispered. “All of it? The ring, the ‘piccola’, the hand on my back?”

Marco stepped closer. Too close. “What do you want me to say?”

“The truth.”

His eyes dropped to her mouth. For half a second Giulia thought he’d kiss her. Right there. Rules be damned.

Then the doors opened. Photographers. Flashes.

Marco moved instantly. His hand cupped Giulia’s jaw and he kissed her temple instead. Gentle. Possessive. For the cameras.

But his lips lingered 2 seconds too long.

“Smile,” he whispered against her skin. “They’re watching.”

Giulia smiled. It hurt.

Later, at the press conference, Valentina sat front row. She asked every question with a smile: “How did you propose?” “When’s the wedding?” “Does she know about your trust fund?”

Giulia answered every one. Lies, all lies. Until Valentina asked: “So Giulia, do you love him?”

The room went quiet. 200 people. 200 cameras.

Giulia looked at Marco. He didn’t help her. He just watched, waiting.

“Yes,” she said. Then softer: “I do.”

It wasn’t in the script. It wasn’t for the cameras. But it came out anyway.

Marco’s mask cracked. Just for a second. Surprise. Something like hope.

After, in the car, Giulia stared out the window. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why not?” Marco’s voice was low.

“Because it’s not true. Because Day 16 is coming. Because you’re still going to break my heart.”

Marco was quiet for a long time. Then: “What if I don’t want to this time?”

Giulia didn’t answer. She

couldn’t. 

Day 16 of 30. And the line between fake and real was bleeding