In the Longwangshi family's residence
Giulia stood just inside the door of Yong Li's private quarters, her fingers curling around the satchel strap at her shoulder and her heart pounding out loud. He had asked her to come before he would leave on his two-day business trip, figuring that she needed reassurance.
"Giulia?" Yong Li's voice, smooth and warm, drifted through. He crossed the room in long strides. "Hey, I need you to stop worrying."
She met his eyes, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Yong Li…"
He closed the distance and cupped her face. "Look at me."
She raised her head, swallowing hard. "I'm trying to not be scared but your mother doesn't like me and I don't think she ever will."
He shook his head softly. "Trust me, she will come around. She has to."
"Has to?" Giulia repeated, her voice faltering. "You can't just make her accept me as your wife."
He paused, his breath soft against her forehead. "She has no choice. We're going public soon after I return."
Giulia bit her lower lip, "it doesn't mean she will approve of us."
"Do not say that," he said, putting an arm around her.
She lifted her head, her voice trembling. "I have heard her talk about having a better partner for you."
He laughed gently. "My mother always has ideas. She wants me to marry someone else. Zhi Hui, a childhood friend."
"Will you?" Fear crowded her eyes. "Madam Li Na keeps mentioning her and I am starting to think we may never have a chance to be together."
He let out another laugh while her heart clenched. He noticed it and loosened his hold, taking her hands and placing them on his chest. "Stop saying that. You do not have to worry about Zhi Hui, she has been living in the United States for years. By now, she has probably fallen in love with someone there, or maybe even married."
Giulia still looked unconvinced, her hands trembling on his chest. "If this lady is your mother's ideal choice, I am sure your mother is in communication with her. I doubt she's married. Even if she has someone else, your mother will rather find another high class woman for you."
Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes as she spoke. "I mean…. What if she gets another woman, will you go against her?"
Yong Li, who had been quietly paying attention to her, finally pulled her close, dropping his voice. "I know you're scared but I don't care what anyone wants or thinks. I know what matters to me and that is YOU. After I return, I'll speak with my mother. I'll tell her everything about us, about how much I want to marry you."
She tried to lean against him, but her head spun, and she stumbled forward.
He caught her in time, both hands landing on her shoulders. "Giulia?"
She pressed a palm against his chest, breathing shallowly. "I…I don't want you to go on that trip."
Inhaling sharply, he stroked her cheek. "I have to go, baby. It's just two days. Besides, Mother really needs me to seal this business negotiation."
She let the panic slip in. "I won't hear from you, that will be very hard for me."
He sighed, cupping her face. "I know. If only you had a mobile but I promise to one for.."
"No, don't. Have you forgotten that the staff are not allowed to have mobiles?"
"I know but you are not going to remain a staff when I return," he murmured against her skin, tilting her chin and planting a kiss on her lips. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Giulia replied after the kiss broke. "But I feel so scared."
He pulled away from her, looking into her eyes. "Stop it, Giulia. I promise that nothing will go wrong. I will be back soon to make you mine."
She tried to believe him, tried to let the warmth of his words wash away her fear, but two beats later she swayed and sank backward, sudden vertigo, and clung to his shoulder. Her other hand pressed to her forehead, and her breath rattling.
Yong Li lifted her against him, whispering, "baby, are you okay? You seem exhausted."
She closed her eyes and placing her palm on her throbbing head. "Uhm.. Lately, I've been feeling weak and tired."
His lips quirked. "This is because you have been overworking yourself. That is the only reasonable explanation for why you are feeling this way."
She shook her head, pressing a palm to her forehead. "I guess so but it's nothing, I just have to sleep and it will be gone."
He reached out, gently: thumb brushing her temple. "A sleep won't solve it. You need a break, maybe you should take the rest of the week off."
She closed her eyes. "No, no, I can't do that. Your mother will hate me more. Just forget it, you don't have to worry about me."
He inhaled, moving closer. "You're my worry, Giulia. Everything about you worries me when you're not okay. So never tell me not to worry about you."
Giulia shook her head, having nothing to say.
He reached for his phone. "I am calling the family doctor, to at least come and check what the problem is with you."
"No," she murmured in a weak voice. "Trust me, it's nothing."
He'd already tapped his screen. "It is not "nothing." Don't be stubborn."
At that moment, the door clicked open behind them.
Lo and behold, Madam Li Na stood there, silk shoes on the threshold, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowing. "What is going on here?"
Yong Li blinked. "Mother, Giulia is unwell and feverish. I'm trying to get hold of the doctor."
Li Na stepped in, lifting her brow. "Hmm, a maid, falling ill in the master's quarters? This is excessive. And why does the family doctor have to check up on her?"
Yong Li's tone sharpened. "Mother, please. Be nice."
"What?"
"Don't say things like that."
Li Na smirked. "I'm only stating facts. She's nothing more than a common servant."
Yong Li's hand tightened on his phone.
"I will not tolerate that, do not speak of Giulia this way!" he said through clenched teeth, trying to control his anger.
Li Na's gaze scanned Giulia with pure skepticism. "She is a servant, why are you treating her like she's royalty?"
Knotting his fingers to a fist, he turned to Giulia, who looked like she wanted to speak. "Giulia, please excuse us."
Giulia shakily nodded, hurriedly leaving the room.
The door closed behind them and Yong Li turned to his mother, his voice low and fierce. "Why do you always treat her like that? For once, just let her be."
His mother refused to budge. She scoffed. "No, not until you learn to treat that girl like your servant and not your wife."
Li Na held herself perfectly still and added. "I can't believe my son is turning into something I can't explain because of a whore, who is clinging to you for your money."
At this point, Yong Li was tired of bracing himself and it all happened in a second.
"Mother! Stop!"
Li Na, as stubborn as ever, refused to back down. She sniffed. "I'm only speaking the truth."
Yong Li lunged forward with a challenging look. "You better find a way to do away with maltreating her because that maid will become my wife soon." His tone was fierce.
"What?" Li Na asked, her eyes nearly bulging out.
"You heard me correctly."
Getting a hold of herself, she burst into a bitter laugh, "Over my dead body will I let you marry an Italian whore, not when Zhi Hui has agreed to return."
He scoffed. "Mother, I don't care about Zhi Hui. Giulia is who I love and there's nothing you can do about it."
He walked out immediately, while Li Na stood there, staring in emptiness, as if she had struck a heavy blow to her face.