Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 425 -

*Olivia*

"No," Gio said firmly as soon as we heard the front door shut behind Elena.

I turned to him, my emotions calming down as I realized Elena's suggestion had changed from ridiculous to reasonable. Gio shot me a stern look and shut me down.

"But wait, Gio!" I protested, following him as he headed to our bedroom. "We should at least discuss this!"

He wasn't listening anymore, and he slammed the door to the suite behind me. I halted in my tracks, barely stopping from colliding with the wood. I huffed at his childish act but followed him anyway, disregarding the clear warning. "Elena had a point," I called out, searching for him in the sitting room before heading to the bedroom.

Gio had his back turned to me, staring into the closet with a hard look as he unbuttoned the cufflinks on his shirt.

"This could be a good opportunity for greater involvement in the pregnancy," I said, approaching him cautiously. I could see the waves of his bad mood pouring off of him, and maybe it would have been a good idea to let him cool off first. But making that decision without even talking to me? That wasn't right. I was still his wife, and this was going to be our baby-our family.

"No, Olivia," Gio said sharply, not even glancing at me. "We are not inviting that surrogate to live with us."

"That surrogate," I said pointedly, crossing my arms, "has a name. And she's doing us a huge favor. She's giving us a family, Gio. The least we can do is discuss this like adults."

He turned to me, a steel-like look in his eyes. It was rare to see him so unwilling to listen, to compromise. I frowned, stepping forward to grab his hand.

He breathed out through his nose, a vein popping out on his neck. His whole body was tense, like he was ready for a fight, and even his hand was limp in mine when normally they'd be wrapped around me by now.

"Gio, what's wrong? Talk to me," I asked, concerned. "Why does this bother you so much? She just wanted us to be involved in the pregnancy."

"No, she didn't," Gio bit out, a resentful look in his eyes. "She has ulterior motives, Olivia."

"What?" I gasped. I thought back to the conversation. As shocked as I was, I hadn't seen anything but genuine kindness from Elena.

I had seen how much she craved stability and involvement, especially now that she was vulnerable and carrying our baby. I was the same before I met Gio, and we were more alike than I had first thought.

There had been nothing wrong with her words. She was just being kind, like she always was. And considering how things had changed with the confirmation of the pregnancy, it was obvious she would ask us what we wanted to do. "I didn't sense anything off," I told Gio with a frown. "How are you so sure she had ulterior motives? She's been nothing but kind and supportive toward us."

Gio scoffed, ripping his hand away from mine as he stepped back. I didn't even try to pretend it didn't hurt. The callous way he was treating me was not okay, but I knew Gio. He wouldn't be acting like this if there wasn't a good reason. "Even if she is genuine," Gio retorted, "I'm not inviting a stranger into our home. We need our privacy. Or have you forgotten what I do for a living, Olivia?"

"Of course, I haven't," I snapped, my temper rising to meet his. "But wouldn't it be better to have more control over the pregnancy and what's happening to our baby? If something happens, it would be easier to treat Elena if she were living with us than in her apartment across the city! Isn't keeping our baby safe more important than privacy?"

"Of course it is! That's why I have people watching her," he protested, "But I'm not going to sacrifice our privacy, our boundaries, and our emotional well-being because of it!"

"Argh!" I screamed, turning away from him. "You are impossible! All I wanted was to at least discuss it, but you're not even giving it a chance! I'm your wife. Don't I get a say in this too?"

I crossed my arms, my emotions bursting forward. Despite how much I wanted to remain angry, tears flooded the corners of my eyes. I sniffed, brushing them away and cursing myself for how emotional I had become.

"Olivia," I heard him sigh, but I looked at the wall, pointedly pretending he wasn't there as I struggled to regain control of my tears. I hated how easily I cried, and it was even worse when I was angry.

He called my name again, softly, and I felt the warmth of his body approaching. But before he could grab me, I slipped away from him, firmly taking a seat on the edge of the bed as I gazed out the window, intentionally avoiding eye contact. If I looked at him now, I knew exactly what I'd see-his soft gaze, so loving and kind, as he tried to placate me. And it would work too.

Because I was just that weak.

He took a seat next to me, close enough that our skin brushed against each other, but still, I refused to look at him.

"Come on, look at me, carina," he said gently, hooking his thumb under my chin and lifting my head. His soft eyes met my teary ones, and he gave me an apologetic look.

"What?" I bit out, trying to sound tough despite my wavering voice. His lips twitched at the corner, and I knew he was suppressing a smile. He looked at me as if I were a bristling kitten and not the angry wife I was.

"I'm sorry, amore," he said gently. "I don't want to fight with you. Of course, your opinion matters. But even if you're right, and Elena appears genuine, we can't fully trust her motives and intentions. She could've said something before this, but she didn't. Why?"

I frowned, thinking deeper about it. Now that he mentioned it, the agent hadn't said anything about surrogates living with the parents, even after we went over the contract.

"Maybe she just didn't think it mattered until now," I said, but I was starting to doubt my own words. Why hadn't she said something before this?

"I also don't like how she kept pushing you," Gio scowled. "Even after you were clearly uncomfortable."

"I was just shocked," I told him defensively. "I want to be involved with our child-"

"And we will," he kissed my temple. "But not on her terms; on our own. She doesn't have to live with us for us to be involved in the pregnancy. We've done more than enough to make her comfortable and accepted as it is. No matter how trustworthy she may be, she is still a person. She may have her own agenda that we know nothing about. No one is one hundred percent self-sacrificing, carina."

He had a point.

Despite how conflicted I was, and how much I wanted to do everything I could to help Elena, Gio was still my husband, and he came first. And he was making sense, I thought begrudgingly.

Even I had thought Elena was acting strange when she had come over today. Something about her had seemed off. And the way her eyes kept flickering between Gio and me. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I knew I didn't like it. And I had been uncomfortable when she brought up the idea. No matter how much I liked her, I was still an anxious mess, and involving her too deeply into our lives didn't sit right with me.

Our privacy was still important, especially with keeping Gio's job a secret.

I sighed, my body relaxing as I leaned my head onto his shoulder.

"You're right," I admitted, a bit unhappily.

I could feel his grin even if I couldn't see it, and I rolled my eyes, snuggling into the crook of his neck for comfort. His arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me close, and I felt the halo of safety that always surrounded me when I was in his

arms.

The most important thing right now was to establish a solid foundation between us and Elena. Gio had a hard time trusting due to his job and how he lived, and I had to admit I still had a few reservations myself.

I liked Elena, and I considered her a friend and a kind person, but that wasn't enough to invite her into our home, to take such a significant step before we knew if she could be trusted with the secrets she didn't know about.

If she found out Gio was the boss of the mafia, she could take off, and we'd lose our baby with her. The thought squeezed my heart uncomfortably. Now that the little bean was growing, we had to take things slowly and cautiously.

I couldn't hide my disappointment though. I wanted to keep the baby close, and the thought of something happening and us being so far away and unable to help was triggering my anxiety. But still, I had to respect Gio's stance on this. This could have a massive impact on our relationship, and it couldn't be decided just like this.

I pulled back from his arms, staring him straight in the face determinedly. Even under the pressure of his caution and overprotectiveness, I was still me. And I believed in people. That included giving Elena the benefit of the doubt. "We'll do it your way," I said softly. "But promise me you'll give her a proper chance. Be more open-minded. Not everyone is out to get you, Gio. She's a really good person. Give her a chance to show you that."

He hummed, the hesitation clear as day on his face, but eventually, he nodded. I beamed, kissing him on the lips before getting to my feet.

"I'll text her to let her know we need more time to discuss things before we decide anything," I chirped happily.

As I sent the text message, I couldn't help but see the reservation in Gio's eyes as he watched me. Despite what he promised me, I knew it would be a long journey for Elena to earn his full trust.

I only hoped I was right-that Elena was the kind of person I believed she was.