Bound By Power

27

Julian chuckled through his tears. "Yeah… like I could ever forget these blue eyes of yours." His fingers traced the edge of Lorenzo’s sharp gaze.

A small smirk tugged at Lorenzo’s lips, but Julian narrowed his eyes. "And you better not cheat on me when we’re apart."

Lorenzo chuckled, reaching out his pinky. "Promise?"

Julian wrapped his pinky around his. "Promise."

Lorenzo leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to Julian’s forehead. Then, with a soft sigh, he ran his fingers through Julian’s hair.

"The last time you kissed me, it was out of nowhere," Lorenzo mused. "And you’re still a minor, not even eighteen yet. So… let’s wait for our official first kiss, hmm?"

Julian rolled his eyes but smiled. "Fine."

And just like that, the moment ended. But even as Lorenzo left for the airport, his heart still belonged to the boy he left behind.
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Flashback Ends ♡

Julian exhaled deeply, feeling a weight lift off his chest as he finished his story. Across from him, Elena sat in quiet contemplation, her eyes filled with emotions—surprise, warmth, and perhaps a little pride.

"So, that’s the whole story," Julian said, his voice softer now. "I came here because I wanted to tell you myself."

For a moment, Elena simply stared at him before a radiant smile spread across her lips. Without a second thought, she pulled him into a tight embrace.

"I'm happy for you, Julie," she whispered, squeezing him gently before pulling back.

Julian returned her smile, but it faltered slightly when he glanced at the clock. "Yeah, and in the evening, I'm leaving."

Elena’s expression instantly changed. "No!" she protested, grabbing his hand. "Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! At least celebrate it with me. It’s my first Christmas without Mom, Dad, Enzo, and Mia."

Julian hesitated, his heart aching at the loneliness in her voice. He knew how much she had been through lately, how hard it must be for her to be away from her family. With a small sigh, he nodded.

"Alright," he agreed, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "But I’ll leave the next day after Christmas. I need to focus on my studies again."

"Hell yeah! My school is starting too," Elena said dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. Julian chuckled at her theatrics.

---

Later That Evening

Julian stood outside Maria Cortelli’s bedroom, his fingers curled into nervous fists. The maid had informed him earlier that Maria wanted to meet him, and ever since, his heart had been pounding relentlessly in his chest.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself, before knocking lightly on the door. A calm but authoritative voice responded from inside.

"Come in."

Julian pushed the door open and stepped in cautiously, his palms slightly sweaty. Maria sat elegantly on a chaise lounge near the window, the dim golden light casting a soft glow on her features. Her expression was unreadable, her sharp eyes studying him as if peeling through his very soul.

"Mrs. Cortelli," Julian spoke carefully, bowing his head slightly. "You asked to see me?"

Maria nodded, still observing him in silence, making Julian shift uncomfortably under her gaze.

Finally, she spoke. "Lorrie told me everything."

Julian gulped, his throat suddenly dry. Was she about to disapprove? Did she think he wasn't good enough for her son?

Seconds felt like an eternity before Maria’s lips curved into a small smile, her sharp features softening.

"Dear, thank you for accepting my son," she finally said, her voice carrying a warmth Julian hadn’t expected.

Julian blinked in shock. For a moment, he was speechless, but then he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His tense shoulders relaxed, and a soft smile graced his lips.

"I should be the one thanking him," Julian murmured, feeling his chest tighten with emotions he couldn’t quite put into words.

---

Meanwhile...

In the living room, Lorenzo sat comfortably on the couch, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

Elena, however, stood in front of him with her arms crossed, her expression anything but amused.

"Lorenzo," she started, her voice dangerously low. "If you ever—ever—hurt my brother, I swear I will break your legs myself."

Lorenzo couldn’t help but chuckle at her fierce protectiveness. "Rest assured, dear sister-in-law," he said, leaning back with a lazy grin. "Under no condition am I going to hurt my bunny."

Elena narrowed her eyes. "You better not," she muttered, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Lorenzo simply chuckled again, knowing full well that Julian had the best support system anyone could ask for.
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Christmas ~~~
Elena woke up early. The glow of dawn filtering through the sheer curtains of her bedroom. The air was crisp, carrying the distinct chill of a Sicilian winter. Though there was no snow, just the fresh, cool breeze rustling the trees outside. She stretched with a smile. The excitement of Christmas  tingling in her chest.

Sliding out of bed, she tiptoed across the room, her eyes landing on the man, still buried under the covers. Damien had skipped his usual morning routine today, choosing to indulge in a rare, lazy morning. Damien's face was half-buried in her pillow, his black hair a tousled mess against the white sheets.

A mischievous grin curled on Elena's lips, she spotted her beloved duck, plushie, resting on the nightstand, a relic from her childhood that she carries everywhere. Snatching it up, she clad onto the bed and bounced on top of him.

“Merry Christmas, Damien Cortelli", she chirped in a playful duck-like voice, pressing the plushie against his face.

A deep groan rumbled from under the pillow as Damien flinched.“ Elena, no~", he mumbled, trying to swat the duck plushie away.

She burst into laughter, her giggles filling the room like little bells. "Merry Christmas~~!" she teased again, unable to contain her amusement.

Before she could react, Damien moved with swift precision, his strong hand caught her wrists in one fluid motion, and in the next second, she found herself beneath him, the warmth of his body pressing her into the mattress.

Her laughter died, her breath hitching as she stared up at him.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Elena Damien Cortelli," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep, yet undeniably teasing.

Elena's stomach flipped as she took in his disheveled state, his piercing green eyes still heavy with drowsiness, the faintest imprint of pillow against his sharp cheekbone, and that left dimple peeking through as he smirked.
He was utterly breathtaking, and she hated how easily he could make her heart race.

"Is your heart fluttering?" Damien asked his smirked deepening as he watched her struggle to look unaffected.

Elena's eyes widened, and she scoffed, quickly regaining her composure, "Hell no, your breath stinks", she retorted, scrunching her nose in mock disgust.

Damien chuckled, low and rich, before leaning in closer. Instead of backing away, he began peppering her face with soft kisses; Her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, Elena squirmed beneath him, her protest turning into helpless laughter.

"Damien, stop! You're—ugh—so annoying!" She giggled, trying to push him away, but his grip remained firm.

"Annoying? You started this, sweetheart". He murmured against her skin, his lips brushing against the corner of her mouth, pulling back with a satisfied smirk.

Elena huffed, cheeks warm, heart racing. Maybe Christmas mornings with her husband wouldn't be so bad after all.
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