Chapter 10 The First Flight

Sitting beside her was starting to become bothersome for Leonardo. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something different about his feeling. Despite this, her fragrance was incredibly enticing, causing a fluttering sensation in his chest.

Leonardo found himself distracted while trying to check his emails due to the presence of his wife beside him. Despite his best efforts to concentrate, he couldn't resist stealing glances at her from the corner of his eye. Meanwhile, she seemed lost in thought, staring out of the window without any discernible focus.

As they drove towards the airport, Leonardo couldn't take his eyes off Sofia. He stole a few glances at her while Mark kept a watchful eye on the road. Finally, they arrived at their destination, but Leonardo was so lost in thought that he didn't even realize they had reached the airport. When they pulled up to the entrance, Leonardo motioned for Sofia to get out first, and Mark quickly opened the door for her.

Sofia stepped down from the car and stood there, patiently waiting for Leonardo. As he opened the car door and slid out, he quickly rounded the vehicle and made his way toward her.

"Let's go," he declared, slipping on his stylish Gucci shades and confidently striding towards the security check.

Meanwhile, Mark was dutifully carrying their luggage, ready to follow them.

Leonardo heard a whisper as they reached his private jet.

"Oh, my God."

He turned his head and saw Sofia gaping at the sight of the jet.

"Are we... are we... flying in this jet plane?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder. It was the first time he had heard her speak since their conversation in the dining room.

"Yes!" Leonardo exclaimed as he nonchalantly removed his shades.

"Wow!" He overheard another whisper and couldn't help but grin. However, he quickly became irritated with himself. Why the hell was he even smiling in the first place?

With a somber expression on his face and a chilly demeanor, Leonardo extended his hand towards Sofia and guided her towards the plane. His gentle grip helped her climb up the steps, and he followed closely behind. The crew welcomed them both with warm greetings, and Leonardo couldn't help but admire Sofia's childlike fascination as she eagerly explored every nook and cranny of the aircraft.

Leonardo couldn't help but ponder if Sofia had ever flown before. As he turned to gaze at her, she froze, her head drooping down. This reaction perplexed Leonardo, leading him to furrow his brow. Letting out a deep sigh, he motioned for Sofia to take a seat by the window, guessing that she might appreciate the view. Settling into his seat, he securely fastened his seat belt. Meanwhile, Sofia struggled with hers. Intrigued, Leonardo leaned in closer, his touch delicate as he secured the seat belt for Sofia. However, she withdrew her hand abruptly and fixed her gaze on the window. Sighing, Leonardo retreated, settling back into his seat and closing his eyes. As the plane began its ascent, it tilted slightly, prompting a sharp cry from Sofia. Leonardo's eyes snapped open just in time to see her gripping the armrests with white knuckles, eyes squeezed shut.

"Relax, I am here. You don't have to fear," said Leonardo as he gently touched Sofia's shoulder.

He could feel her muscles slowly relaxing under his touch. Sofia's hand quickly flew up to hold his hand on her shoulder, but she eventually pulled it down to her lap. Then only Leonardo realized that this might be her first flight since she was gripping his hand so tightly. However, he felt happy despite feeling pain that his touch could make her feel more at ease.

When the plane settled in the sky, and Sofia realized that she was holding Leonardo's hand, her eyes widened in horror, and she threw his hand away in panic.

'Fuck! Now it actually hurts!' Thought Leonardo.

He was confused and amused to watch Sofia intently and couldn't help but wonder what he had done wrong to cause such a reaction from her.

Throughout the entire flight, no words were exchanged between them. As landing approached and before Sofia started struggling with her seatbelt once again, Leonardo reached over and secured it for her. Then he extended his hand so that she could grip it again if she was scared at the time of landing. Sofia gazed at him with a puzzled expression in her beautiful blue eyes, and Leonardo couldn't help but let out a gentle laugh at her charming expression.

Sofia bit on her lower lip, blushing and feeling a bit embarrassed. Leonardo noticed and chuckled to himself, thinking that he had caught her smiling. He was so fascinated by every small thing related to his substitute bride.

They finally arrived in Rome. Leonardo immediately called Carlo to let him know that they had arrived. Carlo asked them to come directly to the funeral and texted the address so they could make their way there. Leonardo passed the address on to his bodyguard, Mark. As they exited the airport, their ride was already waiting for them outside. Two more cars, with some of Leonardo's security persons, were there to follow them.

Once they had taken their seats, the vehicle began to glide smoothly along the road, guided by the driver's steady hand. Sofia couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building inside her as they traveled towards their destination. However, her excitement was short-lived when Leonardo broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, Sofia. I should have told you sooner. Your grandmother passed away this morning," he murmured, his voice filled with regret.

In an instant, Sofia's world came crashing down around her as she realized that she would never get to see her beloved grandmother again.

Sofia couldn't help but cover her mouth as a whimper escaped her lips. Tears welled up in her innocent eyes and slowly trickled down her cheeks. She turned away, unable to contain the overwhelming emotions. Leonardo's heart ached at the sight of her pain, and he longed to hold her close and comfort her. Despite his desire, he couldn't bring himself to act on it and instead sat there, restrained by his own hesitation.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Sofia flung open the door and bolted outside. Leonardo quickly got out of the car and ran after her, with Mark and the other bodyguards close behind. When he caught up with Sofia, he saw a group of people gathered in one spot and realized that they must be attending the funeral.

As he approached, Leonardo immediately noticed Sofia was crying uncontrollably and struggling to hold back tears. She was covering her mouth, trying to hide her emotions while watching the funeral procession. Leonardo's heart went out to her, and he couldn't help but feel deep sympathy for her pain. He quickly put his shades back on to conceal his concern, not wanting anyone to see his emotions on display.

Leonardo's heart raced as he stood behind Sofia, keeping a safe distance. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to the bright red light flashing on the side of her head. His instincts kicked in, and without hesitation, he sprang into action.

Sensing the danger, he jumped, launching himself forward, falling to the ground, and taking Sofia with him protectively. His head moved up, hearing a snapping sound in the air. Then he found a bullet had pierced a tree trunk behind them. Suddenly all his men surrounded them.