<h4>Chapter 401: Chapter 401 : Honeymoon</h4>


    *Olivia*


    “Carina?” A voice called me out of the depths of sleep. My entire body felt stiff from being in one position for too long, and despite the rumbling voice calling my name, I was not ready to wake up just yet.


    “Carina, we’re here,” the voice called out again.


    “Where?” I slurred, my speech muffled as I answered without even opening my eyes, snuggling into the hard abs I was resting my head on. Curled up in a warmp, I didn’t feel like moving.


    “Venice,” the voice said. “For our honeymoon, remember?”


    Honeymoon?


    That jogged my memory, and my eyes fluttered open as it all came back to me. Gio had woken me up in the early hours of the morning, so early that the sun had yet to rise. I had been half-asleep when he carried me all the way to the ne for our trip.


    I had fallen asleep for the entire two-and-a-half-hour ne ride.


    “Venice? Really?” I perked up, stifling a yawn.


    “That’s right. So wake up, sleepyhead,” Gio chuckled.


    The excitement was better than coffee as I immediately got to my feet and dressed in the heels Gio had brought for me. I knew to leave our luggage, as somebody would deliver it to where we were staying.


    I winced at the sunny sky as the ne opened up, and I stepped into the aisle. The smell of sea salt and fresh morning air hit me right in the face. I flipped down the sunsses resting on my head, tinting the world.


    I heard footsteps approaching from behind me, and an arm wrapped around my waist as I stood in the middle of the aisle.


    “Ready, carina?” Giovani smiled. Behind my new pair of sunsses, everything was tinted dark, but I could still see the excitement burning in his eyes, matching my own.


    “Yes.” I sighed happily as we entered the city of our dream escape. Our honeymoon.


    Of course, the Valentinos owned a private airstrip near the city, so that’s where wended early in the morning.


    The strip wasn’t all that far from the canals that made up most of the city. It would be just a brisk walk that we were more than happy to make.


    “Excited?” Gio grinned.


    “Of course! I’ve always wanted to visit Venice. The city is full of historical museums and artwork that date from before the Renaissance,” I gushed as we headed for the nearby canal. “And you’re sure there’ll be no work or interruptions?”


    “Of course,” Gio kissed my temple. “Everything’s in ce. I’m all yours.”


    “Then what’s first?” I giggled. “Are we taking a car to the city?”


    “Better,” Gio smirked, leading us to the docks below the bridge that would take us to the city. I could smell the salt of the water in the canals as we approached, and I caught my first nce at the watery city.


    The canals were already busy with boats—some were the ssical wooden gonds I’d seen in pictures, and others were motorboats racing across the smallpping waves. It was amazing how the water came right up to the sidewalks, with doorways stepping straight out onto the water.


    “It’s beautiful,” I gasped in awe.


    “Signore, signora,” a voice called out from the edge of the water. On the wooden docks reaching into the canals stood a man in ssic gondolier attire—a white and ck striped shirt, ck pants, and a hat.


    Right behind him was a long, skinny gond, and not the typical tourist kind. There was a red carpet in the interior and two ck and gold chairs built side by side. Even a table with freshly picked yellow flowers and candles was set up. The wood of the gond itself was intricate and carved in deep swirling patterns all along the boat.


    "Are you ready to board?" the gond driver asked with a smile.


    "Yes!" I beamed excitedly. Gio chuckled behind me, stepping forward as he reached out his hand and bowed at the waist yfully.


    "Mydy," he said in reverence, offering his hand with one foot inside the boat.


    "Good sir," I yed along, giggling to myself as I took his hand and let him steady me as I climbed into the gond. The boat shifted upon the water, but Gio’s foot and his steadying hand kept me from wobbling.


    I took the farthest seat on the gond, and Gio joined me soon after, settling next to me. He put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close as the gond driver jumped onto the boat and pushed off.


    "Wee to Venice, signore, signora," the gond driver said happily as we took off into the magical canals.


    The little canal we were in opened up into what seemed like a massivekebed if I didn’t know better. Larger boats filled with tourists snapping photos shed past, and motorized boats with luggage and men fishing items out of the canal were everywhere.


    On the sidewalks, just above the waterline, were markets and docks on every corner, with boats lined up and waiting for use. It felt like a festival as the people of Venice gathered around the temporary stalls selling all things from nes to masks and hats, even little boat charms.


    Fruit stalls were set up, and a few men would throw some of the fruits to men on the working boats as if they did it every day.


    The chatter of the crowds was far away as our driver masterfully maneuvered us through the water. I gasped at the towering buildings. I leaned against Gio, absolutely lovestruck with the city.


    "Here we are." The gond driver smiled as he moved our boat toward one of the most gorgeous buildings I’d seen. Four or five stories, it was decked out in decorations of gold and stones, with flowers on each of the railings for each floor—verandahs overlooking the canals on every side.


    It was an estate, and quite an old one by the looks of it. But that didn’t mean it was any less taken care of. The front door rested on a pair of steps that led straight into the canal, the waterpping on the fourth step.


    "Is this ours?" I turned to my husband with wide eyes.


    "Yes," he smiled, "Wee to our home away from home."


    "Oh, I love it," I gushed, pulling him into a hug, "It’s so beautiful. Thank you so much for this."


    The sunlight fell upon the many windows of the estate, lighting up the gorgeous exterior and specifically, the tallest window. At the very top was a colorful stained-ss window of a dove taking flight. It created a shimmering rainbow upon our skin as Gio helped me out of the boat and onto the stairs.


    The cold waterpped at my feet gently, almost like it was ying, and I shivered at the feeling as Gio got down next to me, not even caring about his expensive leather shoes as he dove straight into the water.


    It sshed against my legs, dipping the ends of my long skirt into the water, and I sent him a scolding look, but he only chuckled.


    "Come on, let me show you around." He grabbed my hand,cing our fingers together before he pressed a kiss to my knuckles. I blushed, still affected no matter how long we had been together.


    "Alright, fine, but you’re buying me new shoes," I grinned, reaching down to peel the now-ruined heels off my feet.


    "Deal." He grinned and took the pair of shoes from me as we stepped up to therge, foreboding double doors. There was an old-style knocker in the shape of a bird—a running theme, I was guessing.


    Gio didn’t even have a key. He simply pushed on the door, and it opened before us. I gasped in sheer awe at the sight before me. If I thought thepound was luxurious, it was nothingpared to this.


    Right before us was what I thought was a foyer but seemed more like a ballroom with howrge it was. More double doors led to the rest of the house, and above was a double staircase on either side of the walls. A huge chandelier hung above us, the lights twinkling on the crystals, and everywhere I looked were old-fashioned lights fixed to the wall.


    Clearly, the house was old—the foundation still firm after all these years and the many renovations it had no doubt gone through. I ran my hand along the wooden walls as Gio took me inside, and I noticed with a bit of shock the unusual texture.


    These walls had been hand carved. Little bumps and features in the walls were remnants, stories of those who had lived here in the past. Even the doors were remarkable in their craftsmanship, the lines theabsolutley perfect, though the finish was a little worn in some ces.


    It was like stepping back in time when this ce was full of families and servants. I could almost see where children would run through here, probably tracking mud up and down the carpeted stairs.


    "This is amazing," I breathed. "I can’t believe this. It’s like being transported back to their time."


    "It was built in the sixteenth century and used as an estate for four hundred years until the family line died off. It was left to rot, sadly, and went on auction a few years ago. We won and fixed it up. It’s a beautiful piece of history. All the wood is original, hand-carved, and the foundation is still the same," Gio exined, taking me from the foyer deeper into the estate.


    A massive grandfather clock chimed in the hallway. The estate had an unusual smell to it, like when you open up an old book that no one has opened in years, but I liked it.


    We toured the house a bit. Each room was so different from thest but just as beautiful. Neither of us had realized howte it had gotten, but by the time we were done, the sun was beginning to set, and my stomach was rumbling.


    Our noses led us to a delectable aroma of food. The kitchens and a private chef met us with a smile. Dressed in a ssical white chef’s uniform, he offered for us to take the terrace, and I saw Gio’s smirk from the corner of my eye. He’d nned all this, after all.


    As soon as we took our seats under thetticework of the trellis, flowers growing all around us, the staff was quick to serve us.


    The candles were lit, the soft glow casting the perfect setting for the romantic evening. We savored the feast of delicious food,ughing as Gio teased me, and I flirted back.


    When we were full, we moved to a porch swing nearby, cuddling together under the starlit sky. The wind carried his whispers of affection, and in this one perfect moment, in the embrace of our idyllic surroundings, our souls intertwined even more deeply.


    Our love blossomed like the vibrant colors of the Vian sunset.