Casanova's acting skills

Édouard protectively pushed his little sister behind his back. Anger was pulsating through his veins. His fingers pressed deep into his palm while his fists trembled with rage.

"Who the hell are you?!" Édouard roared. Fury resonated in every single syllable, while he fixated Claudio with his deep green eyes, like a tiger moments before he would kill his prey.

"And who are you!" Asked Claudio. Nelli could almost hear the sound of cracking ice in his voice. Claudio was completely calm, but the murderous sparkle in his eyes told her that even the playful Casanova, was suddenly driven by anger. Nelli did not understand where Claudio's hostility against her brother came from. But she knew that Claudio was not the first admirer who got a beating from her brother because he had come too close to her.

"It's none of your damn business, but if you touch my sister again, I'll put you in hospital." Nelli could see the veins at Édouard's temples throbbing dangerously blue. Soon it would rain fists if she didn't do something. She had rarely seen her brother so furious.

She wouldn't mind if Claudio got one or two punches between his ribs, but they were guests at Lily's wedding and Claudio was the best man of Lily's husband. This would cause a scandal Nelli didn't want to be involved in. She was Lily's maid of honor, she had to stop it. The scandals could not begin before the wedding.

But suddenly the corners of Claudio's mouth turned to this charming calculating smile. Almost like he was suppressing a laugh. A brilliant sparkle appeared in his eyes as if he had come up with a brilliant idea. A cold shiver ran down Nelli's spine. She had a bad feeling while looking at the unrestrained joy on Claudio's face.

Claudio straightened up back to his full size, smoothed his shirt again and straightened his jacket before he strolled smoothly like a tired lion towards the siblings.

In confusion, Nelli watched the bizarre spectacle. While Claudio reached out his hand to Édouard, who looked at Claudio as baffled as Nelli.

"Pleased to meet you. Monsieur de Carvoisin, I presume. I'm delighted to meet you at last. I've been begging Lionelle to introduce me to her family, but she refuses for some reason. You must have misunderstood us... No wonder after seeing us like this... Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet, Claudio Morgatti, I hope in the near future to be able to call myself your brother-in-law."

In disbelief, Nelli saw how this cheesy Casanova turned into a charming man who begged his sweetheart on his knees to finally say yes. Even Nelli suddenly felt sorry for Claudio, although she knew that he had never crawled on his knees before her. What a hypocrite - thought Nelli.

"Wait... what are you saying all of a sudden?"

"Suddenly? I can't hide my love for you any longer. You know I want you by my side forever." Nelli's stomach felt upset at hearing his sugar-coated words. That son of a bitch definitely did it on purpose. Her brother's auburn head turned towards her. Question marks all over his face. Is this true - was written across Édouard's face. Nellie opened her mouth.

"Today I wanted to make you mine at last. After what you showed me yesterday, I can't stop thinking about you." Claudio cut into her word before she could even make a sound to defend herself.

She heard her brother hold his breath and his gaze stuck on Nellli's head. "What do you mean? What happened yesterday?" His voice sounded calm and restrained. The conversation had lasted only seconds. But Claudio managed to create one misunderstanding after another.

Nelli hesitated for a moment before answering. "This is all a misunderstanding."

"I understand what you're saying..." Claudio interrupted her, leaving his head hanging. "It's not something I should reveal."

"What exactly happened between you?" The shadows on Édouard's face became darker and darker.

Nelli no longer had the strength to argue. Claudio seemed to twist every word in her mouth and her brother was only too happy to be misled.

"Darling don't worry, no one will criticize our love." Suddenly Claudio held a ring in his hands. The light of the lamps caught in the drop-cut of the mint green emerald.

She stared at it, and he could see the naked panic in her eyes. Claudio paused for a moment. Then he moved a step closer to her. Pure affection was laying in his expression. But Nelli could only stare at the ring in horror.

A shattered scream stuck in her throat. Where the hell did that suddenly pop up?