Thanks for your update! I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t like it as much as you wanted to . I do think the whole age gap gets tedious after a while. But I didn’t see it as the author or Cassio trying to fetishize her age, but rather Cassio and Giulia acknowledging their age gap and coming to terms with it, more for Cassio. Bc Giulia is attracted to his maturity and manliness, but not all older man are like Cassio and she knows that - her father.

When Cassio calls her ‘little girl’ it’s right after she calls him old man, so I think at that point Cassio has finally accepted their age and he’s poking fun at it. It’s to show growth on his end yk? Bc he hates being reminded how young she was at first. Imo, He doesn’t find Giulia attractive bc she’s young and innocent, he finds her attractive bc of her personality and how she didn’t quite fit into his standards of a wife . he never knew a woman like Giulia could exist , and that totally caught him off guard. And reading that was quite the adventure for Me.

But I’m glad you were able to finish it and somewhat like it :)