Mag-log inMATTEOI got out of the car to Lucia leaning against her own. Arms folded. Watching me with the particular expression she reserved for moments when she had already decided she wasn’t leaving without answers.I walked over. “How long have you been here?”“Long enough.” Her eyes moved over me the way they always did—taking everything in before she said anything. Then they stilled. “Matteo.”“Don’t.”“You look—”“I know how I look.”I moved past her toward the front door. She followed without being asked.……………….The house was exactly as I’d left it—dark, too quiet, carrying the particular emptiness of a space that had stopped feeling like home for a while now. Lucia went straight to the nearest window like she couldn’t help herself.“Leave it,” I said.She left it. But she didn’t leave.I headed to the kitchen without a word. She followed anyway.I stood there with both hands braced against the counter, staring at nothing.“When did you last eat?” she asked.“Lucia—”“I’m asking a simpl
ISABELLE I spotted her car immediately—the familiar silver of it tucked between two others, hazard lights blinking. I made my way over and pulled the passenger door open, dropping into the seat and setting my bag by my feet.“Hey, you.” Sage’s smile was immediate and warm.“Hey.”She reached over before I could even settle properly, her hand finding my stomach with the ease of someone who had already claimed this as her right.“Hi baby,” she said softly. Then to me: “How are we feeling today?”“Tired,” I admitted.“Expected.” She pulled her hand back and pointed at me. “When the baby comes, I’m taking her to her first concert. I’ve already decided.”“She’s not even born yet.”“Exactly. Plenty of time to plan.” She grinned. “Also, I’m thinking matching outfits for the first six months—”“Absolutely not.”“—just hear me out—”“Sage.”“Fine. First year.”I laughed despite myself.She reached for the ignition, then stopped with a sigh and turned toward me.And that was when I noticed it.
Hi all, apologies for repeating chapter 134 in 137. It has been ammended. So if you're reading this chapter before 12th to 13th July 2026, Please read chapter 141 again before this one. Thank you for your support. MATTEOSmall. Warm. Tucked between a bookstore and a florist on Elliot Street, like it had always been there and had never needed to announce itself.I sat in the car across the street and watched it for a moment.Through the glass, I could see maybe six tables. Soft lighting. A display case running along one wall. Two customers with laptops.And her.She was sitting near the window. Laptop open. Headphones around her neck. A half-eaten pastry beside her that she hadn’t touched in a while.I knew her from Bella’s description alone.My phone buzzed.Coast is clear. Two customers finishing up. Five minutes.I set the phone down.And waited.I had no business doing this. Bella and I had agreed that whatever existed between us stayed between us. No family. No outside involvement
MATTEO“Matteo.” Her voice was gentle but careful. “You know I can’t discuss anything regarding a patient.”“She’s not just a patient.” The words came out before I could stop them. “I brought her here. I registered her under my name. I set up her entire account at this clinic—”“Which she subsequently had herself removed from,” Dr. Helene said quietly.I stopped.She held my gaze steadily.“When a patient removes associated contacts and updates their billing independently, that becomes their right. And it means the previous party is no longer considered relevant to their care.”I looked at her. “You’re telling me nothing.”“I’m telling you what I can.”“Helene.” Something in my voice must have shifted because her expression changed slightly. “I haven’t slept. I drove to her apartment at 2am because I couldn’t function. I look the way I look because I haven’t been able to eat or sleep or think about anything else since—” I stopped. Pressed my hand flat against her desk. “She won’t see m
MATTEOIsabelle slammed the door in my face before I could say anything else.“Isa…Bella…” I moved close, trying to push it open, but she had already fixed the lock from inside.I was almost throwing a punch at the door when my fisted hand stopped mid-air. She was already mad at me. The last thing I wanted was to make things worse.Out of nowhere, Abigail’s final moments at the hospital crept back into my memory. The way I held her tiny hands while she fought hard for her life. I ran a hand over my face.That was a pain I hadn’t gotten over. Heaven knows I couldn’t deal with any more loss.Did she miscarry because I stayed away from her? Did she get rid of it because of what I had said?I ran my fingers through my hair. What have you done, Matteo?I took one more glance at the door. Torn between knocking and letting go. The latter wasn’t even an option. If anything, I felt worse than when I arrived.I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled through my contacts. My hand hovered over
ISABELLEThe doorbell.My eyes slowly opened at the sound of it.I thought it was my imagination. I was about to shut them again when the sound came back, causing the sleep to wear off completely as I sat up.My eyes met the alarm clock on my nightstand. 2am. My heart skipped. The last time this happened, it was a warning for us to evacuate the building for an hour.I pushed my duvet away, got down from the bed, tucked my feet into my slippers, and rushed to the door.My hands were shaky as I struggled with the lock. I pulled the door open with force, ready to ask security what was going on. But never—ever—did I imagine this.Matteo.The words instantly disappeared. My heart continued to race. Not out of fear this time, but shock and pain.He was standing at my door at 2am like the universe had completely lost its mind.My hands moved instinctively, and I gripped the door frame. I wasn’t sure if that was for support or to block him from coming in, but that was what my instincts require







