Chapter 1 - The Anniversary Dinner

POV: Regina

I could feel the warmth and silent excitement radiating in my heart as I pictured Adrian’s expression when I break the news to him. 

I couldn’t help, but wonder my news would break his calm exterior and make him yell in happiness. Whichever, I couldn’t wait for him to get home.

I stirred the creamy Alfredo sauce slowly, inhaling the soft aroma of butter, garlic and the other spices that filled the kitchen. 

The chicken was already fried and carefully arranged on the white ceramic dishes beside the pasta. Candles flickered softly across the dining table behind me, casting a golden light over the crystal glasses and white roses, adding a soft, romantic vibe to the atmosphere.

Soft jazz played softly through the penthouse while Manhattan glittered beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows like scattered diamonds. 

I have always loved how beautiful the city looked beautiful from up here.

But tonight, it almost felt magical. Everything looked perfect.

I placed a hand against my stomach instinctively and a new wave of warmth spread through my chest so suddenly that it almost scared me. I hadn’t told anyone that I was pregnant yet— not even my best friend, Sienna, talk more of Adrian.

My phone suddenly buzzed against the counter, cutting through my… moment. I picked up the phone to see Sienna’s name flashing on the screen and smiled before answering.

“Girl, tell me you finally changed your mind and hired someone to plan tonight.” 

I laughed softly, leaning against the kitchen island. “Good evening to you too. And no.”

“Regina,” she groaned dramatically. “You manage a Michelin star restaurant. Why are you in that kitchen playing housewife like a jobless woman?”

“Because I want tonight to be nice.”

“Mm-hmm.” Her tone turned suspicious instantly. “I know that tone anywhere. Gina, what are you hiding?”

I bit my lower lip, debating whether to tell my best friend first or not. Lying to Sienna was pointless anyway, because she knew me too well.

“You’re glowing,” she continued. “And don’t ask me how I know over the phone. I just do.”

I laughed, shaking my head while I returned to the stove, mixing the pasta with the cream. “You’re insane.”

Sienna sighed dramatically again. “I know that already. Now out with it. What’s up with you?”

“I…” I hesitated before laughing nervously. “I have news, Si.”

There was a beat of silence on the other side of the line. Then—

“Oh my God”

I blinked. “What?”

“Are you pregnant?”

I nearly dropped the spoon in my hand. “How the hell did you know that?”

Sienna shrieked so loudly I had to pull the phone away from my ears.

“I KNEW IT!” She screamed. “Regina Price, I swear if you were in front of me right now, I’d give you the biggest hug.” 

I burst into laughter, plating the food. 

“You’re impossible.”

“No, you’re pregnant.” She yelled. “Does he know?”

A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. 

Maybe Adrian would finally look at me and realize we were already a family.

“I’m telling him tonight,” I admitted quietly.

Sienna suddenly went still, and somehow, that silence told me everything.

“You sure this man deserves homemade meals and pregnancy announcements?” She asked finally. “I mean, your relationship is…”

She stopped mid-sentence and I knew exactly what she meant.

The smile faded from my face slightly anyway, and my eyes drifted to the flickering candles I’d romantically set on the dining table, to the diamond engagement ring sparkling on my finger, and to the empty seat waiting for Adrian.

“I don’t know,” I whispered honestly.

Sienna’s voice softened immediately. “Regina…”

“But I love him.”

And unfortunately, that was the problem.

Because loving Adrian Moretti always felt like I was standing close to something dangerous enough to burn me and pretending not to notice.

“I know you do, baby,” Sienna responded in a gentle voice. “But, you sure you don’t wanna take the time to think this through?”

Before I could respond, a notification buzzed through the penthouse speakers to indicate that someone was coming up the private elevator, and heartbeat jumped violently.

“He’s here,” I breathed.

“Already?” Sienna asked.

I quickly checked the time—7:30pm—and warmth flooded through me so suddenly. 

Maybe tonight relief really change everything for us.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I told her quickly.

“If he ruins this night, I’m committing crimes,” she warned.

I smiled. “Goodnight, Crazy.”

“Goodnight, Mama.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks before the call disconnected.

Mama. 

Oh God.

I touched my stomach again before smoothing down my silk champagne-colored dress nervously and walking toward the penthouse entrance.

But when the elevator doors opened, Adrian wasn’t inside. It was one of his security men, and my smile faltered instantly.

“Miss Price.” He greeted me politely. “Mr. Moretti has been trying to reach you.” He handed me his phone. 

Confusion crossed my face. Why couldn’t he reach me?

Before I could ask, the screen lit up.

MR. MORETTI CALLING

“Hey,” I answered softly. 

“Regina.” 

His voice sounded gentle, but rough around the edges. I could hear background noises of traffic and male voices behind him. 

“You were on another call for a while,” he said .

Then, it clicked. “Oh. I was talking to Sienna. Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Adrian never needed to yell or rush his words. He always took his time.

Then he sighed softly. “And I’m sorry.”

My shoulders sagged and my smile erased immediately.

“Don’t tell me you won’t be coming home early tonight,” I said in a small voice.

“I won’t be coming home tonight,” he admitted quietly. “An unexpected situation came up with the investors. I'll need to travel to Chicago for the meeting. If I don’t handle this tonight—“

“It could affect the deal,” I finished for him softly.

I’ve heard these words too many times, and I knew exactly how it always ended.

There was a beat of silence, then he spoke.

“Are you angry?”

I looked back towards the beautifully set dining table, the dinner I’d spent hours preparing and the tiny positive pregnancy test hidden in an envelope on the table.

And suddenly, I felt stupid.

“No,” I lied gently, leaning against the wall slowly. “I understand.”

“I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

He sounded sincere, and that was the worse part about Adrian, he never lied to me cruelly. He simply kept choosing his empire and everything else over us—over me.

“Regina?”

I forced a smile he couldn’t even see. “Go handle your meeting.”

I heard a tired exhale on the other end of the phone. “I hate disappointing you.”

My throat tightened painfully, because he didn’t understand that disappointment wasn’t the problem anymore. 

It was loneliness.

It was his blindness to my feelings and efforts.

“I love you,” he said suddenly.

The words hit me so hard that it stung.

“I love you too.”

Then the call ended and I handed the phone back to the security, muttering a thank you before shutting the door.

And just like that, the penthouse became unbearably quiet. 

I stood there for several seconds staring at my reflection in the dark windows before finally walking back toward the dining table.

The pasta was already getting cold and the ice inside the silver bucket was starting to melt.

The jazz music was still playing softly in the background while the candle wax melted slowly onto the table cloth.

An hour passed, then another, and I did nothing but sit curled up in one of the dining chairs with my knees against my chest, staring at my untouched plate.

I felt so stupid and pathetic. 

My phone buzzed suddenly on the table and I picked it up to see a text from Sienna.

“Regina. Open i*******m, but don’t panic. Please. And call me if you wanna talk.”

My stomach dropped instantly as I read the text a second time. Sienna Hart never says ‘don’t panic…’ unless something was I seriously wrong.

Slowly, I unlocked my phone, opened the app and froze at the first feed.

I saw a photo of Adrian standing in a ballroom where it seemed like an expensive gala was being hosted, in a perfectly tailored black suit, standing very close to a slim, beautiful woman.

Adrian’s arm was wrapped around her waist, possessively while she laughed at something he’d said.

The woman’s perfectly manicured fingers rested lightly against his chest, while he looked down at her with an expression the camera had caught in a devastating detail—intimate and familiar.

The headline underneath the photo read:

NEW YORK’S GOLDEN COUPLE REUNITED — ADRIAN MORETTI & SERAPHINA LAURENT SPOTTED AT EXCLUSIVE GALA.

Then another headline appeared beneath it:

MANHATTAN SOCIALITES CELEBRATE ADRIAN MORETTI’S REUNION WITH FORMER LOVE.

And the post already had thousands of reshares.