Chapter 18 : The Unexpected visitor

The tension from the confrontation between Fabio and his father lingered in the air long after they had come to a tentative understanding. Fabio spent the rest of the day in a state of restless agitation, his mind whirling with thoughts of Nikki, Sophia, and the future that seemed to be slipping through his fingers. Meanwhile, Duncan retreated to his thoughts, contemplating the consequences of his actions and the uncertain path that lay ahead.

That evening, Fabio sat in his study, the room dimly lit by a single lamp. He stared at the documents spread out before him, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about Sophia—about the way she had looked at him during their dinner, the way she had made him feel. Just as he was starting to believe there was a chance for them, everything seemed to be falling apart.

A knock at the door pulled him from his reverie. He glanced up, expecting to see one of the household staff, but was surprised to find his younger brother Felix standing in the doorway.

"Hey," Felix said, his tone unusually subdued. "Got a minute?"

Fabio sighed and nodded. "Sure, come in."

Felix stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. There was a moment of awkward silence as he looked around, clearly trying to find the right words. "I heard about what happened with Dad," he finally said. "Sounds like it was pretty intense."

Fabio leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, you could say that."

Felix shifted uncomfortably. "Look, I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but... if you need someone to talk to, I’m here."

Fabio was taken aback by the unexpected offer. He and Felix had always had a strained relationship, competing for their father’s approval and often finding themselves at odds. But there was something sincere in Felix’s tone that made Fabio pause.

"Thanks, Felix," Fabio said, his voice softening. "I appreciate it."

Felix nodded, seeming relieved. "I know this thing with Nikki is a mess. And with Sophia... well, I can’t imagine how complicated it must be."

Fabio sighed. "Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it. I just feel like everything is spiraling out of control."

Felix took a seat across from his brother, his expression thoughtful. "You know, sometimes when things get crazy, the best thing you can do is focus on what you can control. Take it one step at a time."

Fabio chuckled dryly. "Easier said than done."

"Yeah, but you’re strong, Fabio," Felix said earnestly. "You’ve always been able to handle more than most people. And you’ve got people who care about you, who want to help."

Fabio looked at his brother, a sense of gratitude washing over him. "Thanks, Felix. That means a lot."

Just as they were beginning to find a moment of understanding, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house. Fabio frowned, glancing at the clock. It was late for visitors.

"I’ll get it," Felix offered, standing up.

Fabio nodded, feeling a sense of unease as he watched his brother leave the room. Moments later, he heard voices in the hallway, one of which was unmistakably familiar.

Nikki.

Fabio's heart sank. What was she doing here? He stood up and walked to the door, stepping out into the hallway just as Felix was leading Nikki into the house.

"Nikki, what are you doing here?" Fabio asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Nikki looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and desperation. "We need to talk."

Felix glanced between them, sensing the tension. "I’ll give you two some privacy," he said, slipping away.

Fabio led Nikki into the study, closing the door behind them. He turned to face her, his emotions swirling. "What is it, Nikki? Why did you come here?"

Nikki took a deep breath, her hands trembling. "I needed to see you, Fabio. I needed to talk to you in person."

Fabio crossed his arms, trying to maintain his composure. "Alright, talk."

Nikki’s eyes filled with tears. "I know you’re angry. And I know things have been complicated between us. But I’m scared, Fabio. I’m scared about the future, about what’s going to happen to me and the baby."

Fabio’s heart softened at the sight of her distress. Despite everything, he couldn’t deny that he still cared about Nikki, that he still felt a sense of responsibility toward her. "I understand that, Nikki. But you need to understand that my father was just trying to protect me, to protect our family. We need to know the truth."

Nikki nodded, wiping her eyes. "I get that. And I’m willing to do the DNA test, whatever it takes to prove that I’m telling the truth. But I need your support, Fabio. I can’t do this alone."

Fabio took a deep breath, his mind racing. He wanted to help Nikki, but he also knew that his future with Sophia was at stake. "I’ll support you, Nikki. But we need to do this the right way. We need to get the test done and then figure out the best way forward."

Nikki nodded, relief washing over her face. "Thank you, Fabio. That means a lot."

As they talked, neither of them noticed the figure standing outside the study door. Sophia had returned, hoping to find Fabio and talk to him about their future. But as she approached the study, she heard voices—voices that sent a pang of sadness through her heart.

She listened for a moment, her heart breaking as she realized that Nikki was still very much a part of Fabio’s life. Without making a sound, she turned and walked away, tears streaming down her face. She had wanted to surprise Fabio, to show him that she was willing to give their relationship a real chance. But now, she felt more uncertain than ever.

As she left the house, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her dreams of a future with Fabio were slipping away. And for the first time, she wondered if love alone would be enough to overcome the obstacles that lay ahead.

Back in the study, Fabio and Nikki continued their conversation, unaware of the heartache they had just caused. Fabio knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but he was determined to face it with honesty and integrity. He only hoped that, in the end, he would be able to find a way to build the future he truly wanted—with or without the complications that now threatened to tear his life apart.