Chapter 2

First thing the next morning, I met Paolo at a café.

After I signed, I slid the papers back across the table to him. "In two days, get these to Daniel."

I'd planned to go to the monastery of San Colombano after meeting with Paolo.

For six years, Daniel had never let me go. He was afraid it would upset me too much and that I wasn't strong enough for the trip.

But just as I was about to leave, my stomach started churning. It was so bad I thought I was dying.

So I went to the hospital first.

The doctor told me, "You're pregnant. Given how badly your uterus was damaged, it's remarkable that you were able to conceive at all. You need to be very careful."

I stared at the test results in my hand. For a long time, I couldn't take it in.

Why did I have to get pregnant now, of all times?

After leaving the hospital, I went to the monastery. I stopped by the office to hand in the rest of my paperwork, then went to Emma's grave.

I stayed a long time. I didn't come down the mountain until the sun was setting.

There were 99 missed calls on my phone, every one of them from Daniel.

I called him back.

He picked up almost instantly. "Lucia, where are you?"

His voice was so hoarse it sounded like he'd been crying.

I didn't tell him where I was. I just said I'd be home soon.

From a distance, I spotted Daniel standing outside the estate.

The moment I got out of the car, he rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug. "You scared me to death. Thank God you're okay..."

Something warm and wet slid along my jaw and down my neck.

I went still.

Daniel was actually crying.

I was about to say something when Talia walked over. She glanced at Daniel's face, then looked at me, barely hiding her jealousy. "Lucia, where did you go? Do you have any idea how worried we were? Daniel practically turned the whole city upside down looking for you..."

I scoffed. "He turned the whole city upside down and still couldn't find me?"

Daniel frowned and snapped, "My men are getting sloppier by the day."

He cupped my face and kissed me softly.

I pushed him away without thinking, my voice flat. "I went to see our daughter today."

Before Daniel could say anything, I was already heading inside. "Sorry, Daniel. I'm a little tired. I'm going to bed."

Back in my room, I started getting changed.

The test results slipped out of my pocket and fell to the floor.

I reached down and picked them up.

Right then, Daniel walked in. "What's that in your hand?"

My heart lurched. The paper slipped out of my hand again and landed right at Daniel's feet.

I reached for it without thinking, but Daniel picked it up before I could...