جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 60

Lena’s POV *The night before the wedding.* The past seven days have been nothing but chaos. From flower arrangements, to last-minute dress fittings, to arguing about security perimeters, and now it’s all about to be over. I stare at my wedding dress as it hangs on my wardrobe door. I can’t even believe it, tomorrow I’m getting married. Tomorrow I walk down the aisle and promise my life to the man I intend to spend forever with. So why does it feel like something’s missing? The thought then hits me, it’s my Dad. The fact that he won’t be there and he’ll never be there for every milestone I make. I can just picture it, the way he would have stood at the back of the church, arms crossed, glaring at Dante like he was going to shoot him if he hurt me. The way he would have cried during the vows and pretended he had something in his eye. “Stupid,” I whisper to the empty room. “You’re being stupid.” I’m not weak. But sitting here alone with the dress and th

Lena’s POV The car slows in front of the Moretti house. Two of Dante’s men get out first, and Tony opens my door. “Thanks,” I say as I step out. As I walk toward the door, my anxiety spikes. I was supposed to walk through these doors and tell Dante about the baby tonight. I even rehearsed it in the mirror this morning. But now my throat feels too tight. When I enter the house, I spot Ricardo standing by the staircase. “Ricardo,” I call out. He rushes over. “Yes, ma’am?” “Is Dante back yet?” I ask, my hand drifting to my stomach. “Yes. The Boss is in the study.” “Thank you,” I say, dismissing him, then head for the study. I find Dante standing by the window, back to me. He doesn’t turn when I shut the door. That’s strange. He’s always on high alert. “Dante?” His shoulders rise and fall. “Lena.” I cross the room and stop beside him. “How’d it go a

Lena’s POV I slam the bedroom door and don’t stop walking until I’m downstairs and out the front door. The air outside is cold. I’m properly dressed now, I’m no longer wearing Dante’s shirt. I hear footsteps behind me before I reach the gate. “Lena.” Dante’s voice sounds from behind me. I keep on walking, refusing to listen. “Lena, stop.” He’s in front of me now, blocking the gate. “Move,” I say. “Tesoro, where are you going?” “Don’t call me that.” My voice cracks. “Not after what you said.” He drags a hand through his hair. “I didn’t say I didn’t want a baby. I said it’s not safe right now.” “Same thing.” “It’s not.” “Then what is it, Dante? Because it sounded a lot like you don’t want this.” I gesture between us, His eyes flash. “That’s not fair.” “Isn’t it?” I step around him. “You decide when I’m safe, you decide when we can have kids, you decide everything. What’s left fo

Lena’s POV I wake up to silence. I roll around in bed for a bit before getting up. I sit up slowly and press a hand to my stomach before I can stop myself. I take deep breaths as I watch myself in the mirror. I’m about to be a mother. The thought sounds so terrifying and exciting at the same time. But one thing I know, I’ll give anything to protect this baby. I have to be brave for it. I get up, shower and get dressed. I head straight for the kitchen to get fruits. Maria is already in the kitchen, humming while she wipes down the counters. She stops when she sees me. “Signora,” she says, smiling at me. I reach for an apple from the bowl. My appetite has been strange lately, nothing sounds good except fruit and bread. “You didn’t eat last night,” Maria says carefully. “I’m not hungry.” She nods, but she watches me strangely. Finally, she speaks “You look… different.” I take a bite of the apple.

DANTE’S POV Her blood drips as we rush into the hospital. It’s all over my hands and on my shirt. I tried to scrub it in the car but it just smeared deeper. “Trauma one!” a nurse yells as we crash through the ER doors. “Pregnant, 3 months, fell down stairs, massive bleeding!” Ricardo was behind me, voice breaking. They take her in on the stretchers already placing an oxygen mask on her. I grab her hand and she squeezes back once, but it’s weak. Then the doors shut. “Family waits here, sir.” I sit down and I can feel my insides shaking. How did I let this happen? Why couldn’t I protect her? Ricardo stands by the door with two men securing the perimeter. Every 10 seconds I hear a crash from inside and every 10 seconds I think that’s the sound of them telling me she’s gone. “I should’ve called the private doc,” I mutter. “Should’ve put more men on the stairs. Should’ve….”