Page 144 of Beneath the Shadows

“Congratulations,” Alora says quietly.

Congratulations.The word feels foreign. Out of place in this environment. I stare at the ultrasound, the proof of the tiny life nestled inside Alessia’s body. For a fleeting second, the chaos in my mind stills.

“She’s strong,” Alora adds. “And so is your baby. We’ll take good care of them both.”

The joy I should feel at this moment is overshadowed by the fear that plagues me. “Thank you,” I manage, my throat tight.

She nods and slips out of the room, leaving me alone in the suffocating quiet staring at the faint outline of our baby. Does Alessia even know she’s pregnant?

My eyes drift back to my wife. The fear, the guilt—it’s too much. My strength crumbles, and I break. Silent sobs wrack my body as I hold the ultrasound, terrified of losing her. Terrified of losing them both.

I never imagined loving something this much—someone I haven’t even met yet. The thought of a future without them—I wouldn’t survive it.

I can’t lose them. Not like this.

I don’t know how long I sit there, drowning in my grief and fear, but then I feel it—a faint movement. Alessia’s fingers twitch.

I look up just in time to see her eyes flutter open. “You found me,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I nod, choking back tears. “I’ll always find you,tesoro.”

Her eyes slip closed again, but not before her hand squeezes mine, a weak but undeniable connection.

A sense of peace settles over me. But it’s fleeting, because I know what still needs to be done.

Alessia

I wake slowly,my body aches with the slightest movement. The steady beeping of machines fills the quiet room. It takes a moment to remember where I am. When I do, the memories come flooding back. Panic begins to overwhelm me until I reach down and feel his warmth.

Antonio’s slumped in the chair beside my bed, his head resting on the mattress. His breathing is deep and steady, lost in sleep. Gently, I run my fingers through his hair. He stirs and his eyes blink open. He appears disoriented for a second, until his gaze locks onto mine.

“Tesoro,” he breathes and sits up straighter

“Good morning,” I whisper.

He swallows hard, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a tender, almost desperate rhythm. “I was so scared,” he admits, his voice breaking. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I’m right here,” I assure him, though seeing the fear still etched on his face makes my heart ache. “You found me.”

But instead of relief, his eyes remain clouded with guilt.

“Antonio,” I murmur, my voice trembling. “Is our baby okay?”

“You know about the baby?” His expression shifts, surprised.

“My father told me,” I say, closing my eyes briefly to block out the memory. “That’s why he beat me. He was trying to kill the baby.”

Antonio’s expression darkens —his rage so palpable it seems to charge the very air between us. My breath catches at the intensity of his emotions. Slowly, he closes his eyes. His chest rises and falls as he draws in a deep, shaky breath, fighting to rein in the storm swirling inside him. His hands unclench, and the tension in his body eases, though the fire in his eyes still simmers.

With deliberate care, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small piece of paper, handing it to me. “He didn’t succeed.”

I take the ultrasound photo from his hands. Tears blur my vision as I stare at the tiny image.

“The baby’s really okay?” I whisper, needing to hear him say it again to make it real.

Antonio nods, his gaze softening as he leans closer. “The baby’s okay,tesoro.” He pauses, his voice raw with emotion. “I’m so proud of you. You fought like hell, and because of that, you saved both of you.” His thumb gently traces my cheek, his eyes filled with admiration.

A weight lifts from my chest. But something still feels off. “What aren’t you telling me?”

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