Page 85 of Wretched Choices

I try to think and say something that never crossed my mind before. “Well, the last couple lasted only a day or two and they weren’t heavy. But I was under a lot of stress.”

“Any pain?”

“No, I rarely have any pain.”

She stops measuring and looks at me with a small smile on her face. “You are pregnant. And not just a week or two as you thought. You are already in your second trimester. You are thirteen weeks pregnant.”

I look at her, shocked, not knowing what to say. This was never planned. I’m on the pill, and ever since Italy, Salvatore always used a condom. In Italy, he fucked me on every surface of the boat.

“What about my period? I had it normally.”

“That weren’t periods. It is called hormonal bleeding and usually settles by the thirteenth week of pregnancy. I will need you to check in the next week if you bleed again. If not, we can schedule the usual checkups.” She goes back to taking measurements. “Everything looks normal.” After a few moments, I hear a sound that captures my heart and everything becomes real. “You want to see your baby?”

I nod, the knot in my throat preventing me from talking.

When she shows me black and white images of a small blip, and how its heart is beating, I try to control myself, but my emotions get the better of me. My eyes fill with tears, and I can’t see in front of me. “It is too early to define the sex of the baby. We can do that next time.”

She goes on and tells me the measurements and things I don’t understand because of my emotional state. I get a prescription for supplements and instructions from her to take care of myself as we schedule the next appointment. I also get an ultrasound print that I pack in my bag before I met Valentino in the waiting room.

I need to tell Salvatore. I let Valentino drive me to the hotel, but knowing what he told me, knowing that he wants his name to die with him, I fear his reaction, even if the life inside me gives me strength.

I knock on the door and, not waiting, I turn the knob.

“Not now...” He doesn’t continue when his eyes meet mine, and the frown on his face is replaced with a smile.

“Not even me?” I tease, knowing well enough it was meant for someone else.

“You can interrupt whenever you want. Just what I need.”

With wobbly legs, I make my way toward his desk. I place my hands on his shoulders and lean in for a kiss. He pulls me into his lap, securing his hand firmly around my waist.

“You’re in my office.” He observes me for a second. “I thought you hated this place.”

“I don’t hate it. I just have some unresolved feelings toward it that I need to work through.”

He presses his lips together, hiding his smirk. “Like what?”

“You forcing me to choose between two things I didn’t want.” I push my fingers through his hair. “People working here.” He knows well enough I dislike Ashley for no other reason than his sexual relationship with her.

He places a kiss on my neck. His breath raises goosebumps on my body as he speaks into my skin. “Are you jealous?”

“Maybe.”

His eyes shift to mine, and he gives me a reassuring look. “When I told you we would get married, I told you fidelity is what I want. I will never look at a woman that is not you. Not even if you denied me. Don’t you ever forget that.”

“Is that because of what your father did? Or is it something you believe in?”

“Something I promised myself when I found the truth about my father, as well as other things.”

“I see.” The smile drops from my face because I know the one thing he will hate is having an heir like his father always wanted. But he needs to know. Maybe he will change his mind. Rethink the situation.

I get up from his lap and walk toward the window that overlooks the busy streets.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, unable to take the anticipation anymore.

“You’re what?”

“Pregnant.”

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