Page 122 of Secret Baby for my Off-Limits Fiancé

Her hands remain tangled in my hair, her breath coming in soft pants against my lips.

I stare at her, my thumb brushing across her cheek, tracing the place where my lips had just been.

Her eyes flutter open, hazy and full of something undeniable.

“Valentino…” she whispers, her voice still laced with the remnants of our kiss.

I press my lips against hers again, soft, slow, reverent.

A promise.

Whatever happens next, we face it together.

I won’t let her go.

Not this time.

26

VALENTINO

AfterdroppingLaylabackat the hospital, the drive back home feels aimless. The road stretches endlessly before me as my thoughts spiral into the chaos of everything that has happened.

Layla. Vincent. That night years ago that changed everything.

I keep driving, not really seeing the road, just needing something to ground me before I lose myself completely.

Layla and I are finally in a place where we should have been years ago, together, honest, unafraid of what we feel for each other.

But it still feels like there’s more work to do.

The past still clings to us, and I wonder if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for all the lost time. For not being there for Vincent. For letting Layla believe that I was the kind of man who wouldn’t have wanted him. Or her.

I let out a harsh breath, exhausted in a way that sleep won’t fix.

Without realizing it, my car takes me back to the vineyard office.

It’s late, the estate is quiet, the only sound is the soft hum of the wind rustling through the vines.

I park in the driveway, letting my hands drop from the wheel, rubbing my face, trying to push back the endless loop of thoughts.

I lean back against the seat, shutting my eyes for a moment, just needing a second to breathe.

Then, a soft knock on my car window startles me.

I open my eyes to see Devina standing outside, her expression cautious, concerned.

I roll the window down, forcing myself to look collected, as if I haven’t just spent the last hour driving around like a man unraveling.

“Mr. Marchetti, you all right?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just needed some air. It’s been a long day. No need to worry.”

She doesn’t look convinced, but to her credit, she doesn’t push. Instead, she offers a small, understanding nod.

“I thought I’d remind you, your mother’s things that you asked me to move from the attic are in the conference room. You mentioned wanting to go through them before... well, before everything.”

I blink.

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