Page 18 of Secret Baby for my Off-Limits Fiancé

I glance at the check again.

Fifty grand.

It could save my store.

But it also means getting tangled up with him.

I bite my lip.

I should say no.

But instead, I murmur, “I’ll think about it.”

His expression flickers. Is that relief?

He extends a hand. “I hope you make the right choice.”

I shake it, ignoring the way my skin tingles at the touch.

Then, I make an excuse to leave, rushing out of the café before I do something stupid.

Like say yes.

The second I step into Giana’s apartment, exhaustion settles deep into my bones. The weight of the day presses down on me, but at the sound of tiny feet pattering against the hardwood floor everything else fades away.

“Mama!”

My heart clenches, and warmth spreads through my chest as Vincent comes running toward me, his little arms outstretched.

I barely have time to drop my purse before scooping him up, holding him close to my chest.

“Oh, baby. I missed you,” I whisper into his soft curls, inhaling his familiar, comforting scent, the mix of baby shampoo and something uniquely him.

I pepper kisses all over his chubby cheeks, making him giggle.

The sound is pure magic. My anchor. My everything.

I cradle his small body against mine, feeling the warmth of his tiny hands as they clutch at my shirt. Every part of me, every ounce of stress and doubt that had consumed me throughout the day, melts in his presence.

“You were gone soooo long, Mama,” His voice is almost accusing but filled with nothing but love.

I pull back slightly to look into his big, brown eyes. Eyes that always remind me of his father, though I try to ignore the thought.

“I know, sweetheart.” I push a curl away from his forehead. “But I’m here now. And I love you more than anything in this world.”

He smiles, resting his head against my shoulder, his tiny fingers playing with the fabric of my shirt. “I love you too, Mama.”

This.

This is everything.

It’s in these quiet, stolen moments that I feel the depth of what it means to be a mother. The overwhelming, all-consuming love. The fierce protectiveness. The unshakable bond that nothing, not time, not distance, not hardship, could ever break.

I close my eyes and hold him a little tighter.

How many nights had I stayed awake, worrying about our future? How many sacrifices had I made just to make sure he had a happy, stable life? Being a single mother wasn’t easy, God, it was never easy, but I would endure anything for him.

I glance over at Giana, who watches us with a knowing expression.

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