Page 105 of The Proposal

“He loves you,” she reiterates.

Her admission sends my heart into a flutter. Her voice is brimming with conviction, and I almost begin to believe her.

“How can you tell?”

“Easy, he looks at you the same way Alexander looks at me … like you’re the centre of his universe.”

“He does?”

Those images my sister texted me after arriving back in Italy flash through my mind. I place my hand on my stomach, fighting back tears once again. My emotions are all over the place.

“Yes. And if you’re pregnant, he’ll love this baby too.”

Since we arrived, I’ve watched Dante dote on his nephew. Their bond is genuine, and it’s heartwarming to see. He’s going to be an incredible father. He’s caring, protective, and values family deeply. He takes care of his own … of everyone. He would do anything to ensure our child feels loved and safe.

Papa used my sister and me as pawns to control mymother. By threatening to hurt us, he kept her under his thumb. I can only pray, as time wears on, that my husband doesn’t turn out to be anything like that monster.

“How long until we know?”

“A few more minutes. Relax,” Chloe answers, reaching for my hand and gently squeezing it.

It’s easy for her to say, she’s done this before, with a man who worships the ground she walks on. She’s been with him long enough to know what demons lie under the surface. She wouldn’t be doing this again if she didn’t.

I want what she has, but with Dante.

I want that close-knit, loving family.

I want my happily ever after with him.

When the alarm on Chloe’s phone goes off, telling us it’s time, I honestly feel like I’m about to throw up.

I quickly drop her hand and turn, giving the stick my back. “I can’t look.”

“Do you want me to do it for you?” she asks.

“Please.”

I suck in a sharp breath, holding it, and when she lets out an ear-piercing scream a second later, I have my answer.

I spin back around to face her, my heart hammering against my ribcage. She’s holding up the pregnancy test, the two pink lines glaring at me like a confession I’m not sure I’m ready to hear. This has the potential to change everything. I don’t know if it will be for good or for bad, but it feels like the world is shifting beneath my feet, making me feel woozy.

That feeling is quickly forgotten when Alexander bursts through the bathroom door. Dante is hot on his heels.

“Are you okay?” Alexander asks, his words coming out in a panted rush. His eyes dart between Chloe and me as he tries to make sense of the scene.

Thankfully, his wife had the foresight to hide the test stick before either of the men saw it. I don’t want Dante to find out this way or to hear such life-altering news in front of anaudience. He may have mentioned babies previously, but I’m still unsure how he’ll take the news.

“I saw another spider,” Chloe lies, which has Alexander immediately narrowing his eyes. I think he’s on to us.

“A spider?” Giovanni says with excitement, pushing his way into the middle of the bathroom. “Can I see it?”

“I … umm, flushed it down the toilet,” Chloe replies, thinking fast on her feet.

“Ah, man … again. Why do I never get to see them?”

“Why are you both in here together?” Alexander queries, his suspicion mounting.

“Arabella came to my rescue.”

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