Page 198 of Modern Romance June 2025 1-4

She crossed the kitchen and kissed him. Kissed him with everything she had, and he held her tightly to him, kissing her back, returning her passion. The affection she couldn’t name.

‘Are you happy?’ he asked, resting his forehead on hers.

‘You have no idea.’

That kiss had turned Emilio’s world on its head. He’d felt Jasmine’s feelings for him shift in the kitchen but he wasn’t quite sure what it meant. What they meant to each other. The only relationship he could compare this to was what he’d felt for Gia, and he didn’t want to do that. He had already made a commitment to Jasmine for their child, but he wanted this to be the start of something more. And that would start with being there for Jasmine. He hadn’t been around when Jasmine had learned of her pregnancy, or for the very first scan of their child. He couldn’t change that, but he could be better.

After dinner, and after Jasmine had fallen asleep in his bed, he sat in an arm chair in the corner of the room and did as much research as he could. He sat there until his eyes began to droop. He did it every night for a week and then some.

Jasmine was in the window for the baby’s genetics testing and nuchal translucency scan—things she would easily have made an appointment for in New York. But, out of her generosity to him, they were staying on in Italy, so it was his responsibility now to ensure she received the care she needed.

Over the past weeks, she had let go so much, relaxed, but Emilio knew she still needed control. Both were key parts of her personality. Having the doctor of her choice around would give her that control, even when they were away from home.

So he called her OB-GYN and had him on the next available flight to Milan.

***

‘Thank you,’ Jasmine said on the drive to meet with him.

‘Of course.’ He laced their fingers, kissed her hand then placed it on his thigh. He liked the way it looked there. As though she had ownership of him.

Jasmine didn’t protest when he took her hand as they walked to the doctor’s room in the medical centre, and he was especially glad that she didn’t let go when the doctor performed the ultrasound.

‘There’s your baby,’ the doctor announced.

The pulsing sound of his child’s heartbeat wasn’t something Emilio was prepared for. Yes, he had expected it, but to see this tiny living thing that was part him and part Jasmine filled him with wonder.

Jasmine looked at him with tears in her eyes and a tender smile on her face. He was happy—a happiness he wasn’t sure he had ever experienced. And he’d found it with Jasmine, a random stranger he’d met in a club, but Emilio was certain that fate had intervened, because there was no other reason someone so perfect should be in his life.

There was something real, something tender, between them, something he’d never experienced with Gia. She’d taken everything he could offer but she hadn’t cared about him. He’d been young and stupid and thought he’d fallen for her, but it hadn’t been true.

He knew that now. Everything before Jasmine was lifeless.Thiswas love. This was home.

Once the doctor was done, he took some blood and left the room. Emilio helped Jasmine wipe off the gel and straighten her clothes, even though he knew she was fully capable of doing it herself. Once her appearance was as impeccable as ever, he kissed her.

‘I know none of this happened as you had planned, but I’m grateful it did.’

Jasmine smiled at him, glowing brighter than ever. ‘I am too.’

During the entire drive back to the Vozzano estate, Emilio kept replaying the sound of the baby’s heartbeat in his head, over and over. It was the sweetest music. His baby had been a tiny shape on a screen, and he couldn’t comprehend just how much he loved them already. More than ever, Emilio couldn’t understand his father at all. How could he have witnessed such a thing and remain unmoved? All Emilio knew was that he was done with wasting time.

‘Get some rest,belleza. I have an email to send and then I will bring you some tea.’

‘Thank you.’ She caressed his cheek and he left her to go to his study.

Inform the De Luca lawyers about the will,he typed.I want this dealt with swiftly.

Everything that was his mother’s was his and his child’s. He had no doubt that it all would be resolved quickly—he probably wouldn’t even have to deal with Enzo.

His attention now belonged to his wife.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Jasmine stood atthe window of their bedroom.

Their…?When had she started thinking of Emilio’s spaces as theirs? Oddly, it didn’t feel uncomfortable. She’d been so adamant she would never rely on him, never trust him. She still didn’twantto do those things with anyone, but she couldn’t lie to herself any longer. Not after the moment they’d shared earlier, seeing their baby together for the first time. Seeing the awe and love for his child on Emilio’s face. There was no denying the fact that Jasminehadtrusted Emilio. She’d trusted him to take care of their child. She’d trusted him enough to embark upon this journey. Part of her must have trusted him to take responsibility, even at the start, otherwise why would she have gone to his office?

And there was no denying that she felt something for him. These past weeks had been wonderful. Wrapped in a bubble in Italy. It was idyllic here. It felt like a real honeymoon…well, almost. But it certainly felt as if they were a family, and she couldn’t deny how much she enjoyed waking up in his bed every morning, the serenity she felt in his presence. The calm his scent brought.

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