Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“I haven’t seen him in three days,” I answer, my heart contracting painfully in my chest.
“What? Where is he?”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t been home. I really hope this marriage isn’t over, Louisa.” Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away. This isn’t the time for cowardice; it’s time to be strong.
Louisa’s arms come around me.
“I don’t know how this happened. I went on the pill when Valentino and I got married.”
Louisa gasps. “Does he know this?”
“No. I didn’t want the marriage, Louisa, and I was scared that I’d be bound to him if I got pregnant, so I took steps to make sure.”
“Okay, but after you and Valentino got to know each other, why didn’t you stop?”
“Because we never discussed having kids. It was too early. I didn’t want to bring a kid into this life with a man that doesn’t love me, Louisa. Please don’t blame me.”
“I will never blame you!” Louisa hugs me. “You’re my sister. I’m always on your side.”
Tears slip down my face, and she gently wipes them off. “So what now?”
“I’m going to confirm my pregnancy test.”
“Okay.” She nods. “What next? What will you do if you find out you’re pregnant?”
“I—”
A knock on the partition interrupts me, and I hear the driver’s voice. “We’re at St. Monica’s hospital, ma’am.”
Louisa and I exchanged glances. “Come on,” she says. “Let’s do this.”
Hours later, Louisa and I are huddled on a chair in the hospital reception, waiting for the result of my pregnancy test. A nurse had taken my urine sample about two hours ago, and my patience has almost run out from having to wait that long.
Louisa’s arm is tight around my body, and I can tell she’s nervous, too. My heart is beating furiously in my chest because deep down, I know the result is going to say the same thing the pregnancy kits from the pharmacy said. The symptoms are all there.
“Miss Barbieri?” A nurse calls, and I rush to my feet with Louisa beside me.
“The doctor will see you now,” she says, gesturing towards the office.
We go into the consulting room. The doctor is a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, and he directs us to the seats across from him.
There’s no need to delay the inevitable; I’d rather rip the plaster off instantly. “Tell me, Doctor. Am I pregnant?”
Louisa grabs my hand and squeezes.
The doctor presents me with a smile. “Congratulations Miss Barbieri,” he says. “You are five weeks pregnant.”
Chapter Forty-Five
FRANCESCA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUSzL2leaFM
Wonderful Tonight
It’s two a.m., and I can’t sleep. I’m lying on the bed and my eyes are tightly shut, but my heart is thudding fast in my chest. I’m afraid. I’m five weeks pregnant and terrified of what the future holds for me.
A fierce wave of protective instinct has already enveloped me, and I know no matter what Valentino decides with regards to our marriage, I will never give up on my baby. I will protect this tiny life with my life.
I’ve always loved children and as a teenager, I daydreamed about my future family: a man who loved me and treated me like a queen because I was carrying his child. And when I had his child, he would care for and protect us with everything he had.
But that’s the thing about daydreams. They aren’t real. They give you hope and false expectations, which makes reality all the more cruel. Here I am, at twenty, pregnant with a husband who hasn’t been home in three days. My heart hurts, and tears burn under my closed eyelids.
What can I do? Go through this journey all alone. But I'd rather that than hurt our child.
Suddenly, the door opens, and Valentino fills the doorway. I almost cry with relief, but a cowardly part of me reacts instinctively. I shut my eyes and pretend to be asleep. The room is semi-dark, so I know he can’t see me.
Valentino shuts the door and walks further into the room, taking off his shirt as he heads into the bathroom. Before he disappears through the bathroom door, I glimpse his strong, muscled back and bite down on my lips. God, I’ve missed this man so much.
Minutes later, Valentino walks out of the bathroom with a white towel around his waist. My eyes track him across the room as he heads to the wardrobe in the corner. His body is beautifully sculpted, and I know all too well how hard his muscles feel against my skin. I may be stealing glances at Valentino, but he hasn’t looked in my direction once. I thought my heart was already completely broken, but it broke further.
I don’t know how much I can take.
Valentino slides on black sweatpants before ditching the towel and walking to the bed. I shut my eyes again and almost moan when the bed dips with his weight. Suddenly, I feel so safe, and my hand instantly touches my stomach. I’ve missed having him beside me on the bed.