144

[REBECCA]
Artemy winced as the memory resurfaced, and even I was struck by a pang of anguish.
“I was wounded, Rebecca. Discovering that the woman I ardently love was affiliated with the Cavalieri was a blow. I was furious, yes, but never did I entertain the notion that you were the infiltrator. I merely needed solitude to comprehend. In that solitude, I grasped why you remained silent,” he explained.
He swallowed audibly, his gaze locked onto mine. Our foreheads met as he lowered his head, our breathing synchronized. “My withdrawal wasn’t prompted by your allegiance to the Cavalieri. It was fueled by the hurt from your silence. When I eventually reconciled with reality, it was too late. You were already gone. That day… I hadn’t known such agony. It felt as though I was being torn apart.”
A lump formed in my throat. “I fought, Artemy. I resisted him fiercely. I called out for you. He asserted… he claimed you wanted nothing to do with me. He asserted that you were relinquishing me.”
Fury ignited in Artemy’s expression. His voice rumbled menacingly. “Who?” Yet, a glint of recognition flickered in his eyes.
“Milandro,” I murmured. “He surrendered me to Raffaele. He insisted you never… wished to lay eyes on me again.”
A mixture of pain and recognition contorted Artemy’s features. “Milandro,” he growled, his distress evident. “But I didn’t believe him.”
Artemy’s lips brushed against mine, a tender, almost ephemeral kiss. The tang of our tears lingered as our lips met.
“I never uttered those words, Angel. You encompass my entirety. The notion of relinquishing you never crossed my mind,” he confessed, his voice laden with anguish.
“I understand. I held onto our bond, Artemy,” I affirmed, enfolding him in my arms. Our lips hovered close.
“I held onto us, too. That belief never wavered.”
His words sent my heart racing. The constriction in my chest began to release, replaced by a sense of buoyancy.
“You kept me grounded,” I murmured, my eyes fluttering shut as his kisses peppered my face.
Artemy’s arms enveloped me, and we clung to each other. A sigh escaped me as I nestled deeper into his secure embrace. I felt cherished, enveloped in a protective cocoon of adoration.
I cradled his rough cheek in my palm, noting the bristle of his unshaven jaw. When had he last shaved? My fingers roamed his face, tracing his contours.
Trailing my fingers over his lips, they were met with his gentle kiss. An overwhelming sense of affection swept over me, and I closed my eyes.
I sat up slightly on his lap, capturing his lips in a kiss. The desire to connect, to touch, was unquenchable.
But my musings were interrupted by a fluttering sensation. Looking down, I focused on my rounded belly. Artemy followed my gaze.
My nose tingled as tears welled up, and when another flutter came, I could hardly believe it. Tears streamed down my face as I held my stomach, feeling the movement of our baby within.
Artemy’s warm hand enveloped mine, providing a strong, protective grip as we both cradled the bump.
The weight of my pain flowed through my hushed words, “He caused me immense pain, Artemy. The agony was unbearable. My pleas fell on deaf ears as he continued, relentless. The tears and pleas meant nothing to him. The torment was unceasing.” My voice quivered as my hands pressed firmly against my belly, aching with memories.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, accompanying the gentle movement of the baby inside me. A mixture of emotions surged as I nestled my face into Artemy’s neck.
“The cruelty he inflicted was beyond measure. He showed no mercy, Artemy. I was utterly drained, unable to fight any longer. All I yearned for was to escape, to find happiness once again, to be with you,” I confessed, my voice carrying the weight of my ordeal.
Artemy’s anguished groan reverberated, his grip around me intensifying as anger coursed through him. The baby’s movements prompted me to close my eyes, seeking solace.
“He threatened our baby,” I disclosed, the words hanging heavy in the air.
Artemy’s body froze beneath mine, tension rippling through his muscles. His voice, sharp and dangerous, demanded, “What did he say?”
Even I trembled at the intensity of his tone. The memory of Raffaele’s ruthlessness resurfaced-the endless attempts to break me, the relentless consumption of my strength.
“He vowed to let me give birth, only to deliver our baby to you lifeless,” I choked out, my panic palpable in quickened breaths.
Artemy’s arm formed a protective shield around my stomach. “He won’t live to see another day, Rebecca. I’ll make sure he regrets ever laying a hand on you, on our child.”
My eyes snapped open, breath catching as his determination echoed in my ears.
He will regret even thinking of hurting our baby.
Our baby.
The words resonated, an overwhelming mix of emotions tightening my chest. I gazed up at Artemy’s fierce countenance, seeing the protector within, the strength of a monster willing to defend.
My fingers cupped his cheeks, eyes locked onto his intense blue gaze. “You said our baby.”
His eyebrows knitted, gaze alternating between my stomach and my eyes. “Yes, our baby.”
Swallowing hard, I felt the lump in my throat grow. “How can you be certain the baby is yours?”
Artemy’s hand brushed away my tears tenderly. “Is it? Is our baby mine, Rebecca?”
The question sent a pang of despair through me. Closing my eyes, I leaned into him. “I don’t know,” I whispered, the baby’s movement underscoring my uncertainty. “I’m sorry, Artemy.”
A gentle hush followed as he silenced me with a touch, fingers pressed against my lips. “No need for words, Rebecca. There’s nothing to apologize for. At this juncture, I don’t care about the father. The baby is mine. You are mine. Ours. That’s all that matters.”
His hand found its way to my round belly, a tender caress offered. “I think I already love him, Angel.”
My hand covered his, the connection between us and our unborn child powerful. “I want him, Artemy.”
A surge of protectiveness and ownership enveloped us both, a unified resolve.
I didn’t possess knowledge of the baby’s biological origin, nor did I desire it. All I craved was the ability to shower my child with love.
To provide the love I never had.
Artemy’s lips met mine once more, a tender and affectionate kiss that conveyed a depth of care and love, as though he held me in the highest regard. His embrace was delicate, treating me as if I were a fragile treasure.
Within that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of being cherished, the softness of his touch and the sweetness of his words intertwining to create an atmosphere of devotion.
In his presence, I found everything I had yearned for and desired, an unspoken but profound sentiment that transcended mere words.
Though the three powerful words – “I love you” – lingered at the tip of my tongue, I hesitated to utter them. A mysterious inhibition held me back, a barrier that I struggled to comprehend.
He had openly confessed his love for me, yet I grappled with expressing my own feelings. The reason behind this internal struggle eluded me.
However, I questioned whether verbalizing those words was even necessary. Our connection seemed to thrive on a more profound level, an unspoken resonance that negated the need for vocal declarations. Our emotions were palpable, transcending the realm of language.
Even without the articulation of love, our hearts remained intertwined, our bond unbreakable and steadfast.
With a hushed voice, I spoke his name, allowing the sentiment to flow from me: “Artemy, you are my tranquility.”
His response was a gentle smile that danced against my lips. “I’m aware,” he murmured.
His answer elicited a reciprocal smile from me, and our lips met once more in a kiss that was unhurried, tender, and filled with a subtle passion. Our tongues intertwined, and I released a contented sigh into the embrace of his kiss.
The tranquility of our moment was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door. As Artemy moved to respond, Lynda burst into the room, swiftly followed by Nona.
Lynda halted in the room’s center, her gaze locking onto mine with a mixture of concern and relief. “Sam informed me that Rebecca fainted,” she exclaimed, her gaze sweeping over me, eyes wide with fear. Beside her, Nona’s expression mirrored her anxiety.
Artemy’s laughter rang lightly through the air. “She remembers,” he declared.
Lynda’s jaw dropped, and Nona audibly gasped. In an instant, they enveloped me in their arms, their embrace constricting but warmly reassuring. Tears flowed, shared emotions mingling as we wept together.
Their presence was a balm to my soul, a reminder of the connections I had dearly missed.
Amidst their tight embrace, I managed to utter, “I apologize for my prolonged absence.”
Nona’s gentle voice broke through, soothingly affirming, “You’ve returned to us. That’s all that truly matters.”
Lynda clung to me long after Nona had moved away, our embrace unbroken. Her words were a testament to the depth of her concern: “Rebecca, I was so frightened. You can’t possibly comprehend. I’m overjoyed now, feeling that every sacrifice was justified.”
In this shared moment, our feelings of belonging and reunion were palpable, transcending time and distance.
Bafflement furrowed my forehead, and Artemy’s vacant gaze held my attention. Lynda halted, disengaging from our embrace. She swiped at her tears and presented a grin, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
Perplexed, I inquired, “What’s on your mind?”
Shaking her head, she replied, “Forget it. You truly have a knack for inducing stress. By the way, I’m still a tad annoyed that you spoke to Artemy first. Not exactly fair that he got to hear your voice before I did.”
I lowered my head bashfully, her words warming my heart.
“Rebecca needs her rest. You can chat with her tomorrow, Lynda,” Artemy interjected, drawing me into an embrace from behind, his chest to my back.
Lynda concurred, a nod accompanying her response. “You’re right.”
With a gentle kiss upon my forehead, she withdrew. “You must rest and sleep well. Remembering everything must have taken a toll on you.”
“I do feel a bit weak,” I confessed, relaxing in Artemy’s enveloping arms.
“That settles it,” he grumbled, sweeping me off my feet. “I should have realized.”
He positioned me onto the bed, cocooning me in the comforter. “Rest,” he directed, his gaze firm upon me.
As the door closed, Artemy handed me a pill. “Sam recommended this. It should help with your headache.”
I ingested the pill, and Artemy held a glass of water to my lips, which I drank from. Once done, he settled me onto my back and dimmed the lights.
Sliding into bed behind me, he drew me close to his chest, his arms encircling my waist, his hand resting atop my baby bump. I mirrored his gesture. The baby stirred briefly before settling.
“Sleep, Angel.”
My eyelids closed as I sought slumber.
Sleep, Angel. I’ll safeguard you.
I held certainty in his vigilance. Just as always.
As sleep’s embrace tightened around my mind and body, a faint smile curved my lips.
He came for me, just as I always knew he would.
“I appreciate your love,” I murmured into the darkness.
“Never express gratitude for my love, Angel,” he murmured in reply.