MILLIE
Dario’s demeanor tensed, sensing the gravity of the situation that had led to this plea. “Millie, in this fragile state, it’s best not to take actions that could further enrage Gio.”
“I understand that,” I retorted, my words a vehement whisper. “But he won’t speak to me. He’s declared his resolve to sever ties, and time is a luxury I can’t afford if I am to wait for his forgiveness.”
A furrow creased Dario’s brow as he considered my plea, his unease palpable. “What is it you’re asking, Millie?”
The urgency in my voice matched the urgency that had driven me to this juncture. “I need you to take me to New York to see a doctor,” I admitted, my voice soft yet resolute.
Dario’s surprise was evident, his gaze locking onto mine in astonishment. “Are you… pregnant?”
My nod confirmed the truth, my heart heavy with the weight of unspoken implications. “That’s what the pregnancy test indicated. That’s why Mathias released me.”
An undercurrent of fury rippled across Dario’s features, his anger at the revelation palpable. “Mathias knows? Damn,” he hissed, his lips curling with a mix of disgust and indignation. “You should tell Gio.”
The idea of unveiling this secret to Gio was not one I’d dismissed lightly, but the complexities of our fractured relationship made the decision far from simple. “No,” I asserted firmly. “Not now, not when his anger is a chasm between us. I want him to return to me out of his own volition, not out of a sense of obligation toward the child. And his state of mind… it’s far from stable.”
Dario’s contemplative silence was a canvas on which myriad thoughts seemed to paint themselves. “You’re right,” he eventually conceded, a note of reluctant agreement in his voice. However, I detected a hidden layer beneath his words, a knowledge he wasn’t fully divulging. “But remember, Millie, this secret won’t remain hidden indefinitely.”
As the sun ascended, its rays casting a gentle glow over the scene before us, I couldn’t shake the resonance of Dario’s cautionary words. The truth, like the growing life within me, was a force of nature that couldn’t be contained forever, and the path ahead remained shrouded in a fog of uncertainty and hope.
My stomach knotted tightly, a sensation that seemed to mirror the turmoil within me. “Do you think his anger will linger for months?” I dared to voice my fear, my gaze locked onto his face, seeking an answer I was almost afraid to find. And then, as his expression painted a picture of the very response I dreaded, a sinking realization settled in-perhaps I had truly pushed him away.
This man, who had grown up learning that trust was a currency that often led to death, who had never shared a bed with another, who always maintained a vigilant distance even from his own brother, had extended that rare trust to me. And in return, I had managed to shatter it.
“If you allow me a quick shower, we can depart immediately,” Dario’s voice finally broke the silence, cutting through my swirling thoughts.
His words took a moment to register, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. “Yes, please,” I managed to respond, my voice wavering slightly. “I’ll get ready.”
Forty minutes slipped by like grains of sand through an hourglass, and soon, Dario and I were en route to New York. Behind us, Harper and Sienna were still in the embrace of slumber, sheltered by Gabriele and two vigilant guards.
Disguised by my wig, I concealed my identity, cautious to prevent any premature revelations about my pregnancy. This secret was too delicate, too laden with implications to be exposed prematurely.
“Will you confide in your sisters?” Dario’s voice cut into the quiet of the car.
I hesitated, torn between truth and caution. “I’d rather keep this between us for now,” I admitted, fully aware of the conflict in his gaze. While he cherished transparency, recent events had underscored the fragility of our situation. I needed the time and space to understand my own emotions before involving others.
As we waited, Dario remained in the reception area while I followed Dr. Lee into the examination room. The confirmation of my pregnancy, the revelation that I was six weeks along, hung in the air like a suspended breath. Exiting the room, I found Dario waiting by the elevator, and a surge of longing for Gio gripped me so intensely that tears welled up and spilled over. He should have been here, should have shared in this moment of unspoken joy.
Dario’s touch on my shoulder was a lifeline, a gesture of solace that I leaned into without hesitation. Seeking comfort, I nestled against him, the strength of his arms around me offering a temporary respite from the ache within. “Millie, Gio will find his way back to you,” he whispered, his words carrying a reassuring promise.
Desperation mingled with hope inside me, and I nodded, my gratitude for his support intermingled with the weight of my yearning. Blinking back my tears, I straightened, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment for my display of vulnerability. Gio’s absence was an abyss that tore at my heart, but for the sake of our unborn child, I knew I had to stand strong.
~*~
Anxiety gripped me like a vice. The moment I had been both dreading and yearning for had finally arrived-after three long weeks, I was about to see Gio again. Communication between us had been a barren wasteland; my messages had gone unanswered, and I eventually ceased my attempts, surrendering to his silence. Even if his need for space felt like a slow torment, I was willing to grant it, even if it meant enduring my own emotional turmoil.
As I stood there, thoughts racing, Harper’s voice broke through my reverie. “We should have a celebration just for ourselves, without the men,” she murmured in a tone heavy with exasperation. Her gaze was fixed on Gio, and her words struck a chord within me. Could this Christmas truly be anything but a chaotic mess given the current state of things?
The warmth of the shower did little to ease my inner turmoil. Emerging from the bathroom, I had to steady myself against the marble countertop as a wave of dizziness washed over me. Though barely nine weeks along, the pregnancy held me in its unyielding grip. There was no noticeable bump yet, but its influence was undeniable. The past three weeks had seen me shed over ten pounds due to relentless bouts of nausea. Dr. Lee seemed unconcerned, assuring me that the baby’s development was on track. Wrapping myself in underwear, I entered the bedroom, uncertainty gnawing at me. Would tonight be the night Gio shared the bed with me again?
“Millie, damn it,” Harper’s voice snapped me from my thoughts. Her lips pursed as she studied me critically. “You’ve lost a frightening amount of weight.”
I brushed her concern aside with a dismissive smile. Retrieving the cream-colored wool dress, I tugged it on. The garment that once accentuated my curves now hung loosely, a visible testament to my physical struggles.
Harper’s raised eyebrows reflected her disbelief. “Don’t try to downplay it. That dress practically drowns you.”
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” I insisted, my tone resolute.
Stepping closer, Harper’s worry was palpable. “Your complexion is practically ghostly, and those shadows beneath your eyes…” She shook her head in disbelief. “We’ll go light on the makeup. Let him witness what he’s done to you.”
Too weary to argue, I allowed her to apply a touch of foundation and mascara, enhancing features that bore evidence of exhaustion.
“I swear, if he treats you poorly, I’ll make him regret it,” Harper’s declaration carried a fierce undertone. “I’ll personally introduce one of Sebastian’s knives to his cold, cruel heart.”
“Gia,” my warning carried a note of caution. “I’m the one who went behind his back.”
Her eyes blazed with righteous anger. “You visited our younger brother, that’s true. But Gio’s affair with Alyssa stemmed from your reluctance to give in, and he kept silent when Sebastian asked for our father’s blessing to marry me. And mark my words, he’s probably concealed more truths from you-because you’re not following his lead like an obedient pet, his pride as one of the Made Men feels wounded. Damn foolish pride.”
I wished it were merely pride causing Gio’s distance, but I sensed the roots ran much deeper-dark and insidious.
A knock on the door heralded Sienna’s entrance. “Dinner is ready. Melanie says we can start.”
“Is he downstairs?” My voice betrayed the fragility of my emotions.
Sienna’s expression softened. “Yes, Gio and Sebastian arrived about fifteen minutes ago. They’re with Dario.”