In the weeks that followed, Isla’s world felt strange and hollow. Dante remained absent, and despite her attempts to distract herself, her thoughts always found their way back to him. The conversation they’d had still lingered in her mind, the anger and hurt sitting heavy on her heart. She buried herself in the routine of the mansion, trying to make the best of her solitude. But soon, she began to notice subtle changes that she couldn’t ignore.
It started with a sense of exhaustion that seemed to settle into her bones. She’d find herself feeling tired more often, even after a full night’s rest. Then came the nausea, a wave of dizziness every morning that left her feeling weak and unsettled. At first, Isla thought it was just stress-after all, her life had been in turmoil for months now. But when the symptoms persisted, she couldn’t shake the growing suspicion forming in her mind.
One crisp morning, Isla stood in front of the bathroom mirror, clutching the edge of the sink as a bout of nausea washed over her. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, her mind racing with a possibility that both terrified and thrilled her.
“No,” she murmured, almost as if saying it aloud would make the idea seem less real. “It can’t be…”
But she knew she needed an answer. Without waiting another moment, she slipped into her coat, grabbed her bag, and asked Matteo to arrange for a car. The trip to the nearest pharmacy felt surreal. She’d never imagined herself in this situation, standing in line with trembling hands as she bought a pregnancy test.
Back at the mansion, she returned to her room and closed the door, feeling as though her heart might beat out of her chest. She opened the test kit, following the instructions with shaky hands. Then she waited, watching the seconds tick by, each one stretching endlessly.
Finally, she looked down at the result, her breath catching in her throat as the reality settled in. A mix of emotions flooded her-joy, fear, disbelief. She was pregnant.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, placing a hand on her stomach as if to feel the tiny life growing inside her. It was Dante’s child. Their child. Despite the tension and the uncertainty that hung between them, a spark of happiness flickered in her heart.
The weight of the revelation settled on her as she sank down onto the edge of the bed, her mind spinning with a thousand thoughts. What would Dante say? Would he even care? Or would he simply see this as part of his plan, a piece of his twisted notion of control? The thought scared her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the undeniable truth that, regardless of Dante’s intentions, this baby was hers to love and protect.
As the hours passed, Isla wandered through the mansion in a daze, her hand often drifting to her stomach. She wanted to call Dante, to tell him about their child, but something held her back. He hadn’t reached out to her since their last conversation. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much she still thought about him.
But by the evening, her resolve began to waver. She found herself alone in the library, her fingers lingering over her phone. Taking a deep breath, she tapped his number and waited, her heart pounding as the phone rang.
After what felt like an eternity, he answered. His voice was clipped, cold. “Isla. What is it?”
The harsh tone took her aback, and for a moment, she struggled to find her words. “Dante, I… there’s something I need to tell you.”
A pause on the other end, and then his tone softened just slightly. “Go on.”
She took a steadying breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m pregnant, Dante. It’s your child.”
The silence that followed was deafening, stretching on for what felt like hours. She could almost hear the wheels turning in his mind, the calculation, the shift in his priorities.
“You’re sure?” he asked finally, his voice low and unreadable.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice trembling. “I’m sure.”
Dante’s exhale was barely audible, but Isla could sense a change in him, a mixture of emotions she couldn’t quite decipher. “You’re carrying my heir.”
The words, spoken with such intensity, sent a shiver down her spine. It was as if he were trying to claim the child before it was even born, staking his claim in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying.
“Yes, Dante,” she said, a hint of defiance creeping into her voice. “I am. But this child isn’t just yours. It’s ours.”
He didn’t respond immediately, and she could feel the weight of his silence. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, though still controlled. “You’re right, Isla. This child is ours. And I want you to know… I will do everything in my power to protect both of you.”
The promise hung in the air, laden with both comfort and unease. Part of her longed to believe him, to trust that he would take care of them. But she couldn’t forget the pain and uncertainty he’d caused her.
“I need to know you mean it, Dante,” she said, her voice strong despite the vulnerability she felt. “I need to know that you won’t abandon us.”
A low sigh came from the other end of the line, and she could sense a rare moment of honesty in his tone. “Isla, I may be a man of many flaws, but when it comes to my family, I will never turn my back. Not on you, and not on our child.”
Her heart softened at his words, but a part of her remained cautious. She knew Dante’s world was one filled with danger, secrets, and shadows. And while she wanted to believe in his promise, she couldn’t shake the lingering doubt.
“Come back, Dante,” she said quietly, almost a plea. “I don’t want to go through this alone.”
There was another pause, and for a moment, she feared he would refuse. But then his voice came through, calm and resolute. “I’ll be there by tomorrow.”
When the call ended, Isla sat in silence, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. Tomorrow, everything would change. She had no idea what the future held, but she knew that, for better or worse, Dante would be a part of it.
The next morning, Isla found herself waiting anxiously in the sitting room, her heart racing with each passing minute. She hadn’t slept much, her mind too occupied with thoughts of the child she was carrying-and the man who would soon return to her life.
Just as she was beginning to lose herself in her thoughts, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. She looked up to see Dante entering the room, his gaze intense as he took her in, his presence filling the space with a powerful energy.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Isla felt the weight of his gaze, the way he looked at her with a mixture of possession and something she couldn’t quite name. It was as if, in that moment, he saw her not just as someone to control, but as someone he could truly cherish.
He crossed the room in a few strides, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek, his touch warm and surprisingly gentle. “Isla,” he murmured, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it. “I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she looked up at him, seeing a flicker of vulnerability in his gaze. She didn’t know what the future held, but for now, she allowed herself to believe in his words, to trust that maybe, just maybe, they could face whatever lay ahead together.