Declan PoV.
“Tell me everything.”
I asked Godiva to be honest about her situation. I’d been keeping an eye on her ever since we met on the highway near the park. I clearly saw she was hurt, but her wounds healed on their own.
She avoided my gaze, never making eye contact for long. I thought it was because she was trying to keep her distance, given that she was married. I looked up her life on social media and found out she was married to a notorious mafia boss in Burze.
After learning that, I stepped back, not wanting to get involved with someone like Melucci. But I couldn’t get Godiva out of my mind. Maybe fate brought us back together, and I noticed she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
From that moment, I found the courage to move forward. I tried to get closer to her by offering my apartment, hoping it would help us grow nearer. I succeeded. She’s here now, standing before me, looking awkward.
“I know you’re married to Pollux Melucci. But seeing you out of town with just a friend, and pregnant, it made me wonder. I’m not trying to intrude, but the fact is, you needed your husband earlier. Am I wrong?”
Godiva lifted her head, frowning for a few seconds before sighing softly. Something inside me wanted to hold her. But I held back, waiting for her to speak.
She glanced at her friend, and after a brief moment of silent communication, her friend left the apartment, leaving us alone. I noticed her eyes redden, tears brimming.
“Am I pressuring you? If you don’t want to talk, it’s okay. I just don’t want to see you like this.”
“No, Declan. I’m grateful to you for helping us. It wouldn’t be fair to keep hiding this from you. You’re right, but I’m not ready to tell you everything yet. All I can say is that I’m here because I want to live peacefully, away from my husband.”
I stepped closer. I wanted to calm her trembling shoulders with my hands, to give her some comfort. But before I could do that, I needed to know one thing.
“Are you getting a divorce?” I asked quickly.
“Divorce wouldn’t be enough to separate us.”
“What do you mean? Has he threatened you? Are you under his control?”
“No, Pollux would never do that. I’m just not sure how to explain it to you. It’s like believing in heaven and hell even though you’ve never been there. It’s beyond logic. Our marriage is a mess. All I can do is run away from him without leaving any trace,” she explained, as a single tear slid down her cheek.
I felt terrible seeing her cry. The cheerful expression she usually wore when I opened the door to accept deliveries was gone. I gently patted her shoulder.
“Let it out if it’ll make you feel better. You can always count on me if you need help,” I told her sincerely.
“He betrayed me after I trusted him completely. Why would he do that to me?”
I understood. From everything Godiva said, I could piece together the problem she was facing. I hugged her gently, willing to take the risk. No matter who Pollux Melucci was, I would step in.
No matter how strong a man is, he’s still a coward if he hurts a good woman like Godiva.
“You can rest now. I’ll help you through all of this.”
Godiva calmed down after she fell asleep. She slept peacefully on the carpet. I said goodbye to her friend and stayed busy on my phone during the ride home.
When I arrived at my apartment, I was greeted by Lizzie, who ran into my arms, her face covered in Nutella. With her small mouth, she complained that her nanny wouldn’t let her use Nutella as a mask for her Barbie doll.
I laughed at her words. Her curly bangs bounced as she shook her head. The chocolate spread transferred onto my shirt, but I didn’t get upset.
“It’s okay, Lucy. I’ll spend time with Lizzie. You can go back to cleaning,” I said, gesturing for Lucy to follow me.
I wiped Lizzie’s cheek with the handkerchief from my pocket and carried her to the bathroom. Wetting the handkerchief with water, I cleaned her face again. Her cheeks puffed up as she smiled at me.
“Daddy, did you just hug a woman? Your shirt is wrinkled,” Lizzie pointed at my collar.
“Uh, would it bother you if I hugged a woman other than you?”
“No. You look happy after hugging her, I can tell.”
“You always watch out for me, don’t you?”
“I love you, Dad. I’m supposed to look out for you. Anyone who makes you happy will be my friend.”
I chuckled at Lizzie’s words. She sounded like an adult who understood life’s struggles. I was grateful she didn’t know the truth about her mother’s situation, which would have made her sad.
I spent the rest of the day putting Lizzie to bed. She fell asleep quickly after I read her Little Red Riding Hood. In the middle of the night, I woke up and headed to my room.
While checking my phone, I noticed a message from a colleague about a job opening at one of his restaurants, which would be perfect for Godiva.
“If only I’d known about your problem sooner, you wouldn’t have suffered like you did.”
I needed to tell Godiva about this soon. But for now, she needed to focus on herself and her pregnancy. I admired her strength.
She was trying to handle everything on her own, and I respected that. But I believed she had done enough. As long as I could help her, I would. I wanted to protect her.
As I rested in bed, I prepared for the next day. Everything I’d ordered earlier had been approved. I’d head to the office to check the details and then stop by Zarora to help Godiva set things up.
But one thing still bothered me. I was curious about Pollux Melucci. After hearing Godiva’s story of his betrayal, I searched for articles about him.
My eyes locked on an article about him and his ex-girlfriend at a nightclub. I clicked and read it.
My fists clenched as I saw the photos of Pollux with his ex. I finally understood how Godiva felt. Everyone has their limits.
“I’ll make sure he never hurts you again, Godiva.”