Page 136 of The Devil's Fire

Cara was getting married soon. Was she expecting us to move so suddenly? And across the world even, just like that?

“Why do we need to move?” I asked again.

“I’m tired of staying here. I want a new start. The sooner we can get out of here, the better.” She didn’t look at me as she spoke.

“No.” I said. “We can’t move to Greece, mom. I can’t do that!”

“Oh, yes, you can! I’m not leaving without you.” She now stood in front of me and furrowed her brows at me.

“No, mom. I can’t just leave everything behind and move across the world like that. What about Cara? Am I supposed to leave her?” There was no way I would leave Cara like that again.

“I have just reconnected with my family. I can’t abandon Cara. And what about my father?”

My mother scoffed at the mention of my father, which had me narrow my eyes at her.

“Like he cares. Trust me, it’s for the best once Cara gets married. Listen, we will talk more about it when I come back.” She said dismissively.

“There isn’t more to talk about. I’m not moving.”

“And why not?!”

For a while, I just stood there and looked at my mother’s furious expression, not knowing how to tell her that there was so much more to it.

It wasn’t just about my father or Cara.

“…Because I’m pregnant.” I held my breath as my mother looked at me in shock. She was silent, her eyes wide with disbelief. I had to bite down on my lip so it wouldn’t tremble.

“…What?” She breathed out, shaking her head as if she heard it wrong. I took a deep breath, calming my nerves as I spoke.

“I’m pregnant. I can’t leave.” I said in a whisper.

“You’re pregnant?” She asked, and I gave a small nod, confirming it once again. “With Michael’s…?

“No.” I shook my head quickly. I had completely forgotten about the lie.

“Then who?” She looked almost scared to know the answer.

“I - Mom, I don’t know how to say it, but I never dated Michael …” I trailed off, watching her reaction closely before I continued. “I am seeing someone. It’s just not Michael.”

She gestured for me to continue.

I swallowed down the knot in my throat that was building up. My heart was beating so much, and my chest was moving up and down fast.

“It’s Damiano Bellavia.” I held my breath as I watched my mother’s face turn into one of horror. She took a step back, not believing her own two ears.

“No… it can’t be true… How? When?!” She shouted.

“Mom, please calm down.” I tried to tell her with my trembling voice.

“Calm down?! You’re telling me you’re pregnant with that monster’s child?!” She screamed at me.

“He’s not a monster!” I snapped back. My mother looked taken aback at my reaction. “He’s not a monster, so stop saying that.” I said more calmly.

“Did he force himself on you?” Her voice went ice cold, making me widen my eyes in shock.

“No!”

“My God… what have you done, Althaia?” She ran a hand through her hair, looking distressed as she paced back and forth.

---