Page 172 of The Devil's Fire

“Oh, you know what you did.” She shot me a look and quickly glanced at Damiano before going back to the kitchen. Her words had me fighting through a blush of embarrassment.

“I forgot how hard she hits with that stupid spoon.” Cara lightly laughed, still rubbing her arm.

As dinner was served, we all took a seat around the table.

“Oh, none for me.” I told Cara when she was about to pour a glass of wine for me.

“That’s a first.” She looked surprised.

“I’m on a cleanse.” The words rolled out before I had the chance to think it through.

“I don’t think you know what a cleanse is.” She gestured to my plate of food, which consisted of everything that you shouldn’t eat if you were on a so-called ‘cleanse’.

“Well, I’m doing it my way. First, you get rid of the alcohol, then you slowly work on your food.” I explained, hoping she would buy it, but she just scoffed.

“It would have been more believable if you said you were pregnant than on a cleanse.” She joked, and I stopped eating. I slowly raised my head to look at her, and her eyes started to widen.

“…Are you pregnant?” She half-whispered. The room fell silent, making it seem she had said it loud and clear for everyone to hear.

“No!... Maybe…just a little...?” I stumbled on the words.

Cara’s mouth went slightly ajar, and her brows raised in surprise. It took her a full minute to realize that I wasn’t joking before letting out the biggest grin on her face.

“You’re pregnant!” She screamed and jumped out of her seat, ran around the dining table, and gave me a bone-crushing hug.

I rose from my seat as well to give her a proper hug with a smile on my face. Cara leaned back to look at me, and I noticed her eyes were glistening with tears and so much happiness.

“Oh, well, this was bound to happen sooner or later with the two of you going crazy -”

“Okay, too much information.” I interrupted her by quickly placing my hand to her mouth to stop her from talking. She just laughed at me and gave Damiano’s shoulder a small squeeze, congratulating him as she went back to her seat.

“Dear Lord…” My mother commented, taking a sip of her wine. Her cheeks were getting flushed by Cara’s words, making me clear my throat in awkwardness. Luckily, it was saved by Arianna getting up and hugging me, too.

“Congratulations! I am so happy for you! I’m finally going to be an aunt!” Arianna beamed.

“You’re going to be the crazy aunt who will teach the kid how to use a gun. And I will tell them all about how to practice safe sex since you can’t!” Cara laughed loudly.

“Cara, shut up!” I hissed, feeling my face getting hot.

“Dinner is getting cold. Please, help yourself.” My mother cleared her throat, almost chugging down her wine.

“Sorry, mamá.” Cara chuckled.

Before I could get back to my seat, Lorenzo made his way to me. He smiled before embracing me, leaving me shocked. It took me a few seconds before I reacted and hugged him back with a smile.

“Congratulations, Althaia. I’m happy for you.”

“It’s happening! Someone take a picture!” Arianna exclaimed.

We stepped away from each other just as the sound of a picture being taken rang out.

“No! Hug again, I didn’t get the picture.” Cara called out, ready with her phone.

“That’s enough.” Damiano said unhappily, making Cara look at him with a brow raised.

“He’s your brother.”

“I don’t care. I don’t hug you, do I?” He said with slightly furrowed brows. Cara leaned forward and rested her arms on the table as she grinned at him.

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