Page 273 of The Devil's Fire

I could see the resemblance between Damiano and his mother; her golden-brown eyes and dark, shoulder-length hair reflected the beauty that ran in their family. She wore a light copper-colored halter-neck dress, enhancing her tan skin and radiating an incredible beauty.

His Nonna, an elegant presence, stood tall with dark brown eyes and black hair pulled into a bun. She donned a long-sleeved dark green satin dress, an attire befitting royalty.

Not intimidating at all.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I greeted them with a warm smile, squeezing Damiano’s hand to conceal my nervousness.

“My goodness, aren’t you a beauty!” His mother beamed with happiness and pulled me into a warm embrace. I was surprised but chuckled in relief.

“Thank you.” Her compliment made me feel shy, and I could feel my cheeks flush.

She gently placed her hands on either side of my face, looking at me with a soft smile. Her eyes sparkled with genuine happiness, creating a moment that felt heartwarming.

“Così bella. Don’t you think, madre?” His mother stepped aside, allowing his Nonna to appraise me. Her dark eyes swept over me from head to toe, giving me a slightly intimidating feeling.

I bit down on my lip nervously when she didn’t say anything, my heart thumping faster. I looked at Damiano, but he appeared calm and relaxed, which I took as a good sign.

His Nonna approached me slowly, placing a hand under my chin and turning my face slightly from side to side as she examined me. Then she released a smile and turned to look at Damiano.

“Very beautiful. You did well, my child.” She winked, making Damiano release a smirk as he turned to look at me.

“I know I did.” Damiano placed a tender kiss on my forehead and lightly caressed my cheek. He drew me in with his golden-brown eyes, and everything else faded away again as my heart filled with warmth.

“He’s completely captivated by her.” His mother whispered with a chuckle, breaking the spell Damiano had cast over me. I helplessly blushed when I noticed they had been watching us in our little bubble.

“Take a seat. I want to hear all about how this happened and how long you’ve been hiding her from us.”

Damiano pulled out a chair for me, and we both took our seats. Unseen servers swiftly arranged plates and glasses, serving us a delightful meal. The sight and aroma of the food made my mouth water, and I suddenly realized how hungry I was.

“Eat, baby, I know you’re hungry.” Damiano whispered quietly to me, gesturing towards the enticing food on my plate.

He didn’t have to tell me twice before I dug in as elegantly as I could. The dish was cheesy and saucy, and as it touched my tongue, I felt my eyes wanting to roll to the back of my head in pure bliss.

“Buon appetito.” His mother smiled, offering me more food.

“Now, tell us, Damiano, when did it happen, and why haven’t you told us?” His Nonna took a sip of her wine, ready for interrogation.

“I’m telling you now.” Damiano rested his arm behind me, a sly smile playing on his lips as he addressed his Nonna.

“For how long?” His mother asked eagerly.

“She was already in my life the last time I was here.”

“Damiano!” His mother scolded him. “All this time and you didn’t even bother telling your mother that you have found someone?” She made a tsking sound, clearly unimpressed.

“As long as he has found someone, I’m happy. I’m not getting any younger, but I refuse to die before you give me some great-grandbabies.” His Nonna’s words had me momentarily pausing, but I quickly tried to cover it up by reaching for my glass of water.

Damiano’s hand gently caressed my shoulder, and as I looked at him, he wore his blank expression. He took a subtle glance at my stomach before grabbing his glass of wine and swirling it around without saying a word.

To offer him comfort, I placed my hand on his lap and tried to give him a small smile when his body was slightly tense. It was an innocent remark from his Nonna, who couldn’t have known what we had gone through.

“Don’t say that. You’re going to scare her! There’s plenty of time to think about babies, and Damiano’s still young, so let them take their time.”

“Plenty of time for whom? Certainly not for me! Damiano’s not getting any younger either. He’s almost forty!”

I snorted out a laugh before clamping my hand over my mouth, chuckling at his Nonna’s comment.

“I’m thirty, Nonna.” Damiano sighed tiredly.

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