Page 59 of Ivory Legacy

“Perhaps,” I murmured, more to myself than to Dante. The decision loomed over me, another piece in the complex puzzle of my life with Dante Moretti. A puzzle where each piece seemed to shift and change just as I was about to place it.

“Taking an early maternity leave will give you time,” he said. “Time to decide what you want to do.”

“And time for you to plan how you’re getting out, right?”

His expression sobered for a second. “Yeah,” he said. “Time for that too.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Jade

Iwas pacing the penthouse kitchen when the realization hit me like a cold splash—Christmas was just around the corner and with it, my family. The last time I had seen them felt like a lifetime ago, not merely the few weeks that had slipped by since the tumultuous events that had upended my world. Since I had run back into Dante’s arms.

I hadn’t gone back to work. I couldn’t face Ellie.

But my decision hadn’t been made: I had been working a little, here and there. The lab in Dante’s house was good, but I mostly did consultations and analyzed data remotely for BioHQ. Dante had been surprisingly accommodating, delivering samples to me that I needed for my work. The first couple of times, I had to stifle a laugh at the sight of the Mafia kingpin playing delivery boy.

In the early morning quiet, the sprawling city below seemed almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotionschurning inside me. Excitement mingled with anxiety as I thought of their impending visit. It wasn’t just any Christmas; this year held the weight of introductions and unspoken hopes. My fingers brushed against the swell of my belly, a secret reminder of what was at stake.

“Jade,” Dante’s voice cut through the silence, his presence grounding me. “It’s going to be okay.”

I stilled, turning to face him, the man who’d become the unexpected anchor in my life. His dark hair was tousled from sleep, and there was a softness in his gaze reserved only for moments like these—private, vulnerable, real.

“Look at you, Mr. Optimist,” I quipped, a half-hearted attempt to ease the knot in my gut. “What happened to brooding and mysterious?”

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “For you, I can be anything.”

And just like that, with those simple words, the penthouse felt warmer, less imposing—a refuge from the chaos outside its walls. But even as we stood there, a silent promise passing between us, I couldn’t help wondering how my family would fit into this picture we were desperately trying to paint. Would they see what I saw in Dante? Could they understand the love that had taken root in the darkest of places?

“Let’s tackle one thing at a time,” Dante said, reading my thoughts. “Starting with breakfast.”

“Right,” I breathed out, focusing on the immediate task. “Because feeding the Bentley clan is no small feat. We should probably stock up on coffee now to avoid a crisis.”

“Your parents are big coffee drinkers?”

“You have no idea,” I chuckled in response, picturing the horrified look on my father’s face when he once discovered we were out of coffee one cold Christmas morning. “It’s practically a Bentley survival trait.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Dante said, a note of amusement in his voice. He crossed the room and gently wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing a kiss against my hair. “But you need to eat first. Let’s make breakfast.”

I heard my phone vibrate. “Your father’s calling,” Dante noted from his spot at the kitchen counter, holding out my phone with a casual gesture.

“Thanks.” I took it, flicking my thumb over the screen and bringing it to my ear. “Hi, Dad.”

“Jade! Good morning, sweetheart. Did I wake you?”

“No, no, we’ve been up for a while.” A smile found its way onto my lips as I walked back towards Dante, who returned to his task of crafting an omelet with a chef’s precision.

“Who’s we?”

I swallowed. “Uh, we have a lot to talk about.”

“Okay,” my father’s voice came through, concern edging his tone. “Is everything alright, Jade?”

“Yes, Dad, everything’s fine actually—“ better than fine in fact. I met Dante’s questioning gaze across the counter, feeling a warmth spread within me as he subtly shifted closer.

“I’m just with someone,” I added nonchalantly, trying to sound casual but knowing full well that no family conversation ever was.

“Someone special?” The amusement in my father’s voice was unmistakable. It wasn’t often that our strict scientist daughter got mixed up in social matters.

“You could say that.” The words slipped out before I could stop them and Dante paused, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. Obviously, they had to meet him–they would see I was pregnant and wonder what that was about. “But anyway. Tell me about your plans. Where’s Mom?”

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