Page 77 of Dark Mafia Bride

“Yeah, I get that,” she says. “How’s your family? How are they adjusting to all this?”

Alessia and Giovanni know about the fire, and they’re aware my family’s been living at Ettore’s estate since then. ‘He makes it hard for me to hate him,’ Alessia had said when I told her about Ettore insisting on them moving in.

“They’re doing okay. Giulia’s the most excited about the whole thing.” I chuckle, and she laughs along with me.

The conversation flows into her latest gossip about her remote job, her irritating boss, and her plans for a weekend getaway with Gio. I let her talk, grateful for the distraction. But eventually, she catches on to my silence. Her fingers tap lightly on the steering wheel as she glances at me, curiosity in her eyes.

“All right, Mira. What’s going on? You’ve been weirdly quiet.”

My stomach tightens, and I clutch my hands in my lap, the weight of the words I’ve been carrying making my chest feel heavy. I’m terrified to say them out loud.

“Okay, you’re seriously freaking me out right now,” she murmurs, and I feel the heat of her stare on the side of my face.

“The words spill out before I can even catch my breath. “I’m pregnant.”

The car jerks suddenly as Alessia swerves, her grip tightening on the wheel, her eyes going wide with shock.

“Oh my God…” I gasp. “Are you trying to get me killed before I even get to meet my baby?”

She corrects her driving with a swift jerk, her heart racing.

“I’m sorry!” She huffs, trying to steady herself. “You just dropped that bomb on me out of nowhere. Say it again, but like…slowly, okay? I need to make sure I’m hearing this right.”

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “I said…I’m pregnant.”

Her eyes flicker to me in a way that almost feels like time is standing still. “Pregnant?” Her voice trembles with a mix of shock and disbelief. “Are you serious right now?”

“I—I haven’t taken a test yet, but I—I haven’t had my period, I get hit by random waves of dizziness, and I just...I feel different,” I ramble, unable to stop the words from spilling out.

Alessia reaches over the middle console to squeeze my hand. “Mira, this is huge. How do you feel about it?”

“Scared,” I manage to say, my voice barely a whisper, as I look down at my lap.

But it’s more than just feeling scared. I’m terrified. I have no idea how Ettore will take the news, and I’m not even sure if I’m ready to be a mother.

“I’m guessing Ettore doesn’t know yet.” She sighs, her voice soft with concern.

I nod, biting my lip. “He doesn’t. I don’t know how to break it to him. W-we haven’t even had sex since we got married...”

“Okay,” Alessia says, letting out a nervous chuckle. “I’m confused.”

I take a deep breath, gathering the courage to explain. “Before we got married, well...Ettore and I had a one-night stand,” I confess, my cheeks flushing with heat.

“Oh my God!” Alessia exclaims, her eyes lighting up with surprise. “That’s...that’s hot. And unbelievable. You lost your virginity to a one-night stand? That’s brave.”

I bury my face in my hands, feeling the heat of embarrassment rising. “I didn’t think I’d ever see him again, which is why I did it,” I murmur, my voice muffled. I exhale, then look up at her. “We used protection, so I don’t understand how this pregnancy could happen. What if I tell Ettore, and he doesn’t believe me?”

“But you’re married now,” she points out. “That shouldn’t be a problem. It’s not like you’re trying to trap him with a baby or something…”

But itisexactly like that.

My marriage to Ettore was supposed to be temporary—a year, tops—and then we’d go our separate ways. This pregnancy...it will change everything. Ettore may think I’m trying to trap him, and that terrifies me even more.

“You need to take that test, Mira. You need to be a hundred percent sure you’re pregnant,” Alessia says gently, her voicecalming. “I understand if you’re scared. Hey, you can come over to my place after class, and I’ll give you the one I have.”

Her offer is comforting, and for a moment, I feel a little lighter.

“I don’t think I can come over to your house after today,” I finally mutter, looking out the window as the words feel heavier than they should. “Maybe tomorrow, or some other day.”

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