Page 103 of Fight Me Little Pearl

“Miss Barbieri?” A nurse calls, and I rush to my feet with Louisa beside me.

“The doctor will see you now,” she says, gesturing towards the office.

We go into the consulting room. The doctor is a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, and he directs us to the seats across from him.

There’s no need to delay the inevitable; I’d rather rip the plaster off instantly. “Tell me, Doctor. Am I pregnant?”

Louisa grabs my hand and squeezes.

The doctor presents me with a smile. “Congratulations Miss Barbieri,” he says. “You are five weeks pregnant.”

Chapter Forty-Five

FRANCESCA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUSzL2leaFM

Wonderful Tonight

It’s two a.m., and I can’t sleep. I’m lying on the bed and my eyes are tightly shut, but my heart is thudding fast in my chest. I’m afraid. I’m five weeks pregnant and terrified of what the future holds for me.

A fierce wave of protective instinct has already enveloped me, and I know no matter what Valentino decides with regards to our marriage, I will never give up on my baby. I will protect this tiny life with my life.

I’ve always loved children and as a teenager, I daydreamed about my future family: a man who loved me and treated me like a queen because I was carrying his child. And when I had his child, he would care for and protect us with everything he had.

But that’s the thing about daydreams. They aren’t real. They give you hope and false expectations, which makes reality all the more cruel. Here I am, at twenty, pregnant with a husband whohasn’t been home in three days. My heart hurts, and tears burn under my closed eyelids.

What can I do? Go through this journey all alone. But I'd rather that than hurt our child.

Suddenly, the door opens, and Valentino fills the doorway. I almost cry with relief, but a cowardly part of me reacts instinctively. I shut my eyes and pretend to be asleep. The room is semi-dark, so I know he can’t see me.

Valentino shuts the door and walks further into the room, taking off his shirt as he heads into the bathroom. Before he disappears through the bathroom door, I glimpse his strong, muscled back and bite down on my lips. God, I’ve missed this man so much.

Minutes later, Valentino walks out of the bathroom with a white towel around his waist. My eyes track him across the room as he heads to the wardrobe in the corner. His body is beautifully sculpted, and I know all too well how hard his muscles feel against my skin. I may be stealing glances at Valentino, but he hasn’t looked in my direction once. I thought my heart was already completely broken, but it broke further.

I don’t know how much I can take.

Valentino slides on black sweatpants before ditching the towel and walking to the bed. I shut my eyes again and almost moan when the bed dips with his weight. Suddenly, I feel so safe, and my hand instantly touches my stomach. I’ve missed having him beside me on the bed.

I take slow breaths and slightly open my eyes. Valentino is lying on his side, his back to me. I stare at him for several minutes, tracing each muscle with my gaze, wondering how he will react if I reach out to touch him.

After what feels like forever, Valentino’s breathing evens out, and I can tell he’s fallen asleep. He must be so tired. My handsitch to touch him. I rub my stomach gently, feeling a fierce love inside of me. Not only for the baby but for the man beside me.

“I’m pregnant, Valentino,” I whisper, wishing I had the courage to tell him when he was awake. “We’re going to have a baby.”

Valentino suddenly rolls off the bed, and lights flood the room. I gasp and shut my eyes for a few seconds before slowly opening them, readjusting to the sudden brightness. Valentino stands over me, his eyes wide with shock and another emotion I can’t quite place.

His gaze roams my body, and my cheeks burn at his intense perusal.

“Francesca?” I almost sob at hearing my name on his lips. It’s been so long since I’ve heard it. I don’t even mind that he’s calling me Francesca instead of his little star. I’ll take it.

“What did you say?”

“I thought you were asleep,” I mumble, lowering my eyes.

Valentino climbs onto the bed. “What did you say, Francesca?”

“I’m pregnant.” I still cannot look at him because I’m afraid of what I’ll see in his eyes.

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