Page 49 of Lorenzo & Lily

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean–”

She put her fingertips over his lips. “I know you didn’t.”

He kissed her fingers, then covered her hand and placed it against his chest, over his heart. “I’ll talk to the others about Lorenzo. We’ll stop hovering so much.”

“It might also be good to tell him you support him, and believe in him and his abilities.”

“I’ll do that, too.” He took a deep breath. “You know that the family will support you, too, no matter what happens with your health, don’t you?”

“I know that. I’m still reeling from what the doctor said. He thinks it’s my thyroid, can you believe it? After all those tests – including several painful ones – they want to check my thyroid again.”

“But if it’s the answer–”

“I’ll be thrilled. That doesn’t excuse the fact that I’ve seen several doctors and none of them considered the possibility. Dr. Safar mentioned it, but she decided against further testing based on the royal physician’s results.”

“Papa respects the royal physician. He does have a lot of experience.”

“Not enough. My thyroid stimulating hormone was ‘within the normal range’, he said. He never considered that normal for someone else was not normal for me.” Tears pooled in her eyes again. “Could it really be this? Are we really so close to the end of this hideous health journey? I’m afraid to believe it.”

“We only need to wait a few more days for the blood tests to come back. I hope that’s the end of this.”

“That a thyroid issue can cause pain during my period, that it can cause the weight gain and exhaustion and other problems I’ve been having.” She let out a choked sob. “I’m so afraid this won’t be it. That something else is going on here.”

His heart twisted, as though someone were wringing it like a wet cloth. “We’ll figure it out.”

She buried her face in his neck, her wet tears coating his skin.

“And another thing, Mrs. Santoro.” He cupped her head and tilted it slightly back so their eyes met. “I don’t care if you gain weight. I don’t care if your hair gets thinner, or it falls out entirely, or starts growing places you wished it didn’t. Your body would be no less beautiful to me. What I care about is you, and your health. I need you for a good, long time, darling. I won’t settle for anything less than you being beside me for the rest of our lives.”

She gave him a wobbly smile. “Thanks, Alex.”

He gave her a chaste kiss, and tasted the salt of her tears. “You’re welcome, darling.”

She sighed. “I’m so tired. I don’t know how I’m going to get up in the morning.”

He groaned. “I forgot to tell you. We’re not leaving in the morning. Lily and Liliana will be moving in tomorrow so we’re staying through dinner. Do you have anything pressing tomorrow?”

“I think I’ve got some meetings, but I don’t think they’re pressing. With how I’ve been feeling, I’ve cut back on my schedule where I could.”

“Call Mara and have her reschedule, and ask her to coordinate press releases with Rio. I’ll do the same with Tavin.”

“Calling them now means we have to stop cuddling.”

He grinned. “We’ll do some more cuddling later.”

“Just cuddling?”

“I could be persuaded otherwise, if you’re feeling up to it.”

She kissed him long and deep. “Good to know.” She gave him a quick kiss, then rolled away towards the night stand where her phone lay.

Alex realized he’d left his phone in the pocket of his robe and let out a short curse before he left the warmth of their bed to go get it.

An acting king’s work was never done.

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