Page 82 of Broken Princess

"You can do this, Amelia," I tell her, holding her hand and offering whatever support I can.

"Shut up, Lorenzo," she says through her teeth.

I blink, but nod. There are few people who can get away with saying that under very limited circumstances, but my wife during childbirth is at the top of that list.

After what feels like an eternity, our daughter finally arrives. She's perfect in every way, and as Amelia holds her close, I can't help but feel my heart swell with love and so much gratitude for my two girls.

"She's beautiful," Amelia whispers, tears slipping down her cheeks. All the pain she was in moments ago seems forgotten as she gazes down at our daughter in the same admiration that fills me as I look at the both of them.

Vivian has her mother's dark hair and my light eyes. She's a perfect blend of our features, and as her tiny hand wraps around my finger, I can't believe she's real. Real, fragile, and completely perfect in every way.

"She is. Just like her mother," I tell her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I'm so proud of you. You did it."

She smiles up at me, her eyes shining with joy even though she’s clearly exhausted. "How does it feel to be a father, Mr. Rossi?" she teases, her voice still a little hoarse.

I pause to consider it, but I can't find the right words to do this feeling justice. Maybe there aren't any. "It's too perfect to be real," I admit.

Perfect and terrifying, because I know I have my work cut out for me if I'm going to become the husband and father my girls deserve.

Amelia gives a soft laugh as I lean down to kiss her. "I feel the same way."

CHAPTER 44

AMELIA

It's been several months since I gave birth to our daughter, and my life has changed so much in that time. I never thought I could be so happy, but being a mother has brought me more joy than I ever knew was possible.

Of course, it hasn't all been rainbows and butterflies. It's been hard work, but just seeing how quickly she's changing already makes me feel like time is going by too fast.

Lorenzo has been so supportive through everything. While there was once a time I feared he wasn't ready to be a father, no matter what he said, he's proven that wrong every step of the way. When I see how he looks at Vivian, I know there's nothing he wouldn't do for her. For both of us.

Just like there's nothing I wouldn't do for either of them.

I'm so grateful that we have each other. That even though our families started out as enemies, we were able to find each other and create our own little family. And now that we're married, our families haven't really had much of a choice but to blend together, too.

So far, it's going better than I expected. Lorenzo's parents are over for dinner, and while my father still looks wary of his long-time rival, he's at least making an effort to get along with them at the dinner table.

"Vivian is such a beautiful baby," Lorenzo's mother says as she holds her granddaughter. "She looks just like you, Amelia."

I smile and shake my head. "She has Lorenzo's eyes."

He reaches over to take my hand beneath the table, giving me a smile that comes easily to him these days. "She's a perfect blend."

"That she is," Dad says, making a silly face at the baby, whose face splits into a big grin before she giggles. Vivian adores her grandfather, and it's definitely mutual.

Lorenzo's mother snickers, and I can't blame her. It's rare for anyone to get to see this side of the infamous mob boss, but my father is a lot softer in many ways than he wants to let on. Especially around family.

It's surreal to see our parents getting along like this, but I'm just happy that they're trying. That we're all trying. Because even though it hasn't been easy, it's worth it.

Every day, I wake up feeling grateful for the life I have. All the pain, all the struggles, all the obstacles we had to overcome to get here… they've made us who we are. They've made us stronger.

I go to clean up after dinner, but Lorenzo's mother shoos me away before Lorenzo himself can. Even though I've been home for months, he still acts like he's afraid for me to lift a finger.

"You two go on. We’ve got it. You should get some rest," Lorenzo's mother insists. His father is holding the baby now, and while she screamed like a banshee the first time she saw him, she's now gazing up at him in the same adoration she looks at my father with. I think Vivian has melted away any ice that might have been left in the elder Rossi's heart, too.

"Yeah," Lorenzo says, raising his eyebrows. "Rest."

I purse my lips and give him a half-heartedly scolding look, but when he takes my hand and leads me toward the stairs, I'm more than eager to have some alone time with my husband. He lifts me into his arms at the bottom of the stairs, carrying me up to our bedroom.

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