Page 42 of Ruthless Rival

“I was afraid to love someone again…” I paused. “I thought they’d be taken away from me like so many before. You make me stronger and that means more than anything to me. I love you in a way I never expected,” I said, feeling as if a weight lifted off my shoulders after years of crushing pressure.

Alberto moved his hand to place his finger under my chin, raising my head up. Our eyes locked, sharing a soft, loving look. No one else had ever looked at me so intensely, so warmly. He leaned forward and captured my lips, slipping his hand into my hair.

I smiled into the kiss, enjoying the light scrape of his facial hair. He tasted like cinnamon and whiskey, addicting and sweet. This man made a permanent mark on me and I wanted to give him a glimpse at our dynamic future together.

“I’m pregnant,” I breathed into the kiss, my lips brushing his.

Alberto pulled back slightly, still cupping the back of my head to hold me close. “Pregnant?” he whispered as he gazed into my eyes.

My lips curled up in an excited, nervous smile. This was a beautiful, nerve-wracking surprise for me to experience pregnancy all over again, but I was a different, stronger person now. Best of all, I wasn’t alone.

“I know it wasn’t expected, but… I want to keep this baby. I already lost… my twins…” I trailed off as tears suddenly grew in my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to fight them off.

“Oh, no, bella,” Alberto murmured as he took my face in his hands. “I want this baby. I want as many babies as you want. Please don’t cry.”

I raised my gaze to his. “You want this baby?” I asked while sounding breathless as I remembered to breathe again.

A smile crossed Alberto’s face as he nodded. “Of course! Can you imagine how beautiful they would be? How incredible?” he asked me with a happy chuckle.

I let out a shaky breath of relief, a few tears falling uncontrollably. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry,” I told him as I hastily wiped my tears away.

Alberto pushed my hands away and leaned forward to kiss my tears away. “I can’t imagine the pain you went through when you lost your twins. As a father, I’m familiar with the love we share for our children, but I’ve never lost one,” he said in a gentle voice I hadn’t heard before. “Though, I have experienced loss when my late wife died. It tore a hole in my family’s heart. My youngest son, Adriano, watched his mother die, and it was incredibly traumatic for him. He’ll never heal.”

I nodded as I listened to him. “I understand bearing scars like that. I think the worst part is that I don’t know what happened to them. I want to know so badly,” I told him as I sniffled. “Some nights, I lay awake wondering what my life would be like if they hadn’t been taken away from me. What would they look like? What would they be like?”

Alberto brushed his fingers through my hair. “You would’ve been a great mother to them. You’ll be a wonderful mother to our baby,” I assured her. “And I’m going to raise them to be brave, strong, and fair.”

I smiled at the sound of that. Knowing he would be by my side throughout the entire process to protect and support me and our baby. This reassurance lifted so much weight off my shoulders. “We’re having a baby,” I breathed out, fully taking the news in. I was pregnant once again, but things would be different this time. Alberto and I would make sure of that.

“We’re having a baby,” Alberto repeated, looking just as happy as I felt.

We embraced and kissed happily, holding each other as close as possible in a sweet celebration. We were joined together by many things. One of those things was now our own child, our chance at starting a family of our own.

“Another child to add to your collection,” I teased him.

Alberto slowly pulled away and took my hand. “Amore mio, we need to keep this a secret for now,” he said.

Now, I drew back from him. I had worried about this happening. “No, Alberto. I don’t want me and my baby to be some big secret in your life. Your family means the world to you. Don’t I mean enough to you for you to tell them the truth?” I asked him.

Alberto sighed and thought for a few moments before speaking, “I understand and you’re right. I want you to meet my family, but let’s not reveal that you’re a Castillo. Tensions are high right now, and they may not give you a chance if they know.”

“Will I always have to hide who I am?” I asked with a frown. More and more, I felt disgraced by the family I didn’t choose to be a part of.

Alberto shook his head as he moved closer to me. He rested his forehead against mine. “Later on. Let’s focus on the good right now,” he said as he smiled at me.

I didn’t want to lie to his family right off the bat, but I didn’t have another choice. I wanted to meet them. I wanted them to accept me and our baby as their own family. Step by step, I was leaving one family and joining another. Hopefully, this one didn’t end up seeing me as a disgrace as well.

Chapter Eighteen:Split in Half

Alberto

“I have something to say.”

Everyone sitting at the dining table at the plantation house turned their heads as I rose to my feet. Dinner was about to start, but we had another unexpected guest coming tonight.

“I’ve met a woman who I dearly care about. She’ll be arriving soon. I want you all to meet her and welcome her,” I told them as my eyes swept over them.

Eyes grew large like an owl’s all around the table, and there were even a few gasps from the women. My sons pitched each other confused looks. I hadn’t brought a woman to dinner since Sienna was alive, which further proved to me how strongly I felt about Gabriela. I wanted her by my side for anything and everything.

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