Page 45 of Let Vengeance Be Mine

“Menika.” Matteo nods his head at her curtly, and she looks disappointed when he offers her his hand to shake.

“Very formal these days, Matteo. No kisses?”

“I make a habit of only putting my mouth on my wife.” He moves to stand beside me, wrapping his arm around my hip and dragging me closer.

“I’m sure Mother, here, shared our happy news with you.” He strokes his free hand over my bulging stomach while I lift my ring-fingered hand and show her my big, shiny diamond and wedding band. Pregnancy hormones are a real thing. They heighten all your emotions and it seems jealousy isn’t an exception.

“She did, congratulations.” Menika fakes a smile at us both.

“I’m afraid your time has been wasted, Aria already has the dress she will be wearing to tomorrow’s party,” he informs them, taking me by surprise, at the same time.

“Is there any chance of me actually choosing for myself what I wear?” I interrupt.

“I thought you might like to wear the dress you wore to our wedding. You looked so beautiful that day, I think all Mother’s guests should witness it for themselves.”

“Oh, please, Matteo, that dress was off the rack, and very informal. This party is–”

“I like that idea,” I interrupt Vivian, and smile up at Matteo. The dress has sentimental value, and I don’t want to wear something Menika has designed. There is, however, a slight problem. “I’ve gotten a lot bigger since then. I don’t know if it would still fit.” I chew at my bottom lip and feel my cheeks flush pink.

“Then we shall go try it, now. If it doesn’t fit, we’ll figure something out.” Matteo takes my hand and starts leading me toward the hall.

“You can leave now,” he calls back to his mother and Menika.

“Matteo, that was rude,” I whisper at him, as we start taking the stairs to our room. “I’m sure your mom was only trying to help.”

“She was being controlling,” he points out, supporting me as I struggle up the steps. And all I can do is laugh at him and shake my head

Once we're inside our room, he closes the door and heads straight for the wardrobe to take out the white dress, I married him in. His mother is right, itisunderstated, but it was comfortable and has happy memories attached to it.

“You want me to try it on, now?” I feel that heat flush my skin, again. My body has changed so dramatically these past few months, it’s hard not to be a little conscious.

“Yes, I want you to try it on, now.” He slides it off the hanger and moves closer to me.

“Like I said, I’ve grown a lot since I last wore it.” I look down at myself and sigh.

“Why are you looking at yourself like that?” he questions, in the same harsh tone that he talks to his guards in.

“Like what?”

“Like you're ashamed of your body. Aria you’re–.”

“Did you fuck her?” I interrupt, raising my eyes back up to focus on his, and waiting patiently for his answer.

“Yes. Some time ago,” he gives it to me straight. “I’ve fucked a lot of women, Aria.” His answer makes the threat of tears sting my eyes.

“Well, that makes me feel better.” I huff a sarcastic laugh, and try not to look at my huge overstretched stomach, while I think about the skinny, blonde bitch he fuckedsome time agowho’s downstairs, right now.

Snatching the dress from his hands, I narrow my eyes at him, as I wriggle into it, stretching it over my bump and just about managing to make it fit. It’s tight, and my stomach has never looked bigger, but I’m in the damn thing.

“As I was saying...” Matteo positions himself behind me, slowly walking me over to the full-length mirror, that's hung beside the bathroom door, and sliding his hands around my middle.

“...I’ve fucked a lot of women, but I’ve only ever been in love with one.” He looks at me through our reflection, as he places a kiss on my cheek, and the sincerity in his eyes makes it really hard not to smile back at him. Especially, when I realize I may have overreacted a little.

Matteo never invited that woman to be in our house. It was his mother, who seems intent on making me feel uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry, I’m just feeling a little self-conscious…” I hold out my hands and look down at my ever-growing body. “I’m not exactly how I used to be, am I?” I blink back tears.

“You're kidding, right?” Matteo laughs at me. “Aria, do you haveanyidea how utterly obsessed I am with your body, right now?” His hand rubs a huge circle over my protruding belly. “I think this is beyond fucking sexy. You have a part of me inside you. You're growing us a child. And looking insanely fuckinghotin the process. I wanted you to wear this dress because I knew it would be tight. I knew it would make this huge, beautiful bump stand out, and I want every single person in that room, tomorrow, to see what I did to you. I want them to know that you're mine and that our son grows big and healthy. And Aria… you better get used to looking this kind of beautiful, because I intend to have you big and round with plenty more Romano babies.”

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