The nurse glances at me, his eyes searching. "You look pale. Maybe you should lie down."
"I'll be fine," I assure them, my voice unsteady.
The nurse hands me some pills. "Here this will help you clear out whatever it is you ate. Maybe something that doesn't agree with you."
I shake my head. "No. I can't take that," I say firmly, trying to steady my voice.
The nurse looks surprised. "But it'll settle your stomach."
"I need a different kind of doctor," I confess, my voice trembling. "I'm pregnant."
Silence hangs in the air for a moment, and I can feel the weight of their gaze on me. Polo's eyes soften, and Enzo looks just as surprised. "Are you sure?" Enzo finally asks, trying to process the information.
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. "I took a test, and it was positive."
"Oh..." The nurse puts her hand to her chest.
"B-by who are you pregnant?" Enzo asks slowly.
I'm sure that my answer won't earn me any brownie points here, so I say nothing.
"I just want to go to bed. Please. I don't want to talk about it."
I feel their stares on my back as I walk away. I know what they're thinking.
I carry their enemy's child in my belly.
Twenty-Nine
Valeria
The weight of my secret presses heavily on my shoulders as I sit with Polo in his study. He has something to tell me and I wish he'd get it over with. Maybe he wants me gone. Maybe I should've left the moment I knew I was pregnant. The room feels suffocating, and I find it hard to meet his gaze.
"Valeria, you know that I will always love and support you. You're my daughter. We will figure this out together."
I nodded.
"Are you going to keep the child?" he asks.
"Of course!" I say instantly.
He clears his throat and looks away. "Very well. You'll be protected as long as you stay here."
While Polo may be willing to protect us, it's not solely up to him. Dante is a force to be reckoned with, and I fear his vengeful nature. And then there's Rocco, who has shown me nothing but disdain and cruelty. I don't know how he's reacted to the news, and I can't put all my trust in Polo's ability to control the situation.
"I appreciate your support, Polo," I say, my voice trembling. "Rocco may see this child as a threat."
"Has he done something to you?"
"Yes...I mean sort of...but no. It's just that your son, Rocco, doesn't trust me."
Polo's expression softens, and he reaches out to take my hand. "I won't let anyone hurt you or my grandchild," he says firmly. "I will put an end to any dispute with the Argentieris if that's what it takes. My son will stop his antics then, I promise."
His words offer some comfort, but I know that the situation is far from simple. It's gotten worse. Polo may be willing to seek redemption, but it may not be enough to sway the minds of Dante and Rocco, who are both embroiled in their own vendettas.
"I want to believe you, Polo," I say, my voice wavering. "But it's not just about you. Dante and Rocco… they have their own agendas, and they won't easily back down."
"Yes, of course" Polo replies, his grip on my hand firm. "That's why I have to talk to Dante's father, Leonardo."