Page 31 of Doctor Billionaire's Surprise Baby

"Thank you for these wonderful experiences, Hugo," I said between bites, feeling truly grateful for the memorable evening he had orchestrated. "It's been such a fun night."

"Seeing you happy makes me happy," he replied sincerely, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. "Let's promise to do this again sometime."

"Deal. I'll fly to Milan with you any day," I agreed with a laugh, our fingers intertwined as we shared a contented smile. The events of the night would be forever etched in our memories.

"Simone, I have one more place in mind," Hugo said, his face lighting up with excitement as we left the restaurant. "There's a comedy club nearby that also has a small cinema attached to it. How about we go there and see what they're showing?"

"Sounds like a perfect way to end the night," I agreed, feeling the warmth of his hand as he led me down the street.

The comedy club was dimly lit, with low ceilings and an intimate stage at the front. I could hear the sound of laughter echoing through the space as we made our way toward the back, where the entrance to the cinema was located.

"Look, they're showing an old Italian film," Hugo exclaimed, pointing to the poster on the wall. "It's one of my favorites. And, as luck would have it, it's subtitled in English. You probably won't need it; I know your Italian is great."

"Oh, I need it. My Italian is very rusty, so I'll be thankful to follow along. Let's go see it," I said, offering him a genuine smile.

We settled into our seats, the smell of buttered popcorn filling the room as the lights dimmed and the projector flickered to life. The black-and-white images danced across the screen, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the Italian language. As the movie progressed, I found myself getting lost in the story, laughing and crying along with the characters.

"Isn't this movie beautiful?" Hugo whispered at one point, his eyes shining with emotion as he glanced over at me.

"Absolutely," I replied, touched by his vulnerability. "I can see why it's one of your favorites."

As the film continued, I couldn't help but steal glances at Hugo, his profile illuminated by the soft glow of the screen. I noticed the way his lips curved into a smile during the funny scenes, and how his eyes glistened with unshed tears during the poignant moments.

During a lull in the movie, Hugo turned to me, his eyes searching mine. "Can I share something personal with you?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course," I replied, entwining my arm with his, feeling a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"When I was younger, I spent a summer living with my grandparents in the small Italian village where this movie takes place. That summer changed my life. It's when I discovered my passion for helping others and decided to become a doctor."

I felt my heart swell as he shared his story, sensing the depth of his emotions.

"Being here with you tonight, it just feels right," he admitted, his voice barely audible above the film's dialogue. "I can't remember the last time I felt this connected to someone."

"Me neither," I confessed, feeling my cheeks warm as I realized the truth of my words.

As the movie drew to a close, we sat in companionable silence, letting the emotional weight of the film wash over us. When the credits began to roll, Hugo reached for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you for tonight, Simone," he said sincerely. "I'll never forget it."

"Neither will I," I replied, my heart racing as our fingers linked. We left the cinema hand in hand, the laughter from the comedy club fading into the background as we walked toward the downtown core, our hotel just a half block away. The night may have been coming to an end, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning for us.

"Hugo!" We both turned, hearing Hugo's name in a familiar voice. My heart stopped.

Chapter 12

Hugo

“Hugo,” my dad repeated, as he approached us on the street. His demeanor was serious, his brow furrowed as he studied me. I looked around, confused. “I figured you would have taken Simone to the cinema,” he said, nodding toward the building down the street. “I know how important that film is to you. Could we speak privately for a moment? I hoped to do this at the house, but dinner didn’t go as well as expected.”

I looked at my dad for one long moment, honestly unsure if I wanted to talk to him.

Simone touched my arm. “I’ll wait for you in the hotel lobby. Take your time.” She smiled, and I felt the warmth that she emanated.

I reached up and squeezed her hand as she turned. I kept her in my sight to ensure she got to the hotel steps safely. As she walked into the hotel, I turned to my father.

“Well, you wanted to talk?”

He took a deep breath.

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