Page 36 of Doctor Billionaire's Surprise Baby

"Nonna, please give us a chance," I pleaded, my voice cracking with emotion. I didn't expect this change in the afternoon. "We're not asking for your blessing right now, but at least try to get to know him better. See for yourself the man he truly is, beyond the rumors and gossip."

She sighed deeply, her expression a mix of love and concern. "I will try, Simone. But I can't say I will stop worrying. It's not what you and Hugo have together – I remember his heart as a child. It was pure, and he was a kind boy. But his family really is something else, and I feel you might be getting in deeper than you can handle."

As Hugo returned from the washroom, I couldn't help but feel that my heart was caught in an emotional tug-of-war between my love for him and the concerns my grandmother had brought up. I mean, she lived in Milan so she knows the history and she wasn't one to mask the truth from me.

My hands, clammy and trembling, fidgeted in my lap as I stared at the intricate patterns on the worn carpet beneath my feet. Hugo took his seat, offering a reassuring smile that failed to reach his eyes. The air was thick with tension, and every word spoken seemed to echo through the room like a haunting melody. Hugo noticed the change.

"Did I miss something?" he asked.

Nonna looked at him. "I will be frank with you, my dear. As much as I love you, and I do, there are concerns I have shared about your family with Simone. She knows how I feel. I want you two to be vigilant about everything. If you want to be together, you will need to fight for it and it is for you to decide whether you have the strength. I wish you well."

"Simone," Nonna turned to me, her tone gentle but firm. "As I said, I am not questioning your judgment, but love can cloud our perceptions. I only want what's best for you, and I worry that this path may lead to heartache."

The room grew quiet again. The silence was heavy and oppressive. I could feel the unspoken words hanging in the air, the doubts and fears that were left unsaid. It felt like an invisible chasm had opened up between us all, threatening to swallow us whole.

"Nonna, I care deeply for Simone," Hugo said finally, breaking the silence. "We don't have to associate with my family. I'm not interested in joining in their ventures. I'm committed to making the life I have with Simone the best that we can make it. I give you my promise."

"Time will tell, Hugo," Nonna responded, her gaze steady and unwavering. "Just know, your family is a powerful name in Milan. You may find yourself powerless."

For a moment, we sat there, each lost in our thoughts, the silence stretching out like an ocean between us. I knew that my grandmother's concerns were valid. I had seen the Barone family in action for myself already. I knew what they expected and how unwilling they were to accept me. I'm sure they dealt with others with the same disdain and were completely able to remove people from their path. But Nonna was right. Their world was not my world and I might not be ready for it.

But for Hugo, I had to try.

"Thank you for having us, Nonna," I said finally, rising from my seat and offering her a small, fragile smile. "I hope that, in time, you'll see that our love is strong enough to overcome anything, even the Barone family."

"Time will tell, my dear," she replied, embracing me tightly. "But please take care of yourselves."

"Are you ready to go?" he asked, his voice gentle, and I nodded, grateful that he was there with me, hearing my Nonna's words as well. Maybe he even underestimated his own family.

"I love you, Nonna. So much." I was sad to leave Nonna, kissing her cheek before stepping back to allow Hugo his turn to say goodbye. I hadn't been able to afford to come and visit her for years and I wasn't sure when the next time would be that I could see her. Hugo and Nonna had a long embrace, and I knew Hugo was also glad for this opportunity to thank Nonna for being there for him during his childhood. I was grateful for Nonna's love for Hugo and the support she offered both of us.

We stepped outside into the warm Milanese sun and I could feel the tension in my shoulders begin to dissipate. We walked toward Hugo's car and as he opened the passenger door for me,I couldn't help but glance back at my grandmother's house one last time.

"Simone," Hugo began once we were both inside the car, his hand reaching over to gently squeeze mine, "I know that didn't go exactly as planned, but if we choose to be together, we will make it work. The Barone family can't touch us in America and I have no plans to jump ship from what I have built there. We just have to understand that people think certain things when they hear the Barone name in Milan. We will somehow have to distance ourselves from it and, at the very least, not react."

My heart swelled at his words, and I squeezed his hand back, appreciating the sincerity in his eyes.

"I know we're going to be okay, Hugo. It's just my grandmother has always been there for me, and her concern means a lot. I can't help but wonder if I can really handle what I'm stepping into. Maybe I just don't understand the whole picture."

"Simone, I understand your concerns," he said earnestly, his brown eyes locked on mine. "Just give me the chance to show you – to protect you and if we keep talking and stay alert, I'm sure we'll be ok. I think your Nonna is right, in many ways. But I think we're right too."

As I stared into those deep-set eyes, filled with determination, I knew that I wanted to believe him. I also felt that if I wanted to be with Hugo, I didn't have a choice but to believe him.

"Okay, Hugo," I whispered, allowing myself to be enveloped in his strong embrace. And as we drove away from my grandmother's house, our hands entwined and our hearts full of hope, I couldn't help but hope that we would be okay.

Chapter 14

Hugo

Iwoke up to the sound of birds chirping outside, their melodies sweet and tranquil. Turning my head, I found Simone lying beside me, her curly brown hair framing her delicate face. Her eyes were open, staring blankly at the ceiling. The sadness in them was unmistakable, and it pained me to see her like this.

"Good morning beautiful," I murmured softly, hoping to coax a smile out of her. She looked at me, her expressive eyes clouded with disappointment, and my heart sank even further.

"Good morning, Hugo," she replied weakly, offering a half-hearted smile that never reached her eyes.

"Are you okay, Simone?" I asked, concerned. I knew that our trip to Italy had been eye-opening for both of us and we were maybe a little too involved with both of our families to really be able to think straight.

Simone sighed, her petite frame sinking into the bed.

---