Page 37 of Doctor Billionaire's Surprise Baby

“I don’t know. I – I just thought…”

My entire body screamed with need: I needed to touch Simone, I needed to breathe her in. But mostly, I needed to know how the hell she’d planned to finish that sentence.

“I’m just seeing the flaws and complications in this plan.”

Shit.

“Did you say something?”

I scrubbed my hand across my face, cursing the filter that was apparently malfunctioning this morning.

I couldn't deny that my family's behavior had been difficult to handle, especially my sisters, Giuliana and Giorgia, who were constantly vying for attention. But what truly surprised me was the amount of concern from Simone's own grandmother. The warm and nurturing woman we both admired so much seemed to go cold and distant whenever she discussed the Barone name. It was concerning to both of us.

“Nothing important,” I said, feeling the anger bubble up inside me. "I just – I'm sorry that things haven't gone as we planned. I didn't expect my family to be so difficult. " I paused, swallowing my frustration. "And I certainly didn't expect your grandmother to be so concerned."

Simone's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, but she remained silent.

I grabbed her hand and gently pulled her from the bed.

“Okay, that's it. We need to get away from all of this nonsense. Today, it’s just you and me. Let’s go and run away from our problems. My dad aways accuses me of doing that, so today I will live up to his expectations.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, but then they softened as she let out a real laugh and all the pressure in my chest eased.

“Can we do that?”

"Absolutely," I replied, my mind racing with thoughts of how we could reconnect and rekindle our passion away fromthe prying eyes of my family and her concerned grandmother. "I want to be with you, Simone, without any distractions or expectations. I just want us to enjoy each other's company and forget about everything else for a while."

A slow smile spread across her face, reaching her expressive eyes and causing them to sparkle with hope.

"Hugo, thank you. That sounds amazing, actually. It's exactly what we need right now."

"I'm glad you agree," I said, my own spirits lifting at the sight of her renewed enthusiasm. "Let's make it happen then."

"Thank you," she whispered, leaning in to give me a soft, lingering kiss that sent warmth spreading through my chest. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Anything for you," I murmured against her lips, feeling a surge of protectiveness and love for the incredible woman beside me. The thought of spending a full day alone with her, away from the chaos of our families, filled me with anticipation and desire. I was more than ready to prove my love for her and help her find the strength to pursue her dreams.

The sun had just begun to warm the Milanese streets as Simone and I ventured out, hand in hand, eager to explore the city together. The bustling energy of Milan was infectious, and as we strolled along the cobblestone streets, our laughter mingled with the hum of conversation from the locals and tourists alike. Simone had brought her camera with her and was snapping away at the sights that opened before us.

"Have you ever been to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II?" I asked Simone, knowing that her love for fashion would make the iconic shopping center a must-see destination for her.

"No, I haven't," she replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I can't wait to see it."

We made our way to the stunning glass-domed structure, marveling at the intricate mosaic floor underfoot and the elegantboutiques that surrounded us. As Simone browsed through racks of designer clothing, her enthusiasm was contagious. The intimacy between us grew with every shared smile, stolen kiss, and soft touch.

"Simone, look at this dress." I held up a beautiful turquoise green gown that I knew would accentuate her petite frame and complement her chocolate-brown curls.

"Wow, Hugo. That's gorgeous." She took the dress reverently, holding it against herself as she looked in the mirror. The anticipation of seeing her in it later set my heart racing.

Holding our purchases in our arms, I brought her to the bull in the central dome of the shopping area.

"Have you heard about the bull, Simone?" I asked.

"No… what is it?"

"Well, there is a hole in an interesting spot on the bull. You put your right heel in it, close your eyes and turn in a full circle. The legend is that you will earn yourself some good luck by doing that." Simone laughed. "Do you want to do it?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" I loved how she was so accepting of my crazy ideas. "You go ahead and show me how to do it."

---