Chapter 4 - The Revelation
I woke up to the smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of a machine. I blinked against the harsh light, realizing I was in a medical wing—one built privately inside the Vitali estate.
Alessandro was sitting in a chair beside the bed. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, his hair messy, his tie discarded. Standing at the foot of the bed was an older man in a white coat. Dr. Rossi. The Vitali family physician.
“She’s awake,” Alessandro said, his voice thick with emotion. He instantly leaned forward, taking my hand in his. His grip was almost painfully tight. “Elizabeth. Thank God. You terrified me.”
“What happened?” I rasped, trying to sit up.
Dr. Rossi stepped forward, his expression gentle but professional. “You fainted, Ms. Thorne. Your blood pressure dropped significantly, likely due to a combination of stress and dehydration.” He paused, looking down at his chart. “Which is quite common, given your condition.”
My heart stopped. No.
I looked at Dr. Rossi, my eyes pleading silently. Don't say it. Please don't say it.
But the doctor didn't understand my silent beg. “You are roughly eight weeks pregnant. Given the fainting spell, I strongly suggest starting prenatal vitamins and getting plenty of rest. I’ll leave you two to talk.”
The heavy oak door clicked shut behind the doctor. The silence in the room was deafening.
I couldn't look at Alessandro. I stared at the white blanket covering my lap, my chest rising and falling in rapid, panicky breaths. I waited for the explosion. I waited for him to accuse me of trapping him, of lying to him, of being a gold-digger.
Instead, I felt his hand gently cup my cheek, turning my face toward his.
Alessandro was staring at me, his amber eyes wide, glistening with a profound, earth-shattering realization. He looked down at my stomach, then back up to my eyes.
“A baby,” he breathed, his voice barely a whisper. “You... we’re having a baby.”
“I was going to tell you,” I lied, tears spilling down my cheeks. “I was just so scared. My uncle—”
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“Is a dead man,” Alessandro interrupted, the softness in his eyes instantly hardening into a lethal, terrifying resolve. “He is a dead man for making you run. For making you hide this from me. You are carrying my child, Elizabeth. You will never be afraid again. I will burn this city to the ground before I let anyone hurt you or this baby.”
He leaned down and kissed me, fiercely and deeply. It was a kiss that sealed my fate. I wasn't just his lover anymore; I was the mother of his heir. I was bound to the Vitali empire forever.
