Chapter 34
Two years later…
The morning light filtered through the small gap in the curtain, casting a soft glow over my wife as she stood by the full-length mirror, taking in every inch of her changing body.
Her hands rested gently on the curve of her bump.
Her body now bore the proud mark of motherhood, a swollen belly that hinted at the twins growing inside her.
She wore a floor-length lounge dress, its soft fabric clinging to her figure and showcasing the bump that I was never able to take my eyes off.
I laid back on the bed, watching her with a mixture of admiration and possessiveness.
We had enjoyed a couple of years together, just the two of us, but when she told me she was pregnant, I swore my heart could have exploded.
It wasn’t because I wanted an heir. It was because I wanted to start a family with her.
I wanted everything with her. I closed my eyes, reminiscing for a moment.
“Lorenzo, I’m pregnant.” Tears fell from Ana’s eyes as she spoke.
“Sorry, what?! Did you just say I’m going to be a papa?” I asked, hoping I heard her correctly.
“I did. You’re going to be a father.” She pressed her fingers to her lips, unable to control her emotions.
“When did you find out?” I cupped her face, the snow continuing to fall around us and the sounds of laughter coming from the skiers below. It was nothing compared to the joy and happiness I felt in that moment.
“About an hour ago. I was late so I checked my dates, and it all made sense with how I’ve been feeling,” she breathed. “I went to the on-site pharmacy and got a test just to see.” She wiped a stray tear that fell from my eye. “I’m sorry I didn’t find out with you.”
“I don’t care whether you found out with me or not. I’m over the fucking moon! We’re going to have a baby!” I never thought finding out Anastacia was pregnant would hit me the way it did, but fuck, I had never felt anything like it.
“Yeah, we are,” she cried, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“So, no skiing for you tomorrow.” My protectiveness was already kicking in. “I’ll stay in with you, and you can take it easy.”
“Is it going to be like this for the next nine months?” she asked, her face a picture of amusement.
“Oh, abso-fucking-lutely.”
“Lorenzo, are you okay?” she asked, bringing me back to the present.
“I was just reminiscing.” I smiled, flinging my legs over the side of the bed.
“Wait there. I’m going to change,” I said. “I’ll take you wherever you need to go.”
“There’s no need. Tay is picking me up.” She rolled her eyes as her plump lips twisted up into a smirk.
“That sounds great, but you can let her know I’ll drop you where she and Robin are.” I crossed the room, watching as her fingers caressed her bump.
“It’s just brunch with the girls, and Tay is perfectly capable of driving carefully,” she tutted.
“I don’t care if it’s a trip to the end of the road. The only one I trust to drive you in this weather is me.” I gestured towards the window where the world outside was blanketed in a layer of ice, the sky threatening snow. “It’s too dangerous. One wrong move, and?—”
“And you’ll swoop in like my personal superhero?” she teased, unable to hide the affection in her voice. “You’re too protective, you know that?”
I cupped her bump just as one of our babies kicked my palm. “I’m not being protective. I’m just being practical. You’re carrying my children, Anastacia. That means you’re carrying my whole world. I’m not taking any risks when it comes to the three of you.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile that tugged at her lips. “Fine. But you’re going to make me late.”
“Better late than never.” I headed into the bathroom. “I’ll be five minutes. Wait there.”
But, of course, she didn’t wait. By the time I exited the bathroom, she was nowhere to be found. I pulled on a black turtleneck, followed by a pair of tailored trousers and my winter coat.
I hurried downstairs, already noticing Ana by the front door, her coat draped over her arms.
“You might need to put that on, Mi amore . It’s freezing outside.” I took the coat from her and held it open for her to slip her arms inside.
I had to admit, the past eight months I was way overprotective.
It was inevitable, though. She was my wife, carrying our children.
I couldn’t admire her more than I did. Her body was growing our beautiful babies, and she never once let me hear a complaint, despite the pain I knew she often felt.
The day we found out it was twins was something else.
We were blessed with a boy and a girl, and I vowed to myself and Ana that neither would be forced to marry.
They would be equal and never treated differently.
Ana pulled open the door, the cold air seeping in and making me shiver. I placed my hand on the small of her back. “You should’ve let me get that.” I smiled.
“I’m not helpless, Lorenzo,” she replied with annoyance, though she leaned into my touch, feeling comforted by my presence.
Outside, the world was a winter wonderland, the ground slick with ice and the air biting. Red had already pulled the car up to the front door, leaving the engine rumbling softly. Ana started down the steps, her movements careful, but my voice stopped her.
“Hold on,” I called, my tone brooking no argument. Before she could protest, I was there, wrapping my arms around her. I lifted her into them effortlessly. She let out a laugh, surprised but not entirely displeased by my insistence.
“Lorenzo, I’m fine! I can walk!”
“Not on this ice, you can’t,” I said, my voice firm but gentle as I carried her to the car. My arms were a fortress around her, my warmth seeping through her coat. “You three are too precious to me.”
I settled her into the passenger seat, my hand lingering on her leg as I buckled her in. “You’re sure you want to do this? We can stay in. I’ll make you brunch, and we can spend the day together.”
She smiled, her hand covering mine. “I appreciate it, really. But I need this. A few hours with the girls will do me good.”
“Okay, but I’ll pick you up when you’re done.” I tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked at me with soft doe eyes. “Don’t forget, my mother is over for dinner this evening. Apparently, she has a surprise for us.” I smiled, wondering what she could possibly have planned.
I stood in the doorway of the dining room, watching as my wife meticulously arranged the crystal glasses on the mahogany table. Despite almost being full term, she moved with practiced grace.
“You’ve outdone yourself,” I praised, stalking over to her. She glanced up, her blue eyes meeting mine.
“It’s just dinner, Lorenzo. Nothing special.” She shrugged, though her lips curved into a small smile.
“Trust me, it is.” I cupped her face as she nuzzled her cheek into my palm. “Dinner smells incredible as well. You made my favourite, didn’t you?” I asked.
“I did. You’ve done so much for me recently, I felt it was only fair I gave you something back.”
“I don’t need anything back. Just you carrying our babies and keeping them safe is more than enough.” I pressed a kiss on her forehead, a gesture I knew she loved. “I love you. All three of you.”
“We love you, too,” she whispered.
Suddenly, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor echoed from the hallway. “It sounds like my mother is here.” I smiled, but it didn’t sound as though she was alone.
I took Ana’s hand in mine as my mother entered the dining room, her presence just as commanding as mine. I was right. She wasn’t alone. Beside her, stood a man, tall and broad-shouldered. Ana’s breath caught in her throat as her gaze locked on his face.
“Artem,” she gasped, clutching her stomach.
Artem? As in Victor’s former right-hand man?
From what Ana told me, Artem had been more of a father to her than Victor, but one day he just split without a word.
“Artem, is that really you?” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. My mother's lips twitched into a knowing smile as she placed a hand on Artem’s arm.
“What’s going on? Why are you here? How?” Ana breathed. Artem’s gaze flickered to my mother before returning to Ana. There was a weight in his eyes, a mixture of regret and something undecipherable.
“I should’ve come sooner, I know,” he began, his voice rough with emotion. “But your father…” He paused for a second. “Your father made me leave. He knew that when the time came for him to arrange your marriage to someone, I would try to stop it, even though it wasn’t my place.”
He held out his hand to Ana. She took it without thinking twice. “After losing my own son, you helped fill the void. I saw you like you were my own. The fact that you used to seek me out instead of your father was something he couldn’t stand.” Artem’s own voice trembled as he spoke.
My mother stepped forward, her expression softening.
“I’ve known Artem for years. We reconnected recently, and…
Well, the rest is history. I didn’t want to say anything because we wanted to see where this went.
” Mama smiled. “But just know it was incredibly hard for Artem to not come around to see you. He wanted to wait until now, until we knew we were something.”
Before Anastacia could respond, I cut in, turning my attention to the man with his arm wrapped around my mother’s waist.
“Artem, I’ve heard great things from my wife about you. Not much but enough to know you’re a fucking decent guy.” I cleared my throat. “I want my Ma to be happy. God knows she fucking deserves it, but if you hurt her, I swear to?—”
Artem held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Lorenzo, I’d never hurt your mother. You have my word.”
I studied him for a moment, narrowing my eyes as I tried to work him out a little more. Finally, I nodded, though for now, I’d remain guarded. “Let’s sit down and enjoy the dinner my wife has prepared for us.”
“Why now?” Ana asked as she lowered herself into the chair.