Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Natasha
I wasn't alone at breakfast today.
Katerina had finished another trip and returned to New York. She spent most of her time running a high-end clothing brand, but traveled constantly. The manor was just a hotel to her.
The table was covered with a full English breakfast. Katerina chatted about Milan Fashion Week.
"Natasha, I'm going to Paris next month. There are some private shows I need to see." Katerina set down her coffee cup. "You should come with me. You can't stay locked up in the manor forever. You'll end up as lifeless as Dante."
"I haven't been feeling well lately," I said quietly.
I didn't have the energy for a long flight. My body had taken a sudden turn for the worse these past few days. I was exhausted all the time.
Katerina frowned, displeasure crossing her face.
"That bastard Dante." She complained loudly, accusation thick in her voice. "He doesn't give a damn that his wife is sick. You can't keep letting him get away with this, Natasha."
I kept my head down and said nothing.
Ever since Dante came clean with me last time, I'd stopped second-guessing everything. Dante was just busy with work. He walked the line between life and death every day. There was no point in constantly doubting him.
I just needed to wait quietly. I'd be here when he finished dealing with everything.
"I'll have Richard call a private doctor right away. You need to get checked out."
Katerina made the decision. Her tone left no room for argument.
"That's not necessary, ma'am." I looked up quickly. "I just need some rest."
I picked up my knife and fork and cut a small piece of scone, trying to eat it to prove I was fine. I didn't want Dante distracted by my being sick, not now.
I put the buttered scone in my mouth. The butter tasted heavy, cloying. The baked goods that usually smelled so sweet turned into a disaster.
A violent surge of acid shot up from deep in my esophagus, straight to my throat.
The urge to vomit hit too hard. I couldn't even apologize to Katerina. I bolted from my chair and ran for the first-floor bathroom.
I kicked the bathroom door open and dry-heaved violently over the porcelain sink. I hadn't eaten anything yet this morning. All I could bring up was acid.
Maybe Katerina was right. Maybe I really did need to see a doctor. Something was definitely wrong with my body.
I splashed water hard on my face, but the relentless nausea kept torturing me.
"I don't think I need to go to Paris after all."
Katerina's voice came from behind me.
I looked up at the large vanity mirror. Katerina stood in the bathroom doorway, her eyes gleaming.
"Sweetheart, when was your last period?"
The word detonated in my brain.
"About... a month ago," I mumbled.
Katerina turned immediately. Maria stood in the hallway outside. She was Katerina's personal maid. Katerina looked at her, excitement barely concealed in her voice.
"Maria. Go buy some pregnancy tests. Now."
"Yes, ma'am."
Maria bowed her head immediately and hurried away.
"My God, I can't believe this." Katerina looked back at me, something wild and fervent in her eyes.
I started frantically calculating in my head. My period really was a full month late. I'd thought it was just a normal delay. I hadn't considered pregnancy at all.
My heart hammered in my chest. I'd never felt this kind of excitement before.
Really? Was I pregnant?
Before long, Maria came running back. She handed me a paper bag full of boxes.
I followed the instructions and completed the test, holding my breath for a few minutes. Then—two red lines. Clear as day.
I really was carrying Dante's child.
In that instant, it was like something had struck me. My head buzzed. I looked down at my flat stomach, feeling like it wasn't real. Inside, there was already a tiny life. Mine and Dante's.
My mind started racing, planning how to tell him this good news. Tomorrow night was his birthday. What perfect timing.
Maybe this baby would bring a new turning point to our relationship—using an unborn child to hold onto a man's heart sounded shameful.
But I was full of hope. I wanted so desperately to keep him.
Katerina was still waiting in the hallway. When I came out, I couldn't help but smile at her, showing her the pregnancy test in my hand.
She glanced at it, excitement flooding her face.
"My God, Natasha. I can't tell you how thrilled I am."
Katerina stepped forward and wrapped me in a tight hug, stroking the back of my head over and over.
I closed my eyes. This touch from an elder made my eyes sting. I truly felt a trace of warmth that belonged to family. I rested my chin on her shoulder, breathing in her comforting scent.
The smile on Katerina's face couldn't be contained. She released me and picked up her phone excitedly.
"God, I need to go see Margaret and the others. We have a bet going. Who'd be the first to get a grandchild. I've won for sure."
She walked toward the door in high spirits, then came back to plant a big kiss on my cheek before leaving happily.
I stood alone in the hallway, my mood soaring. Even the air felt fresh and clean.
I pushed open the door and walked outside.
The weather was beautiful today. Sunlight poured over the neatly trimmed green lawn. I walked along the cobblestone path. A breeze brushed my face. I folded my hands over my stomach. I couldn't suppress the smile on my lips. I even laughed out loud.
I felt like the luckiest woman in the world right now.
"You seem happy, Natasha."
Leo walked toward me, dressed in full gear. He looked like he'd been doing a perimeter patrol around the manor.
I shared my joy with him. "I'm pregnant, Leo. I'm having Dante's baby."
I looked up expectantly, wanting his blessing.
But Leo's face turned ugly after I finished speaking. He stared at me without saying a word.
My smile slowly faded. Unease rose from the pit of my stomach. I stepped forward and grabbed his arm, staring hard at his face. "What happened? Why do you look like that?"
My mind immediately jumped to that afternoon. My heart leapt into my throat.
"Did Dante give you trouble? Did he hurt you?"
Leo shook his head hard. He hesitated, then pulled me to the tree where we'd first met, glancing around cautiously before looking down at me. His eyes were full of pity. The kind of pity that terrified me.
"I know some guys. They told me that last night, Dante carried Vera into his executive office."
Leo's voice stopped suddenly. He turned his face away, as if he couldn't bear to look at my eyes, but he finally turned back and said quietly, "The two of them were alone in that office all night."
They spent the night together?
The sunlight suddenly lost all warmth. My limbs went cold. My brain buzzed.
"No. I don't believe it."
I put my hand back on my stomach, trying to convince Leo, trying to convince myself. "He promised me. He said he wasn't seeing Vera. I believe him. There must be some misunderstanding." I repeated stubbornly.
Leo stepped forward and gripped my shoulders hard, pressing me against the rough tree trunk. "You're still lying to yourself, Natasha."
He raised his voice. "That man doesn't love you. He just sees you as a worthless substitute. He's a complete bastard! He keeps you locked up in the Manor while he spends the night with another woman in his office."
He stared into my eyes, his emotions spiraling.
"Stop fooling yourself, Natasha. I'm the one who really loves you. I've been watching you since high school. I understand your worth better than that mobster thug. You shouldn't be rotting in this cesspool of lies and violence. You deserve real love."
He shook my shoulders hard, pleading urgently. "If you're willing to come with me, I'll take you away from New York. I'll raise this child as my own. We'll leave this goddamn manor. We can live a normal life."
Leo's confession was fervent. His eyes were full of longing. But I felt nothing. No emotion at all. Just bewilderment and disbelief. My head was completely full of Dante. I didn't have the bandwidth to deal with his feelings.
I stepped back hard, yanking free of his hands, brushing off my shoulders where he'd grabbed me.
"I won't go with you. I don't have feelings for you. Forget about me, Leo. And forget everything you said today." I rejected him cleanly.
Leo smiled bitterly. His shoulders slumped.
"I understand, Natasha. I missed my chance with you a long time ago."
I didn't hesitate. I turned and left. Being soft would only give Leo false hope. That would hurt us both.
"But remember what I said."
Leo called out a warning from behind me.
"Watch out for Dante. Sooner or later, you'll see his true face."
I quickened my pace.
But Leo's final warning left me unsettled, so I headed toward the Manor gates. I desperately needed to see Dante. I needed him to tell me to my face that this wasn't true. I needed him to give me a reasonable explanation. I needed him to hold me.
Soon, the deep rumble of an engine sounded in the distance.
I went from walking to running. Dante, Dante, tell me Leo's lying.
A massive black armored SUV stopped on the steps in front of the main building. The door was pushed open from inside.
Dante climbed out of the driver's seat. I stood a few steps away, looking at his face.
He looked exhausted. A layer of dark stubble covered his jaw. His whole person radiated weariness and gloom. Dante closed the heavy door and looked up at me. His expression was complicated, weighted with something I couldn't understand.
A breeze blew from his direction. Mixed with the wind came a scent of flowers and fruit.
It was Vera's signature perfume.