THE DON’S INNOCENT BRIDE: the queen he never knew

Breaking Point

BELLA'S POV

Was it normal for your mind to be excited for something but your body isn't?

To say I woke up wrong was an understatement, but that was the only way to describe it.

My body felt heavy.

I know I overslept, compared to my recent sleep schedule.

But was my body suddenly allergic to rest already?

I managed to get out of the bed, my legs felt even heavier, with weird cramps on my lower belly. I totally forgot about my menstrual cycle, it has been erratic recently, the stress only was enough to cause hormonal imbalance. So I just welcome it when it comes, not expecting it at a specific time.

I hope this month's cramps aren't as bad as my previous cramps, those cramps are diabolical.

This pain is quite manageable, I would just take a pain reliever, the training has to start today.

I scramble the mini first aid box in the room.

Meticulous isn't it? My parents had first aid boxes in every room and corner.

I took a few tablets of analgesics, and proceeded to the bathroom.

I splashed cold water on my face. I looked at myself in the mirror.

My face was pale with dark circles. I thought I already passed this phase. This reminds me of my teenage years, where I wouldn't eat or go to school when I'm on my period.

I got dressed quickly, I can't afford to be weak at this point.

The ache was still there. Persistent. Annoying.

I ignored it.

Downstairs, Alessandro was already in the kitchen. He was brewing coffee . He looked up as I entered.

"Morning princess. How was …. Are you okay?" He paused as he saw my state.

"Yes." I poured coffee. Took a sip. But it felt weird, not bad weird but it was way better than the safe house coffee. My stomach turned.

"You look pale," he observed.

"I'm fine. Just tired."

"We can wait a day if…"

"No." The word came out sharper than intended. "I'm ready. Let's start."

Alessandro studied me for a moment. Then nodded. "Okay. Finish your coffee. Meet me in the training room in ten minutes."

I nodded. Waited until he left. Poured the coffee down the sink.

The nausea was getting worse, does the analgesic have side effects?

Or it's just a coincidence of my weird period.

The training room was massive. Mats on the floor. Weapons on the walls. Everything designed to turn soft girls into killers, just what you needed.

Alessandro was stretching when I entered.

“ Are you sure you are okay?” He asked again, “ I nodded, my face already regained some colors actually, the analgesic is working.

He nodded skeptically.

“ Tell me when you want to stop,” he told me.

"We start with the basics," he said. "Endurance. Strength. You need to build a foundation before we move to weapons."

I nodded.

"Twenty laps around the room. Then we'll see where you're at."

I started running. I have always been a little bit of an athlete, although not for running.

The first lap was fine. The second, harder. By the fifth, the cramping started taking over again.

I can't stop at this point, I will definitely push through this.

By the tenth lap, I was sweating. My breathing was ragged.

"You're slowing down," Alessandro called, obviously concerned.

I forced my legs to move faster. The cramping intensified. Sharp now. Like something twisting inside.

Fifteen laps.

Something was wrong. It's a little worse than I was used to.

But I couldn't stop. Not on the first day.

I am a Sovereign. I can do this.

Twenty laps.

I stopped. Bent over. Hands on knees. Gasping.

"Good," Alessandro said. "Now push-ups. Fifty."

I dropped to the mat.

“Bella? I think we should stop, I don't think this complexion is normal” I could barely focus at this point. My head was spinning and the nausea was worse.

My arms were shaking.

I felt... wet. Something warm between my legs.

No. No, no, no.

My vision blurred. The room tilted.

"Bella?" Alessandro's voice In high pitched. Was he scared? My period cramps used to be worse.

I tried to answer, I tried to console him. But I couldn't. The pain was overwhelming now. Sharp. Vicious.

I collapsed onto the mat.

"BELLA!" He was holding me at this point, shaking me vigorously.

“Lucia!” He panicked, I almost smiled at his confused expression.

I looked down. Saw the blood spreading across my training pants.

So much blood.

"Get Lucia!" Alessandro's voice. "GET LUCIA NOW!"

Then darkness.

I woke to white ceiling. The smell of antiseptic.

My body felt hollow. And heavy.

"Principessa." Lucia's voice as she hurriedly stood to assist me.

I turned my head. Her face was pale. Sad.

"What happened?" My voice was barely a whisper.

Lucia took my hand. "You collapsed during training. There was... bleeding. A lot of bleeding."

The ache was still there. Duller now. But present.

"The doctor examined you," Lucia continued quietly. "Bella... you were pregnant."

Pregnant? I almost laughed, I would have if she wasn't so serious right now.

"What?"

"About four months. You didn't know?"

Didn't know? I can't be pregnant, it's not possible I am carrying Dante's child while running from him.

“Lucia, you must be mistaken, I can't be pregnant ….. it was a mere menstrual cramps, it's not the first time”.

Lucia's grip on my hand tightened. “The doctor confirmed you were carrying a child, and he miscarried, the stress could have caused it”

“Piccola, the baby is gone.” she sniffled.

Should I be happy?

Or sad?

I have always wanted a child, I even get tested every month in Dante’s. If I was pregnant, that means Dante would be informed now.

Oh no!

The room disappeared, why is this happening?

I don't know what I should feel, the loss? Or the gratitude of not carrying my enemy's child?

"How long?" I whispered. "How long was …."

"The doctor said about four months. Your body couldn't handle the stress."

So I'd been pregnant this whole time.

Through the escape. The attacks. The running. The fear.

Carrying his child while hating him.

And now….

"It's my fault." The words came out broken. "I pushed too hard. I ignored the signs. I killed my baby "

"No." Lucia's voice was firm. "This is not your fault. Your body has been through trauma. Stress. Violence. This was not…"

"I felt sick this morning." I cut her off. Tears streaming now. "I knew something was wrong and I trained anyway. I pushed through it. I killed my baby because I was too stubborn to…."

"Bella, stop." She could only say that, it can't stop my tears.

I couldn't. The grief was overwhelming. Even though I hate the father, I can't hate the child, he was a part of me.

The door opened. Alessandro stood there. His face was white.

"I'm sorry." His voice broke. "I pushed you too hard. I should have seen…"

"It's not your fault," I said. But the words felt hollow.

Alessandro moved closer. Sat on the other side of the bed. "The doctor said you need to rest. A few days. Maybe a week."

I nodded. Couldn't speak.

"I'm so sorry, Bella. If I had known…."

"I didn't know either." I looked at him. "I was pregnant with Dante's child and I didn't even know."

The three of us sat in silence.

I put my hand on my stomach. Flat. Empty.

For four months, I hadn't been alone. Something had been growing. Living. Depending on me.

And I'd failed it.

Failed to protect it. Failed to even know it existed.

"What do I do now?" I whispered.

Lucia squeezed my hand. "You heal. You grieve. And when you're ready, you decide what this means."

What did it mean?

That I'd lost Dante's child?

That I'd lost the last piece of what we'd been?

That I'd lost something I'd never have ag

ain?

I closed my eyes.

The emptiness inside me wasn't just physical.

It was everything.

Four months ago, I'd walked away from Dante thinking I had nothing left to lose.

I'd been wrong.

There was always more to lose.

Always.