Broken Love

Baby

third pov 

"Lana, darling? You look breathtaking tonight" - Anastasia said to her daughter, as she entered the grand hall, where the gala would take place in a few hours. 

"Thank you, mother. You look so beautiful and elegant as always" - Lana replied, giving a light kiss to her cheek. "Is it everything okay? I am really nervous about tonight" 

"Everything is perfect dear. You don't have to worry, you have done a great job" - Anastasia tried to reassure her. 

"I wouldn't have done it without you, mother. Thank you... for all the guidance and the unconditional support" - Lana smiled at her lovingly, but suddenly she lowered her eyes and bit her lip, as something was upsetting her. 

"My precious? What's wrong?" - Anastasia frowned her brows 

"Nothing. I am fine" - Lana tried to brush it off, forcing a smile. 

"Can you please give us some privacy?" - Anastasia asked her assistants, who immediately left the office, which they were using to manage everything about the gala, from up close. 

"I know my daughter, and I can tell when something is wrong. Besides, you were never good at lying, your eyes always give away your feelings.  You know that you have my unconditional support, right? You will have it always, no matter what! Tell me, my love, what is it? Mom will take care of it" 

Lana took a deep breath, trying to choose her words, looking even more insecure. 

"Lana? Please don't tell me you are worried about that woman.. you know that you are safe! I will never allow anyone to hurt you ever again, my precious" - Anastasia said with worry, she knew that her past still hunted her daughter, even though Lana had grown so much the last couple of years, becoming much more confident. 

"No, no, no! It has nothing to do with that.." - Lana rushed to assure Anastasia, who looked at her with wondering eyes, eagerly expecting an answer from her daughter. Lana took another deep breath and after a pause that felt like an eternity for Anastasia, she finally managed to spill out the words 

"I am pregnant..." 

"Preg... Oh, my love! This is such wonderful news! Oh, my God! " - Anastasia gasped and rushed to hug her, feeling like she was drunk on happiness. Lana accepted her warm hug, feeling a warmth in her heart, by knowing that she had her mother's support. 

"I found out a few days ago when I had the doctor control. It's likely to have twins, even though the doctor said that I will need another appointment to make sure about that" - Lana explained with half of a smile on her face. 

"But why are you so worried about, darling? Are the babies and you healthy?" - Anastasia's happiness suddenly was replaced with anxiety, seeing that Lana was not too enthusiastic about the pregnancy. 

"Yes, everything is fine. The doctor said that it will be much easier than with Daniella since I have completely recovered from the problems I had with my lower back. Except for some morning sickness, I am feeling great" 

"Then what's wrong Lana? You are an excellent mother to Daniella, and I am sure you will love your babies just as much. We will hire more nanny's to help you with the kids, and you can always count on my help" 

"Thank you mother, I know that I can always count on you. In fact, you are the first person I have told" 

"Massimo doesn't know yet?" - Anastasia was surprised, as she had seen Lana and Massimo closer than ever before. There weren't married yet, but there were clearly madly in love with each other, and so dedicated towards their child. 

"No. I don't know how will I tell him. That's why I am so worried. I mean, I am so happy about my pregnancy, but..." 

"But what Lana? Massimo will be even happier? Since Daniella has born, he has changed so drastically. He clearly loves being a father and takes his duty as a parent very seriously" 

"Massimo has not proposed to me yet, he has not even mentioned the word marriage. I thought he would propose after I got my degree, but... I am worried that it will feel to him like ... like I am trapping him, to force him to stay by my side. That's the last thing I want. If he stays by my side, I want it to be because of love, not duty." - a few tears escaped her beautiful eyes, which expressed all of the emotional storms she was experiencing inside. 

"Oh, darling..." - Anastasia took her hand in between her palms, in a soothing gesture, but for a moment she felt lost for words. 

"I know I was the one to ask the divorce because I wanted a fresh start with Massimo. I really love his mother, and he has been such a great partner to me. I don't want him to think that I am manipulating him, in any kind of way." 

"Lana, darling...." - Anastasia tried to say something, but Lana cut her off, feeling the need to justify herself

"I swear to God, the pregnancy happened by accident, I didn't plan it. It must have been in Paris when.." - suddenly she realized that she was talking about her s*x life and blushed hard, feeling even more embarrassed.

Anastasia smiled brightly at her daughter, and with her finger, she raised her chin up. "You have nothing to be embarrassed or worried about, Lana. You are an amazing, beautiful woman and it's natural for such a thing to happen when you are in love. You have nothing to worry about either because you have a family, that will always support you no matter what. These babies will be so much loved and will bring even more joy to our home. And besides, you are judging Massimo so hard, based on your fears, not on his actions. You are not giving him a chance, I am sure he will be so happy when you'll tell him" 

"You think?" - Lana asked looking at her with doubt, but also with hope

"I know my son. And I have witnessed how much change and effort he has made to be a better partner to you and a good father to your daughter. Massimo will be thrilled about your pregnancy, give him a chance. I think he has deserved, hasn't he?" - Anastasia said with a soft smile, her motherly voice had such a soothing and reassuring effect on Lana, who felt like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, by confiding in her. 

"You are right, as always" - Lana nodded with her head. 

"And always remember, then no matter what happens, you have your mother by your side. I will always support you, my precious" 

"I know! Thank you, mother" - Lana replied smiling, taking a deep breath in relief and hugged her tight. 

"Oh, you have made me so happy, Lana! I love you so much, darling" - Anastasia said, patting her back. 

.......................................

 "Monica pov

"I am pregnant!" - the shocking realization hit me hard. I felt panic and terror washing over me, knowing that a baby is growing inside me. Another innocent baby, who I can not protect, who I can not look after for. 

I broke on sobs, crying hard, feeling so desperate, lonely, and miserable. I would have taken my life there and then if it wasn't for my son who was playing on top of my bed. Leo needed me, no matter how useless and miserable I was, I was still his mother. My poor child had only me in this life, as he is growing up in a violent hell which his fathers run. As much I try to keep him safe and to give him a normal childhood, I can not keep him away from the armed men around the mansion, the murders, and traffickers that walk in and out of this place. And most importantly, I can not hide when his father brutally beats and r**e me. He may be too young to understand now, but the memories will hunt him when he grows up. 

My baby is not happy, and it kills me inside. I can see the sadness and helplessness in his eyes, he has already begun to understand our situation in this place. We are prisoners of his cruel father, and our daily life depends on how much in a good mood he is. 

He will never let me go, after Leo was born, he only became more possessive over me. That's what I am to him,  a mere possession he is obsessed with. He has many other beautiful women he sleeps with, I can hear their shameless moans even from my bedrooms. I am not jealous, I could not care less what he does. Actually, every time I see his men bringing a new beautiful girl inside, I feel relieved knowing that I will be alone with my son only. He can die, for all I care. 

But even though he has so many options around me, he will never let me go! He married me, and he says that only I will be the mother of his children. I don't understand what is it that he sees in me, I don't even stand his presence. I have despised and hated him, since the moment I first saw him. 

My life wasn't always like this, I use to have dreams and hopes. I was doing great in school, my teacher praised me all the time and I wanted so much to become a doctor. I had even chosen the university, to study. But after my mother died, everything changed.

The poverty became unbearable, my alcoholic father became more of a monster to us, as now our mother was not there to protect us. I wanted to leave, I thought about it many times, but I could not abound my little brother. I was his all world, the only one who took care of him. 

One day, this man... come to my house. He was wearing an expensive suit and dark sunglasses, his aurora was so dark and intimidating. He clearly seemed like he didn't belong to our poor neighborhood, so when he asked my father's name I felt terrified. I later found out that my father had huge gambling debts to him... debts that we could never pay for, even if we sold our home. 

My father knew something of him, a secret or something... and that kept him alive for some time. But then the man came again, asking for debt. But instead of money, this time he asked me. 

I checked in the memory. I am so miserable that even my damned father was happy to give me away to him. Oh how I cried and begged my father, I kneeled in front of him to not send me to this terrible man. He was right all the time, but he didn't say a word, he did not even react as I was desperately crying out and yelling with all the powers of my lungs, how much I hated him. 

My father had to drag me out to his car, and left me to his feet. 

"There is yours. Now we are even. But you have to marry her, you promised" 

"He did not reply to my father, he just gestured for him to leave and he did so. I tried to run after my father, but before I could even get back on my feet, he caught me by my hand, with such a force, I thought he broke my bones. 

"Where you think you are going kitten? I don't tolerate disobedience" - those were his first words to me, I still remember the terror I felt on my stomach, by how dangerous he looked and sounded. He throws me to his car and as we were leaving I saw my little brother running after us. My heart shuttered to pieces, but he didn't bat an eye. 

That very same night, he dragged me inside his mansion and r***d me. "I made you a woman" - he said, I was only 16. I was hurt, in pain, terrified, but regardless I tried to run away. It was impossible. 

It is impossible. It has been almost 10 years, locked down in this hell and I still am a prisoner here.            And now another baby... Oh, God! Listen to me! If you don't get us out of here, then take my life and my baby's lives.... this is not a way to live... I don't want my son to turn into a monster like him.. and I can protect neither Leo nor this baby. Save me, I beg you!