ISABELLA

Chapter 55

I stopped outside Leo’s door, hesitating for just a second. My hand hovered over the handle before I finally turned it, stepping quietly inside.

He was sitting on the bed, propped up by pillows, the faint light from a bedside lamp casting shadows across his sharp features.

When he looked up and saw me, his lips curved into that soft smile—the one he never showed anyone else. “Mi amore,” he said gently, voice husky from the late hour. “Did you enjoy your evening?”

I felt the lump in my throat before I could even answer. My eyes stung, and suddenly all the gratitude, all the love I had been holding inside, rushed forward at once. “Leo,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Thank you. You… you have no idea how much I needed this. Seeing them… seeing her… Gabriella…”

I trailed off, tears welling up, and before I could stop them, they spilled down my cheeks.

Leo’s expression softened instantly. He reached out his hand, and without hesitation, I crossed the room and slipped into his arms. He pulled me against him carefully, mindful of his healing back, but still held me as though he’d never let me go.

“I didn’t want you to feel alone here,” he murmured against my hair, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Not when you’ve already given up so much to be with me. You deserve every piece of happiness I can give you, Isabella.”

I leaned back just enough to look at him, my hands resting on his chest. “You don’t understand… for so long, I thought I had no one. And now… because of you, I have family again. You brought them to me.” My voice cracked. “How do I ever repay you for that?”

His thumb brushed my cheek, wiping away the tear that lingered there. “You don’t,” he said simply. “Your smile, your laugh, the way you look at me like I’m more than what I’ve become… that’s enough. You are enough, mi amore.”

Something in me broke then—softly, beautifully. I leaned forward, pressing my lips against his. The air between us was warm, our breaths mingling, our hearts beating in sync.

“Leo…” I whispered, my lips brushing his as I spoke, “I don’t know how to explain it, but tonight, when I was with them, it was like the missing pieces of me finally came back. And it’s because of you. You gave me that. You’ve given me everything.”

He kissed me then—slow, lingering, full of promise. It wasn’t rushed or desperate; it was tender, reverent, the kind of kiss that felt like a vow. When we pulled apart, his forehead still rested against mine, his eyes shining with emotion I rarely saw in him.

“You’re mine, Isabella,” he whispered. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you that you are never alone again. Not as long as I breathe.”

I smiled through my tears, brushing my hand along his jaw. “Then I’ll spend the rest of mine loving you.”

The silence that followed was heavy but sweet, the kind that only lovers shared. I curled against him, my head resting on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

And as sleep began to tug at me, I whispered the only words that mattered: “Thank you, Leo… for everything.”

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Aria’s POV

My hands trembled as I clutched the little white stick, the tiny window already showing the two bold pink lines I had prayed wouldn’t appear.

Positive.

I pressed my back against the cold tiled wall and slid down until I was sitting on the floor, the test clutched tight in my palm. My chest rose and fell quickly, shallow breaths fighting to escape the knot in my throat.

Three weeks. Three weeks since everything spiraled with the Russians, since Leo nearly died, since Isabella somehow managed to become the center of this family. And in all the chaos, I hadn’t noticed. I told myself the nausea was stress, the missed period just irregularity, the dizziness just exhaustion. But now? There was no denying it.

Pregnant.

A sob slipped past my lips, muffled quickly by my hand. Who would I even tell? Matteo? God, Matteo. What would he say? What would he do?

I glanced at the mirror across from me, catching sight of my pale reflection, the panic written across my face. I didn’t have the answers. The woman who was always composed, always elegant, always unshakable… was crumbling in the privacy of a bathroom.

My hand instinctively went to my flat stomach, the reality sinking in with every second that passed. It wasn’t just about me anymore. My entire life, my entire future, had just shifted with two tiny pink lines.

I closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath.

“I can’t… I can’t let anyone know yet,” I whispered to myself. Not Leo. Not Isabella. Not even Matteo—not until I figured out what this meant, what I even wanted.

But deep down, I knew the truth. This secret wouldn’t stay hidden forever. And when it came out, it would change everything.

I gripped the pregnancy test so tightly I thought it might snap in half. My steps down the hallway were hesitant, almost clumsy—so unlike me. I should have gone to my room, locked the door, and buried this secret. But I couldn’t breathe under the weight of it.

I needed someone. And the only person I could think of was her.

I stopped at Isabella’s door, my heart pounding harder with every passing second. I knocked lightly.

“Come in,” her voice called softly.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. She was sitting on the bed, brushing her hair, looking so peaceful compared to the storm raging inside me. The moment she saw my face, though, her brows furrowed.

“Aria?” she asked, putting the brush down. “What’s wrong?”

My throat tightened. I didn’t trust my voice, so I just held out the test. Her eyes flicked down to it, then widened instantly. She stood, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Aria… oh my God,” she whispered, rushing to me. “You’re… you’re pregnant?”

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, and I nodded, unable to form the word. She hugged me, and for a moment I let myself collapse into it.

When she pulled back, her expression was full of worry. “Is it Matteo?” she asked carefully, almost in a whisper.

The question stabbed me straight through the chest. I looked away, pressing the test to my stomach. “Who else would it be?” I whispered, voice breaking.

Isabella’s mouth parted in shock. She paced for a second, then turned back to me, her eyes wide with fear.

“Aria… Leo will kill you. He will kill Matteo too.” Her voice was trembling now, urgent. “You know how protective he is. You’re just nineteen. And Matteo—God, if Leo finds out…”

I shook my head quickly, wiping my tears. “I know. I know! That’s why no one can know. Not yet. Please, Isa, promise me you won’t tell him.”

She hesitated, biting her lip, torn between loyalty to me and fear of what Leo might do. Finally, she nodded, reaching for my hands.

“I promise. But Aria, you can’t keep this secret forever. He’ll find out eventually.”

Her words made my stomach twist. I knew she was right. But right now? I couldn’t even imagine that moment.

All I could do was hold onto her promise—and pray Leo never saw the truth in my eyes before I was ready.