HIS SECRET BABY, HER DARK CONTRACT

NEW BEGINNING

EPISODE 8: NEW BEGINNINGS

One year after the wedding, and the Moretti estate finally felt like a home instead of a museum.

The cold marble floors that used to echo with just Luca's footsteps now had the constant patter of small feet. Toy cars were abandoned in hallways. Crayon drawings were taped to the fridge in the CEO's office. The staff had stopped flinching every time Milo yelled.

Elena Moretti, COO of Moretti Industries, walked into the 8am board meeting in sneakers and a blazer.

"Morning," she said, dropping her coffee and laptop on the table. "Let's make this quick. I have a 9am with the single mom foundation."

The CFO cleared his throat. "Mrs. Moretti, the board has concerns about the 10 million donation to shelters."

Elena looked up. "What concerns?"

"That it's... excessive. And not profitable."

Elena leaned back. "Profitable? We're helping women who were in my exact position 5 years ago. Sleeping in their cars with a kid. Working 3 jobs. You want ROI? The ROI is that those kids don't grow up hungry. Motion to approve."

Luca, at the head of the table, didn't even look up from his notes. "Motion passed."

After the meeting, he caught her in the hallway.

"COO Moretti," he said, voice low. "A word?"

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Is this about me telling Jenkins his idea was trash?"

"No." Luca opened the door to an empty conference room and pulled her inside. "This is about you being the sexiest woman in this building when you're angry."

Elena laughed and pushed him. "Luca, we're at work."

"And you're my wife." He backed her against the table. Hands on her hips. "I missed you. It's only been 3 hours."

"You're ridiculous." But she was smiling.

"I'm in love." He kissed her neck. "There's a difference."

The door opened.

"Dad? Mom? Can we—" Milo stopped. "Oh. You're kissing at work again."

Both of them jumped apart like teenagers.

Luca cleared his throat. "Yes. We are. What is it, buddy?"

Milo grinned. "Can we get ice cream? Rose wants some too."

Elena looked down. Rose, 1 year old, was holding onto Milo's leg and babbling.

"Absolutely," Elena said, still flustered. "Let's go."

In the car, Luca reached over and took Elena's hand. "Sorry. I got carried away."

"Don't be." Elena laced their fingers. "I like that you still look at me like that. After everything."

"After a lifetime," Luca said. "I look at you like you're the only person in the world. Because you are."

Rose babbled from the car seat. Milo was singing along to the radio.

This was their life now. Messy. Loud. Real.

---

That night, after both kids were asleep, Elena found Luca in his office.

He was just sitting there. Staring out at the city lights. Tie off. Sleeves rolled up.

"You okay?" she asked, sitting on the arm of his chair.

Luca pulled her onto his lap. "Yeah. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"About how different everything is." He buried his face in her neck. "One year ago we were signing a contract. Now I have this. You. Them." He gestured to the baby monitor on his desk. "I keep waiting for someone to take it away."

Elena turned and straddled him. "No one's taking anything. We're a family, Luca."

"I know." He kissed her. Slow. Deep. "I just... I love you so much it scares me."

Elena smiled against his lips. "Good. Because I love you too."

The kiss deepened. Hands wandering. Jacket off. Shirt unbuttoned.

On the couch in his office. Like they were young and stupid and had nothing to lose.

But this time they had everything to lose. And everything to gain.

After, lying tangled together under his suit jacket, Elena traced patterns on his chest.

"I have something to tell you," she said quietly.

Luca's heart stopped. "What?"

"I'm pregnant."

The room went silent.

Luca sat up. "What did you say?"

Elena laughed nervously. "I'm pregnant. Two weeks late. I took a test today. Two lines."

Luca stared at her. Then at her stomach. Then back at her face.

"A baby," he whispered.

"Yeah."

"Our baby."

"Yeah."

Luca started laughing. And crying. At the same time. "Elena—"

"Are you happy?" she asked, suddenly scared.

Luca pulled her to him so hard she couldn't breathe. "Happy? I'm terrified. And happy. And I love you. And I love them. And I—" He cut himself off with a kiss.

They stayed up all night talking. Names. Nurseries. How Milo would react.

At 5am, Elena fell asleep on his chest.

Luca didn't sleep. He just watched her. And the city. And thought: this is what winning feels like.

---

The next morning, they told Milo at breakfast.

Pancakes. Again. Luca was officially the pancake dad now.

"So," Elena started. "Mommy and Daddy have news."

Milo looked up, mouth full of syrup. "What?"

"You're gonna be a big brother."

Milo froze. Then his eyes went wide. "REALLY??"

"Really," Luca said, grinning.

Milo dropped his fork and screamed. Then he ran around the table. "I'M GONNA BE A BIG BROTHER! I'M GONNA TEACH THEM HOW TO FIGHT AND BUILD FORTS AND EAT CANDY!"

Rose clapped from her high chair.

Luca picked Milo up and spun him. "You're gonna be the best big brother in the world."

That evening, the news hit the press.

#MorettiBaby2 was trending within an hour.

"CEO LUCA MORETTI AND WIFE EXPECTING SECOND CHILD"

"SOURCE: COUPLE THRILLED"

Victoria sent a text: "Congratulations."

Then blocked them.

Elena's pregnancy was surprisingly easy.

Luca was at every appointment.

He rubbed her feet every night.

He learned how to make the weird food combinations she craved.

At 6 months, they found out it was a girl.

Luca cried. Again.

"Another girl," he said. "I have two girls to protect now."

Elena laughed. "And one boy."

"Three people to protect," Luca corrected. "And one wife to spoil."

The nursery was next to Milo's room.

Luca painted it himself. Light pink.

It was terrible. Elena loved it.

At 8 months, Elena started slowing down.

The board tried to push her to take leave.

Luca shut it down. "My wife works as long as she wants. And she wants to work."

The day before her due date, Elena was still in the office.

"Go home," Luca said.

"I will. After this report."

Luca picked her up. Literally. "Report can wait. Baby can't."

They made it home just in time.

Because at 2am, Elena's water broke.

Luca was out of bed and driving before Elena could say "hospital."

Milo was awake and in the backseat in 30 seconds. "IS THE BABY COMING??"

"Yes buddy," Luca said, gripping the wheel. "Hold your mom's hand."

Elena was breathing through contractions. Squeezing Milo's hand. "I'm okay. I'm okay."

They made it to the hospital in 12 minutes. A record.

The doctors moved fast.

Luca didn't let go of her hand once.

Milo sat in the waiting room with Mrs. Hale, drawing pictures for "the baby."

3 hours later.

A scream. Then a cry.

A baby girl. Loud. Healthy. 7lbs 4oz.

"She's perfect," the nurse said, placing her on Elena's chest.

Luca was crying. Openly. "Hey," he whispered to the baby. "Hey baby girl. I'm your daddy."

Elena was exhausted but smiling. "Let me see her."

They named her Rose. After Elena.

Milo was allowed in 10 minutes later. He stared at his baby sister like she was made of stars.

"She's mine," he declared. "I'm gonna protect her from everything."

Luca put an arm around him. "Deal. You and me. We protect the girls."

---

Two years later.

The Moretti house was chaos. And it was perfect.

Rose was 2. Running around with pigtails and Luca's stubbornness.

Milo was 7. Bossy and protective and the best big brother.

Elena was back at work as COO. Bringing Rose to meetings sometimes.

The board had given up complaining.

Luca was CEO again. But he left at 5pm every day.

No more midnight emails.

No more missing bedtime.

Saturday morning. Kitchen.

Luca was making pancakes.

Elena was drinking coffee, barefoot.

Milo was building a Lego tower.

Rose was "helping" by eating batter.

"Remember when this kitchen was silent?" Elena asked.

Luca flipped a pancake. "I hated the silence."

"Me too."

Luca came and kissed her. Syrup on his lips. "I love you, Mrs. Moretti."

"I love you, Mr. Moretti."

Milo: "Are you kissing again?"

Rose: "Kiss! Kiss!"

Both parents laughed and kissed over their kids' heads.

Later that day, Luca took Elena to their spot. The beach from their honeymoon.

No kids. Just them.

"I have something for you," Luca said.

He handed her a folder.

"What is this?"

"50% of Moretti Industries." Luca shrugged like it was nothing. "It's yours. Not because of a contract. Because you're my wife. My partner. The reason this company does good now."

Elena stared. "Luca, I can't accept—"

"You can." He took her hand. "You saved me. You saved us. This is yours."

Elena cried. "I don't want your money."

"You have me." He wiped her tears. "And you deserve everything else too."

That night, back home, they put the kids to bed.

Two kids now. Two bedrooms full of toys and drawings.

Elena and Luca sat on their balcony. Wine. Stars. City lights.

"What are you thinking about?" Luca asked.

"About 5 years ago," Elena said. "When I ran."

Luca tensed. "Don't."

"I have to." She turned to him. "I'm glad I ran. Because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have fought to come back. And if I hadn't come back, we wouldn't have this."

Luca took her hand. Kissed it. "No more running."

"No more," Elena agreed.

Below them, the world kept moving.

Above them, the stars.

Inside, two kids were asleep.

And in the middle of it all, a man and a woman who chose each other. Every single day.

Not because of a contract.

Because of love.

[END OF EPISODE 8]

#StrayWritingMarathon #ContractMarriage #BillionaireRomance #Episode8 #Pregnancy #Family #CEOxNanny #SecondChance #RomanceNovel #BookTok #MorettiSeries #HappilyEverAfter