Dante woke early the next morning, his body still tense from the events of the previous night. He had spent hours wrestling with guilt, reliving that moment with Liliana, and questioning how he had allowed himself to slip so close to the edge.
Amelia, still nestled in the bed, stirred as he quietly dressed. She opened her eyes, catching his troubled expression.
"You're up early," she said softly, sitting up.
"Lots to handle at work," he replied, avoiding her gaze.
Amelia frowned, sensing something was off. "Dante, you've been distant. Is everything okay?"
He froze for a moment, then forced a smile. "I'm fine. Really. I just need to focus on the business right now."
But his words didn't reassure her. The coldness in his tone was uncharacteristic, and it left a lingering unease in her chest.
Later that day, Amelia couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Dante had always been reserved, but this was different. He seemed preoccupied, almost guilty.
She confided in Eva while they prepared dinner. "He's hiding something," Amelia said, her voice low. "I can feel it."
Eva hesitated, wiping her hands on her apron. "Mr. Moretti loves you, Mrs. Moretti. Maybe he's just under pressure. Business can be… complicated."
Amelia nodded but didn't feel convinced. She decided to pay closer attention to Dante's behavior, determined to uncover what was troubling him.
At the office, Dante called Luca into his private study. He leaned against his desk, arms crossed, as Luca closed the door behind him.
"Liliana," Dante began, his voice firm, "is no longer part of our business dealings."
Luca raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing I want to discuss," Dante snapped. "Just make sure she's removed from our operations. No meetings, no contracts, nothing."
Luca studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Consider it done."
As Luca left, Dante exhaled heavily. He was determined not to let last night's mistake define him. But how could he face Amelia knowing how close he had come to betraying her trust?
That evening, as Dante worked late in his study, Amelia decided to bring him coffee. She knocked softly before entering, only to find him staring blankly at a document.
"Dante?" she called gently, placing the cup on his desk.
He looked up, startled. "Amelia. You didn't have to... "
"I wanted to," she interrupted, sitting across from him. "Dante, what's going on with you? You're not yourself."
He leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "It's just business, Amelia. There's a lot happening right now."
She folded her arms, her gaze unwavering. "You keep saying that, but it feels like more than just work. I'm your wife, Dante. Whatever it is, you can tell me."
For a moment, he considered confessing everything, but the fear of losing her stopped him. Instead, he reached for her hand, holding it tightly.
"I don't deserve you," he murmured.
Amelia's heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. "You're a good man, Dante. I know you are. But whatever you're carrying, you don't have to do it alone."
He nodded but remained silent, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him.
That night, as they lay in bed, Amelia couldn't sleep. She stared at the ceiling, wondering what Dante wasn't telling her.
Beside her, Dante wrestled with his own thoughts, replaying Liliana's seduction and his near-failure. He turned to look at Amelia, her serene face glowing in the moonlight.
"I won't fail you," he whispered, more to himself than to her.
The words were a promise to her, to their marriage, and to the man he wanted to be.
********************
Weeks passed, and the tension between Dante and Amelia seemed to settle, though the air was still thick with unspoken words. Business was booming for Dante, his empire expanding in ways he had never imagined. But despite the success, there was an unease that lingered beneath the surface one that even his triumphs couldn't shake.
Liliana, ever persistent, continued her visits to Dante's office, her presence always calculated, her eyes glinting with a dangerous mixture of desire and ambition. Amelia had noticed it more and more. She was beginning to feel the weight of Liliana's unspoken intentions, and though Dante seemed to push her away, the lines between business and personal had started to blur once again.
One evening, as Amelia sat at the dining table, she absentmindedly sipped her tea, her mind wandering. Her hand unconsciously rested on her stomach as she reflected on the past few weeks.
Dante had been more attentive recently, and though she sensed a strain in his demeanor, they had shared intimate moments that helped keep the bond between them intact. But tonight, something felt different. She felt a flutter in her chest, a gentle stir that hadn't been there before.
She placed her cup down and excused herself to the bathroom. Her breath caught as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Something was changing. Her body, which had always been slender, now felt fuller, softer. Her skin had a glow to it that hadn't been there before.
Could it be?
She hesitated for a moment, then stepped over to the cabinet, retrieving a pregnancy test she had kept hidden for weeks, just in case. The moment of truth. She closed her eyes, offering a silent prayer. When she opened them again, she saw the results.
Pregnant.
Her heart skipped a beat. She was going to have a baby. Dante's child.
As Amelia stood there, staring at the test in disbelief, her thoughts raced. She had never been sure of this moment, never imagined how it would feel. It was excitement, fear, and joy all tangled together.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had always wanted a family, but she had never expected it like this under these circumstances, with the weight of Dante's world pressing down on her.
Just then, she heard Dante's voice in the hallway. He was home.
She quickly composed herself and made her way downstairs. Dante was standing in the doorway, his face shadowed with exhaustion. She smiled at him, trying to hide her excitement, but he could tell something was different.
"You okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning her face.
Amelia nodded, still unsure how to bring up the news. "I'm fine. Just… thinking about things."
Dante studied her for a moment, then walked over and wrapped his arms around her. The warmth of his embrace was comforting, but it also made her heart race.
"Tell me what's on your mind," he murmured.
Amelia bit her lip, debating whether to share her secret or wait for the right moment. But then she felt the urge to tell him. This was the moment.
"I....." She paused, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm pregnant, Dante."
The words hung in the air between them, and for a brief moment, everything went silent. Dante froze. His eyes searched hers, a mixture of disbelief and hope crossing his face.
"You're… sure?" he asked, his voice almost cracking.
Amelia smiled, the tears welling in her eyes. "Yes. I'm sure."
Dante let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He stepped back slightly, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. His face softened, and then he did something he hadn't done in years he allowed himself to smile.
"Amelia," he whispered, taking her hand in his, "this is… this is everything I've ever wanted."
She could see the joy in his eyes, but there was still a hint of something else something he couldn't quite place. The pressure of everything, the weight of his empire, the uncertainty of the world around them, was still there. But in that moment, nothing else mattered.
The next day, while Dante was busy with work, Amelia couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Liliana's presence in his life, despite her efforts to stay out of it, was like a shadow she couldn't escape.
She had been more persistent lately, showing up at Dante's office, lingering longer than necessary. Amelia knew she had to confront the situation head-on.
She decided to pay a visit to Dante's office that afternoon, determined to get answers.
When she arrived, she was greeted by Dante's secretary, who informed her that Dante and Liliana were in a meeting. Amelia felt a pang of jealousy and discomfort but pushed it aside.
As she entered the office, she found Dante and Liliana seated across from each other, discussing business. Liliana looked up as Amelia walked in, flashing a smile that Amelia found almost too perfect.
"Well, well," Liliana said, her tone dripping with mock sweetness. "The wife."
Amelia's gaze hardened, but she didn't speak. Instead, she turned her attention to Dante, who stood up quickly when he saw her.
"Amelia, what's wrong?" Dante asked, his voice filled with concern.
Amelia smiled, though the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "I just wanted to check in. You've been so busy lately."
Dante nodded, but his eyes flickered to Liliana, who was still watching Amelia with that unsettling smile.
"I'll leave you two to talk," Liliana said, her voice laced with an undertone of challenge. "I have a few things to attend to."
As Liliana left the room, Amelia turned to Dante, her eyes filled with questions.
"I don't like this," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I don't like the way she's always around."
Dante looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Amelia, we're just doing business. Nothing more." or are you jealous?
Amelia smiled but Amelia wasn't convinced. She could feel the tension building, the lines between business and personal becoming more blurred with each passing day. She had her secrets too, but right now, she needed to focus on the life growing inside her.
She was carrying Dante's child, and everything else had to fall into place starting with protecting the family they were building