Chapter FORTY-FIVE

It has been a few days since I found out I was pregnant. I have been avoiding my parents any time I see them in the house. I am excited to be pregnant, but I don't know if my parents will be happy about it. My dad might be a little angry that Stefano did not wait till marriage to have unprotected sex with me. It is actually not Stefano's fault. Once I got on the pill, Stefano stopped using condoms. The time we traveled to California because of the fire, I didn't take the pills with me, when we rushed to California. I barely took enough clothes with me. I am sure I must have missed a day during the whole trip. I also can't believe my baby survived the beating. I am sure at that point; my little angel hadn't even formed. I might have only been a few days pregnant. I am so happy I am pregnant, even though Stefano doesn't want to be with me anymore, I am still glad he is the father of my baby. I walk downstairs for dinner after the maid comes to tell me Santiago is here. I plan to tell my parents tonight; but I really need his support. He was a little angry Stefano wasn't being safe with our sex life, but once I told him I was the one who missed a day on the pill. He said it was God's will that it happened. He just used that as an excuse, so he would not make me feel bad for missing a day on the pill, which led to me getting myself knocked up. I am actually excited to be a mother, I told him he has nothing to worry about. I walk into the dining room, where everyone is seated. "Hello, Dad," I say, pecking his cheeks before I sit down beside him. "Hi, Mom." "How are you doing today, Princess? I heard you skipped work today because you were not feeling well. How are you feeling now?" I can't believe at twenty-three, my dad still calls me Princess. I am his only daughter, I guess I will always be a little girl to him. I was hoping he wouldn't ask me why I missed work until later into dinner, but it seems God has his own plans for me. "About that, there is something I need to tell you and Mom," I say, feeling nervous about breaking the news to them. I look at Santiago for support, and he nods his head as a way of telling me to go on. "What would you like to tell us, Dear," Mom says, putting her attention on me and Dad does the same. This only makes me more nervous; and I look at my fingers as I speak. "I am…" I find it a little hard to say the words. "You are what?" Dad asks, eager to find out what I want to say. "She is pregnant," Santiago says, and I feel a weight being lifted off my chest. I know mom will be happy for me, but I couldn't help to be nervous about how dad will take it. "Oh, my God, my baby girl is having a baby," Mom says, smiling and gestures for me to come closer. I walk over to her, and she pulls me into a hug. "My Princess is no longer a princess," Dad says, standing up. "What does that mean?" I ask, facing him after releasing mom from our hug. "It means my Little Princess is going to be a Queen and have her own little prince or princess," he says, tears of joy starting to well up in my eyes. "I am so happy, you are happy for me, Dad," I say, pulling him into a hug. "Why wouldn't I be happy for you, Dear? You are giving me my first grandchild," he says, hugging me back. "I know, but I thought you might be angry that Stefano knocked me up without marrying me first." "As long as you are happy, I am happy even though I would have preferred he married you first. I am still happy to have my first grandchild." "Thank you, Dad," I say, hugging him. I am always worried for nothing about dad and things related to Stefano. I know dad would have wanted me to have my first child in a happily married home. I am so happy he did not fuss about me being pregnant with Stefano and I not being together anymore. A week has gone by since I found out I am pregnant with Stefano's child. I have had series of emotions since I got the news. At first, I was excited and happy I was going to be a mother. When I remembered who the father of my baby was, I could not help but feel sad that my baby wasn't going to grow up in a home where both parents are together. I plan to tell Stefano about the baby this week because it's better I let him know early in case he wants to be in the baby's life. He left me; but I doubt he would do the same to his baby. The plane is about to land in Sicily; I felt it would be better to tell him in person than over the phone. He does not even pick up my calls, I had to come to Sicily to tell him. Aurora should be waiting for me at the airport already. I didn't tell her why I was coming to Sicily because I felt she also deserved to hear it in person. I can already imagine the joy on her face when I tell her. "So, what's the reason you are here?'" Aurora asks, curious to find out. We arrived at the Costanzo estate a few minutes ago. When she picked me up from the airport, I told her the reason I was here is best said at home. You can understand why she is asking immediately after my ass touched a couch in their living room. "I am pregnant," I say smiling. "You are what?" Aurora asks, smiling already, even though she is not sure she heard me well "I am pregnant," I repeat. "I heard you the first time. I just couldn't believe what I heard," she says, smiling, pulling me into a hug. "I can't believe I am going to be an aunt. I am so happy for you!" "Thank you," I say, smiling. "Have you told Stefano?" Aurora asks. "No, I haven't, please do not tell him. I want him to hear it from me." "Alright, I promise you, I won't." If I thought I was a nervous wreck while telling my parents I was pregnant, I don't know how to describe what I am now. I can't stop playing with my fingers as I wait for Stefano to get home. I tried seeing him at his office, but he refused to see me. I am sure he thinks I want to beg him to come back to me. If only he knew the reason, I needed to see him. With the help of Samuel, I was able to get into his penthouse here in Sicily. I have been waiting for him for the past thirty minutes; and I feel like I have been waiting for hours. I decided to walk around, and to see if everything is the way I remember it, to pass time. I start from the kitchen; it looks the same as the morning I first woke up here. I walk into his office; but there is really nothing interesting to see here. I take the stairs and walk into his room; I wish I never have to leave. His bed smells like him, I have missed his scent terribly. I lay down on the bed, taking in his scent, and it brings comfort to my heart. I feel a little tired, I decide to close my eyes and take a little nap. I wake up when I feel someone touching me. I can feel the person caressing my face and hair. Who is touching me? I quickly open my eyes, the person who has his hands in my hair, is someone I thought would ever touch me again. "Stefano," I say, wide-eyed to have caught him caressing my hair. I sit up in the bed and take in his appearance. He does not look good. He looks exhausted, I am not surprised. Aurora told me he has been working a lot these days and doesn't care about how it is affecting his body. "What are you doing here?" He says in a harsh tone after he quickly removes his hand from my hair, standing up from the bed he was sitting on beside me. "I need to talk to you." "Andrea, I do not have feelings for you anymore, there is nothing to talk about," he says, it hurts like the first time he said it. I thought if he rejected me this time, it would not faze me, but it does. The way he said it with no emotion on his face broke my heart all over again. "I am not here to talk about us." "I do not want to hear anything you have to say. Please, leave my house in the next two minutes. If not, I will have security throw you out." "Stefano, I think you will want to hear what I have to say. I suggest you sit down for it." "Didn't you hear me? I don't want to hear anything you say!" He says louder than before. "I think you will, I am pregnant." Stefano doesn't say anything, he just stares at me like I am an alien. The expression on his face changes from a scowl into surprise. "Really?" He asks, walking back to me by the bed and looks at my stomach before lifting his eyes back to mine. I nod my head, the smile that graces his face is the most beautiful and brightest smile I have ever seen on him. "I can't believe I am going to be a father," he says, lifting me off the bed, and spinning me around. I was a little worried he might not be happy I am pregnant since he doesn't love me. I was wrong again about how someone would react to the news about the baby. "Wait, I hope spinning you won't hurt the baby," He asks, holding me in midair. "No, it won't," I say, chuckling. "This is wonderful news mi Amore," he says, setting me on the floor. "What did you just say?" I ask, wide-eyed at what he called me. Did my ears work properly? Did Stefano just call me his love? Does that mean he wants to get back together with me because of the baby? I don't want that. If we ever get back together one day, it should be because he loves me, not because he wants our baby to grow up in a house with both parents. "I said this is wonderful news, Andrea," he says, denying what he said earlier. "That is not what you said." "That's what I said, how far along are you?" He asks changing the subject. I can't believe he is denying saying it, but what do I expect, for him to agree? He called me his love out of habit. I think it's better he denied it. "Seven weeks," I say, rubbing my flat stomach. "We will visit one of the best OB-GYNS here in Sicily before I arrange for your trip to another country." "My Trip to another country?" I ask, wondering what he is talking about. "Yes, you can't be in the US or Italy while you are pregnant." "Why?" "Because until I see Vladimir burned to ashes, no child of mine is safe to be here or in the US."