Chapter 125
“Baby? Are you in there?”
Arielle heard Luciano’s voice outside the restroom but she stood rooted on the spot where she is staring at the stick she held in her hands, she was pregnant, it was unbelievable, she never thought she would be pregnant and had just taken the test because her period was excessively late, normally, it was always late but this time it was late by three weeks and she had to do the test so she had gone to the pharmacy to get the kit, she never thought it would be positive but the stick in her hand told a different story, she was pregnant, she was going to be a mom, they are going to be parents.
It’s been over three days since they made up and the past three days saw them getting closer to each other and being all over each other, he only left to work because he had to but he made sure to come back early, they were still using the penthouse because it was closer to his office and to be honest, she liked it here better than at the mansion but she knew they would move back to the mansion soon. Her eyes went back to the stick she held and she glared at the thin second line that indicated that she was carrying. It felt surreal and she just couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that she will be a mom in the next nine months. She didn’t even know what to feel, they never had any kids talk and they just got back together, what if he wasn’t ready to have a kid just yet, what would she do? Children should be discussed between couples to know where both stood, in their case, they hadn’t even been trying for a baby, of course, she was ready but the fact that she was doesn’t mean he is.
“Arielle?”
Luciano called again and she finally got herself together, threw the stick in the waste bin, and flushed the toilet, she looked around, making sure there was no trace of what she did before she washed her hands and she rushed out of the restroom and waved at him, he was sitting on the bed, he smiled when he saw her but something felt off about his smile.
“You were in there and you didn’t think of answering?”
he asked. She walked to him and hugged him.
“I thought you knew that’s why you are seated here waiting for me to come out,”
She said as she kissed his hair.
“I did but it would have been nice if you had answered, I missed you so much today,”
He replied, pulling her to his lap, he claimed her lips in a welcoming kiss and she wrapped her arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his lips on her while her head ran through whether she should tell him now or wait till all the issues on grand are resolved.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
“Are you okay?”
He asked when they pulled apart.
“I am, why did you ask?”
She asked, wondering if her anxiety over the sudden pregnancy news was showing. She did her best to hide it.
“It feels like you have something going on, you were not into the kiss and you look troubled right now, did something happen while I was away?”
He inquired. She wanted to tell him the truth but she wasn’t ready just yet and needed more time to come to terms with it first before dumping the news on him.
“I am good Luciano, you shouldn’t worry about me,”
She assured him and did her best to cheer up and ignore the battle going on in her head.
“If anything is bothering you, you know you can tell me, right? We are a team and should always look out for each other.”
He continued.
“Mr. lover boy, I told you, I am okay, if I am not, you know I will tell you, you said you missed me today, are you going to spend the time we have together worrying about me?”
Arielle scolded. He finally gave up and this time it was his turn to frown.
“Okay, now you are frowning, did something happen at the office? You can tell me, I am very good at listening,”
She said to him while stroking his cheek.
“Yeah, not at the office but I need to do something and it is killing me just thinking about it,”
He grimaced, his mood getting even worse.
“Hey, you can talk to me, I am here for you,”
Arielle told him and hugged him.
“I know and I am grateful to have you with me,”
“Good, now tell me what’s making my big bad baby mafia sad,”
She encouraged, lifting his face up so that he was looking at her.
“I have to plan my grandfather’s funeral, it has been over a month since he died and I want to lay him to rest already,”
He informed her. No wonder he was sad, anyone would be sad when it comes to laying someone they hold dear to eternal rest. Now wasn’t really the time to tell him about the baby. Arielle decided she would tell him once the whole thing is over. He had a lot to deal with now and a baby news in the mix would be too overwhelming for him.
“But I thought he doesn’t have to be buried until the investigations are done?”
Arielle inquired. She really thought since he was murdered then he can’t be buried until they find his murderer.
“Not really, they collected his DNA sample already, whatever happens, they will work with them, there is no reason to keep him in the morgue so I decided to arrange for his funeral, I really don’t want to keep him there longer, I told my uncle and he agreed too.”
He disclosed. He looked so sad and broken, and Arielle realized he never got the chance to even mourn, she hugged him closer and he wrapped his hands around her waist, she patted his back softly, and she heard him sniff trying to hold back his tears.
“I hate that I have to say goodbye to him, maybe that’s why I have been pushing it back but I can’t keep doing it, he needs to be laid to rest,”
He lamented bitterly, she understood his pain even though she has never lost someone close to her to death, it was even more cruel knowing that he was killed by someone he had trusted and let into his home.
“Everything you are feeling right now is valid, Luciano, you have the right to feel hurt and hateful towards the world and everyone who had a hand in this, if holding on will keep you going, you are allowed to hold on for as long as you want,”
She assured him. She didn’t like seeing him put so much pressure on himself to try and let go.
“I have to let go, Arielle, I can’t keep him there, that’s not what he would have wanted for himself,”
He let out. He was still trying to hold back the tears and she didn’t want that for him, holding back will only make it more painful, and keeping it all in was worse. It was better to cry it out.
“Hey, it is okay, you can cry it out, it is bad if you keep it all in,”
She encouraged him, lifting his face so that she was staring into his eyes.
“You don’t have to be strong in front of me Luciano, I know it hurts so you can let it all out,”
She whispered to him and watched him break down in tears, she hugged him closer again, gently patting his back and letting him cry it all out, after which she helped get a bath and they laid in each other’s arms. She felt happy that he trusted her enough to share his vulnerable moments with her and she fell in love with him even more.
Arielle watched him sleep, he looked troubled even in his sleep, she knew it would take long for him to get over what happened to his grandfather because he truly cared for the man, she hated that Lily stole what they had and wished the older woman gets her karma soon. She damaged the Siegel family so badly and infested them with a loss that they might not be able to overcome anytime soon yet the deranged woman was still trying to do more, Arielle wiped the drop of tears that fell off Luciano’s eyes, a strong man like him crying in his sleep, fuck that old ugly woman for what she did, if only Arielle could make her pay for what she did.
“Karma will definitely get you soon Lily, it won’t be long now,”
Arielle whispered and kissed Luciano’s forehead. She pulled him closer to herself and closed her eyes to sleep, praying that tomorrow would be kind to them.