CHAPTER 66
MANUEL’S POV
“Manuel, I’m carrying your child.” She said.
I blinked for a couple of seconds, unsure of how I was actually feeling at that moment. The fact that she had neither stuttered, nor blinked her eyes in fear, was more than enough to let me know all was not well.
“That has got to be a sick joke!” I yelled, not able to help the negative way I felt about her words. How was that even possible??! ‘How isn’t it possible’? Oh God! This was definitely not the right time for my subconscious to act smart.
“You sure know that I wouldn’t come all the way, just to tell a lie and leave.” She shrugged, that annoying smile spreading over her face once more. Right then, all I could think of was Bianca, and my hand reflexly tightened around hers. Oh God. What the hell had I gotten myself into? When Bianca squeezed my hand in support seconds later, I feared my knees would give out in relief. Thank goodness! She definitely didn’t believe this crap that Francesca was speaking. “Why do you even sound confused? We both had sex, not right?”
“Point of correction, you drugged me!” I cut sharply. “You drugged me, then did whatever you did with my unconscious body. I blame myself for thinking you would have wholeheartedly given me leads on my wife’s attacker, if you had it.”
“Well, I’m sorry honey. But then again, you did.” She grinned, not a single trace of amusement in her eyes. “Unconscious or not, we both had sex and you are now responsible for this pregnancy.”
“I refuse to believe tha…”
“Is that how much you hate me, Manuel?!” She suddenly yelled out, catching me off guard. I looked around to see the expression of my family, and they all looked confused. All of them, except Bianca. She looked unfazed as she just calmly stared at Francesca, probably forcing herself to believe that this wasn’t happening. Even I, couldn’t believe it was. Why did this always have to happen to me? Why could I never just know complete happiness? It was always one trouble or another. True! The life of a mafian was one with a lot of troubles, but all I was asking was for an opportunity to love my wife in peace. To love her like she deserved. To love her like I wanted to. We were already getting there recently, until now. I am expecting another child, which means more baggage for Bianca to carry and tolerate.
She had tolerated being forced to marry me, despite being in a relationship with Anthonio. We scaled through that phase because all along, we’ve truly just loved each other. She tolerated being the target of a blood thirsty enemy, and we are still trying to sort that out. Now, she has to tolerate her husband having a child outside their marriage? This was a whole lot.
“Oh wow.” Francesca muttered, trying to get me to look her in the eye. “You can’t even say anything.” She whispered, before leaning forward to grab my chin with her hand. It happened like flash because the minute her hand was reaching up for my chin, Bianca’s was swatting it away angrily.
“Now, I would look past a whole lot of inappropriate behaviors from you. But you know what I wouldn’t over look?” She asked rhetorically. “You thinking that for some stupid reason, you have the right to put your hands on what’s mine!” She growled, making Francesca visibly flinch. “Of course! You should cower like that when I talk.” She smirked. “Now get out of my premises, before I finally lose it.”
“How dare you?! After seducing my fiance and getting pregnant with his child, you finally have his last name, thinking you have the right to send me out of his house?”
“Now, I love the statement you made.” Mom sighed. “She carries his last name now. And the moment she married him, she automatically became the lady of this mansion! In order not to further infuriate her or any other member of this family more than you have already done, make your way out of our premises immediately!”
“Francesca, please leave.” I said. Just then, I noticed Massimo at a corner, close to the entrance of the living room. When did he arrive? The way he looked, it was clear he heard everything that had taken place a moment ago. Why did the look on his face feel familiar? That was the same expression he had on, when he and Bianca had walked in on me allegedly cheating with Francesca. I wouldn’t totally say ‘hurt’. It looked like a combination of hurt and disappointment to me. Wait a minute….. oh God. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be having these kinds of thoughts in such a critical moment, but you can’t blame me. The signs are becoming to glaring for me to ignore. Was Massimo falling in love with my wife?! What the hell?! That could be the only explanation as to why these things that were supposed to bother Bianca, bothered him as well.
What was he thinking? That he would suddenly rescue my wife from the bad marriage she had found herself in?
“Massimo.” Bianca called out to him the moment she noticed his presence.
“Miss B.” He responded, tears clouding his eyes. That was when I lost it. What the fuck was going on here? The next thing I knew, I was charging towards him like a mad dog and throwing hard punches over his face. I kept hitting him and hitting him, but he didn’t move a muscle in retaliation.
“Oh my God!!” Bianca cried out in shock. “Manuel! Stop! Stop it this instant!” She yelled, making her way towards us. My father and brothers had gotten to me before her, successfully preventing me from causing more harm to Massimo.
“Stand up and fight me, you prick!!” I yelled out in anger. “Since you suddenly thirst for my wife, you should as well be ready to best me!”
“What are you talking about?” Bianca rushed to me and hugged me tightly. “Stop it now.” She whispered against my chest, making my rapidly beating heart regulate slowly.
“I’m so sure my wife would never give off the wrong signals to you or any other man. So why in God’s name, did you start to hunger for what’s mine?! I fucking trusted you! Enough to protect her!”
“Manuel please stop all these!” My Dad thundered, and I released a deep sigh.
“So this was the reason you have been eagerly protecting her?! Not because of loyalty, but because of your lust for her?” I asked, but he couldn’t even look up at me. With shaky legs and a bleeding nose, he rose from the floor, so much tears still in his eyes. I knew he wasn’t gonna let any tear drop down his cheeks, he wouldn’t go that soft now. I guess what pained me the most, was the fact that he wasn’t even saying any word in response. He just remained mute.
“Take the Ferrari lady and leave this instant!” I barked out my order. “And don’t ever show your face here until you hear from me again. Get out.”
Calmly, he walked towards Francesca who was pretty much in tears already. She probably couldn’t believe I had gone berserk out of jealousy over my wife. She had to come to terms with the fact that nothing I shared with her, held as much passion as what Bianca and I share.
“My apologies ma’am, but it would be great if you made things easier for us both, by letting me simply escort you out.”
Without glancing him at him, she silently walked out of our living room, with him following behind. Good riddance.
“I cannot believe all that happened within the last five minutes. Chaotic.” Matteo muttered and Tommaso chuckled. That was my problem with Tommaso. He didn’t know when one was serious. What was funny about anything that just took place? I threw him a glare and he visibly shivered.
“Sorry.” He muttered. I thought as much.
“Chaotic indeed!” Mom yelled in exasperation. “This is not a matter to be treated trivially. We all need to talk.” She said. “As a family.” She added after a few seconds. “That is when Bianca feels much better, of course.” She waved towards Bianca who seemed to be lost in a world of her own. It seemed like my mother’s statement and the searching eyes of everyone, had made her snap out of her thoughts.
“Yes…. mom.” She gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “We would talk when we return from visiting Bella and Alex later in the day. For now, we should make our way out to the hospital. That was the initial plan, and it still seems great.”
“Fine then. We would do as you wish.” Dad said. “Let’s leave already guys.” He announced and we all moved out of the house in a single file.
On our way to the hospital, a lot of thoughts roamed through my mind. I still couldn’t believe that Massimo was capable of betraying my trust that way. Were all the women in this world not enough for him to fancy? Why did it have to be my wife? It truly pained me because so far, Massimo had become more than just ‘one of my men’, to me. The fact that even now, I didn’t trust Bianca with any other person as much as I trusted Massimo, was a great problem. Now I had to look for someone else who would protect Bianca like it was his life’s duty.
Throughout our ride, I also realized Bianca seemed to be in a world of her own, and wasn’t really speaking to me. I was more hurt when I tried to hold her and she reflexly pulled away from my touch.
Tommaso and Greta had joined us in our car, making her actions towards me very embarrassing.
“Sorry.” She muttered to me, trying to salvage the situation, but it was already too late. The deed had been done. I simply nodded in understanding, as there was nothing else I could do.
When we got to the hospital, Alexander’s family were there already. They suprisingly looked bright and genuinely worried about Bella’s health. I guess that was as a result of the attack on her yesterday. It must have given them a scare. We all got busy having random discussions and admiring their baby, that no one remembered to inform them of the incident that had just occured before we came to see them. Or maybe, they didn’t forget. They just didn’t feel like speaking on it. Me too. To be very honest, Alexander and his wife had a lot on their plates already. There was no point adding to it. I could always speak to Alexander about it when Bella and the baby have been discharged from the hospital.
We literally spent the entire day at the hospital, before finally making our way back home. The moment we stepped into the mansion, I went straight to my study and Bianca went to the room.
There was this heart ache that came with her silence, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to take it if I stayed in the same space as her tonight. Bianca provoked feelings in me that I wasn’t used to, and now it left me feeling so vulnerable. I knew I was getting weaker by the day, but it wasn’t a feeling I really wanted to shy away from. Before we left Sicily, Nonno had told me that the best love stories held a lot of heartaches. But then, mine hurt a little too bad. Maybe I felt so sad because I expected Bianca to understand that none of what occured today was really my fault. But then again, she had every right to feel bad. I wouldn’t try to steal that away from her. She was hurt too. Who knew that my unconscious intimacy with Francesca was going to lead to this? If indeed she was pregnant, then I truly have no other choice than to take responsibility for it. I would never abandon any child that came from my loins. But then again, I hoped Bianca’s response would be positive as well. On the long run, her wish would be my command.
*
*
I didn’t realize how long I had stayed in my study. When I stood up to leave, it was already 11pm in the night. At least, I wouldn’t meet her awake if I walked into our room now. It was better that way, because I couldn’t take her silence.
I walked up the stairs and when I got to my room, I gently pulled open the door in order to not wake her up. I walked inside and closed the door, only to turn and see her sitting in the middle of the bed and staring at me. I would have jumped in shock, if not for the fact that her stare was kinda warm? There was this softness in her eyes that made my insides melt away.
“You’re back.” She muttered. Why did she sound slightly offended. I left the room because…
“I’m sorry.” I found myself saying, but she shocked me further my shaking her head in negation.
“No, Manuel.” She whispered, before gently hopping off the bed and making her way to me. “I am sorry.” She sighed. “For acting like a bitch.”
“Don’t say tha…”
“I shouldn’t have pulled away when you tried to touch me earlier today.” She said, cutting me off. “And, I shouldn’t have just remained silent in anger, knowing that none of what happened was your fault. But I just couldn’t help it. I don’t want to share you with anyone else.” She choked out, tears in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them back. I felt my heart constrict with my chest. God, I loved this woman. I didn’t even think it through before pulling her closer for a kiss. It was gentle at first as I nibbled against her lower lip but soon, we were roughly eating each other’s faces. Before I knew it she was tugging against my shirt, and that was when I pulled away. It took all the restraint within me, but I had to. I couldn’t go on, after remembering what the doctor had told us. We shouldn’t be intimate for a while.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered against her face, our hot breathe fanning against each other’s faces.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
“Why?” She whispered, desire still evident in her eyes.
“Doctor…. he…”
“Oh.” She whispered in realization. A few seconds later, a silly grin spread through her face and before I could ask what was going through that silly head of hers, she was pushing me towards the bed. I landed on my buttocks, and she was quick to go on her knees and reach for my belt.
For a moment, I was worried she was gonna hurt herself in that position, but the smile on her face told me otherwise.
“But babe…” I called out weakly, the temptation within becoming too great for me to handle. “We… we can’t.”
“Who said we would?” She asked, successfully unbuckling my belts and zipping down my trousers. I was such a weakling for lifting my waist to enable her pull off my trousers much easily, but I just couldn’t help it.
“Then why…?”
“Shhhh…” She put her index finger against her lips, and gave a seductive smile. After that, her hand found its way into my boxers and she pulled my hard cock out. “Just let me please you.” She whispered, her pupils dilating as desire filled her eyes. “At least, you deserve that much after the stress you’ve been put through today.” The silly grin remained on her face and the next minute, she bent her head and took my cock straight into her warm mouth. I thought I was going to pass out from the excitement that rushed through my body in that moment.