Claire’s POV

Alessandro had said it all, no one could counter or decline his request. He was the one to marry, the one who had the final say on the choice of woman. Seeing how he defended me in the midst of everyone, my heart clenched in a vow.

“I’ll do anything—I mean anything to show the love I have for him.”

This was tested later on while we sat in his drawing room, his private room where we held further discussions to discuss our marriage. Our family was left behind in the living room.

Stretching forth his hand, he grabbed my palms, squeezing it gently while looking into my eyes. His love language. My lips spread wide in a blissful grin as a reaction.

“Would you get pregnant for me before we seal our union?”

The radiance on my face darkened. “Why?” I mean I wasn’t going to back down on my words but this was unethical. My mom had raised me never to get pregnant out of wedlock just as she wasn’t. Besides, as a top figure as he is, this would be a scandal.

What’s going on?

“Didn’t you promise to do anything for me?”

“Urghh?” I sat up straight. I can remember I never said that out loud. Seeing my nervous face, he gave a wry smile. “I could read your mind from your expression.”

My breath thickened. Goshhhh! I got no clue of him being able to do this. When I googled about him, he wasn’t said to study psychology.

“Relax baby.”

Baby?

My heart nearly slipped through my throat. I forced myself to stay calm. Falling back to rest on the chair, I smiled nervously. “I mean why do you want us to bear a child before marriage?” I asked in a low tone, calm and firm. Even though I promised, I couldn’t back down on my personal principles so easily.

“My greatest fear is marrying wrong, both on a personal basis and prior to my status. My greatest goal is to produce an heir as soon as possible.” Then he paused.

“Come closer!” He whispered to me, flipping his fingers in gesture. But there’s no one here. I obeyed. “It’s a top secret. My dad has terminal cancer, a brain tumor. Though his lifespan isn’t definitely predicted, he may not live as long as you think.”

I pulled away, covering my jaw-dropped mouth. I never liked his dad that much but this is devastating news. “I really want to produce an heir, a grandson for him before he passes on. That’s his greatest wish.”

I sat there for the next few minutes, neither able to talk or shift. When I could, I nodded.

“No problem, let’s have it.”

For once, I had to compromise. For him, for the man I loved most in the world. I could feel the pain of having to go through this, already he was being tormented by the loss of his mom, now it was his dad, the only one left as family.

Perhaps I’ll become his next family soon. My future child and I. I thought, rubbing my belly. And for once, his face glowed with a radiant smile.

Really wish this smile will never fade.

——————

One evening after work, Alessandro invited me to his apartment. I expected wine, soft music, a kiss, then we made the baby. It was obvious. Something in his voice, his eyes, made me believe. This is the night. I trusted him to be the best father in the world for my potential child and the best husband to me.

A child will even seal us and we will never part.

This thought ran across my head. I suddenly wanted this more than him. He’s so charming, a prize I had to grab by all means.

The penthouse suite was dimly lit with golden sconces. The scent of sandalwood filled the air. Alessandro poured two glasses of wine and offered one to me.

"To trust," he said, touching his glass to mine.

I barely sipped mine before he took it away and set it down. Then he came closer. So close that I felt his breath graze my cheek.

His lips met mine—firm, claiming. My hands clutched his shoulders as he deepened the kiss. When his hands cupped my waist, I melted into him.

"You’re beautiful," he whispered against my neck. I melted, grabbing him so tight and wanting to expose my entire body to him.

He jacked me up, taking me away. To his bedroom.

He undressed me slowly, reverently, like unwrapping something sacred. My dress slipped off my shoulders, pooling around my feet. I stood before him in nothing but silk and lace, heart pounding.

He kissed every inch of exposed skin. My collarbone. The valley between my breasts. My stomach.

Then, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bed.

His body was warm and solid as he pressed against me. His hands explored every part of me, drawing gasps and shivers from my lips. When he finally entered inside me, it was slow, careful—as though he wanted to memorize the way I felt around him. I was a virgin, tight as hell and moaning deeply. He was the first man to penetrate me.

We moved together, each thrust a promise, each moan a surrender. The room echoed with the sound of skin against skin, with breathless pleas and whispered names.

When we came undone together, I felt more than pleasure—I felt connection. A bond that will never break.

And I believed. I believed him. I saw a future together.

Weeks later, the test turned positive.

I was pregnant.

Alessandro jumped up with so much joy, jacking me up from the ground and twirling me around. He dropped me, gave me a deep kiss and lifted me into his arms when I told him, spinning me around the room, kissing my stomach as if the baby could already hear him. He took me for doctor’s appointments, bought baby clothes, and made sure I ate only the healthiest meals.

It was a boy.

Our boy.

The next goal. We couldn't wait for nine months, so we could officially seal our union as a couple with the birth of our baby.

———

NINE MONTHS LATER

I gave birth to the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. Alessandro was right there, eyes glistening, holding our son like he held the world.

"You’ve given me everything," he whispered to me that night at the hospital. "Now I’ll give you the world."

We decided to show our new bundle of joy off on the day our families were going to unite again to witness us sign the marriage certificate. This time we were a family. We would organize a real wedding after this. My heart was skipping with zillion drops of joy. Who could be happier than a mother of a newborn baby about to get married to the most charming man in the world?

No one.

The meeting was set in the afternoon. 3 PM. This time around, it wasn’t in the Walsons Estate but my family home. The Arcoles Mansion. For nine months, I hadn’t set foot on it. I’d always been maligned, maltreated and regarded as trash but my homecoming now was as the billionaire’s wife.

I could already imagine the faces Lilah and her mom would keep but that wouldn’t even matter to me.

The environs were cool and dim, aura, and gloomy. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been absent for a long time, everything just looked strange to me. Alessandro stopped the car at the entrance of the house, stepped down to open the back door for me. Since I was with my baby, I couldn’t sit in front. He took the baby from me, grabbing my waist as he led me inside. Our families were inside, already waiting for us.

The door opened wide, Eric and dad rushed out with smiles on their faces as they set eyes on the little bundle Alessandro held. My thoughts bounced back to what Alessandro told me. His dad’s greatest wish.

It was a bittersweet moment.

Dad hugged me. “Really grateful to you, Claire. Now I’m a granddad, if I’d ever be accused of not bringing any good to our family, at least you’ve brought in a male. The only one we have to take over our company after us.”

We hugged so tight, shedding tears. Alessandro and his dad watched. We remained this way for about ten minutes. No sight of Delilah and Lilah.

“Where are they?” I asked.

“Your stepmom and Lilah?” Dad replied, the tone changed. He always addressed them as my mom and sister to which I always protested. There must be an issue. I nodded, nevertheless, pulling out of the hug to see his face darkened.

“They aren’t in support of your marriage with Alessandro, only Eric and I.” Silence. “That’s why they are in and wouldn’t want to come out. Lilah wanted to be the one but she can’t.” He glared at the ground, seemingly lost in thoughts.

Boom! Boom!

There was the blast of the gun in the air all of a sudden, I fell to the ground in shock, panting, glancing all over the environs to see where it was coming from. Alessandro, who held out the baby, dropped it on my body, taking cover over me. His dad and mine froze in shock, looking towards the gate. I heard squirms from inside. Delilah and Lilah. They came rushing out.

Another gunshot in the air.

Men in black with guns in their hands jumped over the low fence, others banging through the gate. It wasn’t locked. Death and terror lurked over me. My baby started to cry. I, too.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you both. I’ll not let anything happen to you both.” Alessandro said amidst whispers, his voice cracking. His body spread over us, blocking us from the armed men. At some point, I abandoned my fears and began feeling for him.

“No! I don’t want you dead. How can I live without you? My baby will never get to know his father.”

I cried, deep within my soul.

Everything just happened within a twinkle of an eye. I couldn’t tell why they were here, who they were here for and why they were many, about eight. They kept advancing, my scream ringing loudest above Delilah and Lilah.

Everyone was scattered to different corners of the entrance in fright, except Alessandro who never left our front, blocking us.

Boom! Boom!!

This sound pierced across the walls of my ears to the layers of my body, sending the greatest vibration over me. Two bodies dropped to the ground with the loudest grunt, my voice rose highest. For a moment, I thought it was Alessandro and I being gunned down. My vision blurred and darkness took over.