Page 110 of Secret Baby for my Off-Limits Fiancé
But she also deprived me of getting to see my son grow up for the first two years of his life. And that fucking hurts.
Was she ever going to tell me?
It doesn’t matter. Not now. What matters now is Vincent.
I exhale slowly, rubbing a hand over my jaw.
Giana offers a small, sad smile. “I know she hurt you, and I know she was trying to find a way to tell you, but you need to let her explain. For Vincent. For yourself, if you won’t do it for her.”
I finish the rest of my coffee in silence, mulling over everything she’s said.
***
On the fourth day, I leave the hospital to shower and change.
The moment I step inside my apartment building, Dante scans me like I’m a ticking time bomb.
He isn’t wrong.
"You look like you need a drink." He hands me a water bottle instead as we take the elevator up to my place.
I down it in one go before going inside and collapsing onto the couch, rubbing a hand over my face.
There’s no point in withholding the truth any longer.
“Vincent is my son.”
“What the fuck, man? Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I didn’t know. She just told me when he got sick."
"Damn." He hesitates before speaking again. "Do you… believe her?"
My entire body goes rigid.
"Vincent is my son." My voice is firm, unshakable. "That’s not up for debate."
Dante raises his hands. “Alright, alright. Just asking.”
I don’t say anything else. Because the conversation is over.
There’s a knock on the door. I open to find my father standing on the other end.
I look at Dante, who quickly gets the hint that he needs to make himself scarce. “I’ll leave you guys to it.”
Dad takes a seat on the couch with his hands clasped in front of him, his expression unreadable as I approach.
He knows.
I swallow hard.
I lean against the wall beside him, running a tired hand through my hair. “You heard, didn’t you?”
He nods, his gaze steady. “I did.”
Silence stretches between us for a moment, then he exhales. “Valentino… how did you not know?”
The disappointment in his voice is subtle, but it cuts.
