Alessandro clears his throat. "The security arrangements are finalized. We'll have men stationed at every entrance."
"As will I," Maksim adds, a hint of tension in his voice.
“Does Luca know of the new date?” I ask Alessandro. I want Maksim to know the one brother he fears will be there. Of course, once Luca returns home, it won’t matter.
“I’ll call him later.”
Maksim’s lips purse into distaste, but he doesn’t say anything.
I rise. “Well, I guess that’s it for the wedding. I’m sure you have other business to discuss. I’ll see you Saturday, Maksim.”
He stands and kisses the back of my hand. “I’m looking forward to making you my wife in every way possible.”
I want to throw up, and I’m sure it’s not because of the pregnancy.
I excuse myself, needing air, needing space from these men deciding my fate.
As I slip into the hallway, a strong hand catches my wrist, pulling me into the library.
Cristian's face is tight with fury, his eyes wild. "I can't sit by and listen to this anymore.”
I hated how we left things last night, but by morning, I knew it was for the best. I’d rather him be angry than hurt.
"Not now," I plead, glancing nervously toward the dining room. "They'll notice."
"Not now? Then when, Valentina? After you're his wife? After he fucks you?"
"You think I want this?" I hiss, trying to keep my voice low. The last thing we need is anyone learning about our relationship. "You think I want to marry him? To let him raise our child?"
"Then don't!" His hands grip my shoulders. "We can still run. I have money saved. We could disappear tonight."
I shake my head, tears threatening. "We’ve been over this. They would find us. You know they would."
"So you're just giving up?" The accusation in his voice stings. “Giving up on us… on our child?”
"I'm protecting what matters most.” I place my hand over my belly. "Our baby. You. There's no other way. You know that, Cristian."
His expression crumples, anger giving way to heartbreak. "There has to be."
I gently remove his hands from my shoulders, my eyes darting toward the hallway. "Someone could see you touching me like this. We can't risk it."
His jaw tightens, eyes flashing with hurt. "Fuck ‘em. I can’t do this. I can’t stand by and watch the woman I love marry another man, watch him claim my child as his own."
"Love?" The word catches me off guard, making my heart stutter painfully.
"Yes, love." Cristian's voice drops lower, more intense. "I love you, Valentina. What do you have to say to that? I can give you everything you want. All you have to do is choose me."
The confession I've longed to hear now only intensifies my pain. I force myself to look away from the emotion in his eyes, knowing what I have to say next will break us both.
"I can’t. And we can't continue whatever this is between us… It has to end."
“Whatever this is?” His expression is incredulous. “What this is is real.”
“It can’t be.”
"You don't mean that." His voice turns desperate. "I know you don't."
"I do." I’m the worst person in the world. "The wedding is in five days. I'm carrying a child that Maksim will believe is his. There's no future for us, Cristian."