Page 148 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

“Listen, Bianca. I don’t want us to fight. I’ll take responsibility. I’ll be a present father. Don’t ask me for more than that.”

“Yes… that’s all I’m asking for.”

My jaw tightens.

She’s trying to regain control of the conversation too.

“What happens next?”

“I don’t know. Could we meet at the apartment and talk about it?”

“No. I’m not in Paris.”

Her breathing catches. And then her voice changes. This kind of coldness doesn’t even try to hide anymore.

“You’re with her.”

“Stop obsessing over this. You’re becoming ridiculous.”

“I’m warning you: if you go back to her, I’ll file for full custody of the baby,” she threatens. “You’ll never see your child.”

“You can try. A judge isn’t going to take my child away because you’re jealous.”

“You’re such an asshole. You’re not even denying it.”

“Believe whatever you want.”

I hang up.

I will love this child. I will protect them. Because anything else is unacceptable—not for me, not for the man I want to become.

But the less contact we have with Bianca, the better.

I just hope Valeria hasn’t already given up on us.

The front door opens.

I look up.

Valeria.

She stands in the doorway, eyes shining, cheeks flushed from the cold. She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t have to.

I stand. Cross the room. Pull her into my arms with the force of desperation.

She stays stiff for a second, then her arms close around me.

We remain there, standing in the entryway, without a word, while the snow keeps falling over the city.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds.

This child. Bianca. The cases. Everything still ahead of us.

But she’s here.

For now, that’s enough.

36. Take me back