Page 161 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

“I’ll be there,” he says.

Then he ends the call.

We stay silent for a moment. Him on one side of the counter. Me on the other.

It’s the right decision. He has to go. That baby is his, and his place is beside the mother of his child at a moment like this.

But fuck, it hurts.

“Valeria.”

His voice is cautious.

“I know you have to go.”

My voice breaks. He closes the distance between us and cups my face in his hands.

“I’m doing this only for the baby. Nothing else.”

I nod. I believe him.

But the truth is no less cruel.

He’s going to become a father.

With another woman.

40. Be Careful

Dante

Tuesday, January 3

Bianca is waiting for me on my floor.

I see her the moment the elevator doors open, standing near Sandrine’s desk—or Mara’s, I’m not even sure anymore. I’m almost surprised my “assistant” hasn’t thrown her out already. Unless she finds this whole situation entertaining.

I walk toward them.

“What do you want, Bianca?”

“Is that how you wish the mother of your child a happy new year?”

I stop.

My irritation eases despite myself, because there’s a child in this story, and that child asked for none of this.

“Happy New Year, Bianca. I hope your pregnancy is going well and that the baby will be healthy.”

“Our baby,” she corrects me.

My baby.

A child I will learn to love and whose future I will protect no matter the cost.

Even if the mere fact of being tied to Bianca for the next twenty years sometimes feels like a noose tightening around my neck.

The moment the baby is born, I’ll request a paternity test. Not because I truly doubt it, but because with Bianca, I refuse to leave anything to chance anymore.