Page 180 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

When it’s finally time for the galette des rois, fate—or perhaps the universe—decides that Dante should find the fève.

Of course he does.

But contrary to everyone’s expectations, he doesn’t turn toward me with the crown.

Instead, he gently places it on Bernadette’s head.

“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for taking care of my wife when I couldn’t.”

The silence that follows is brief.

But it’s enough.

Emotion immediately rises in my throat.

That idiot is going to make me cry.

For a few precious hours, I forget about Bianca.

I forget about tomorrow’s ultrasound.

I forget about everything.

For the first time in a long while, I simply enjoy the moment.

46. Ultrasound

Valeria

Monday, January 9

A good surprise is waiting for me at the lab on Monday.

As we compile the previous week’s tests, we get promising results—not definitive yet, but enough to tell us we’re heading in the right direction. Louane is beyond excited. I discover a whole new side of her personality: when she gets enthusiastic, she talks. A lot. Gone is her almost austere reserve—she becomes an entirely different person.

It makes me laugh.

At this rate, I’m going to have to ration her caffeine intake.

To confirm the results, we begin another series of tests.

At noon, I have lunch with Dante.

This time, he takes me to his floor. The meeting room next to his office has been transformed into an improvised buffet. The table is overflowing with catered food.

Good thing he doesn’t know I’m pregnant, otherwise he would’ve ordered twice as much.

“You’re completely insane. There’s enough food for ten people.”

“I want you to eat. I’ve noticed you haven’t had much appetite lately.”

I don’t know what to say, so I kiss his cheek.

“Thank you. You’re an angel.”

He chuckles.

Then, toward the end of the meal, as he tells me about the Pharmaceutical Convention taking place on Thursday, January 19, he grabs an orange from the fruit basket, peels it, separates it into segments, and absentmindedly hands them to me one by one without even interrupting his sentence.