"That bastard's child." He said quietly, fists clenched.
"Marco, my head's all over the place. I don't know what to do, I—"
Before I could finish, I broke down. All the emotions I'd suppressed this past month—pain, anger, anxiety—flooded over me like a dam bursting. I covered my face, shoulders shaking violently.
Then I felt warm arms around me. Marco was holding me, his hand gently patting my back.
"Don't cry, Elena. Whatever happens, I'll be here. I swear, I'll always be here."
I cried in his arms for a long time, until the tears dried up, until I couldn't make another sound. I finally calmed down and stepped back from his embrace.
"Sorry." I wiped the tears from my face. "I shouldn't have lost it like that in front of you."
"Don't apologize." He said. "Elena, you have every right to cry, to break down, to do whatever you need to do."
He took a deep breath, like he was making some major decision.
"I'll help you." He said, eyes determined. "Whatever you want to do, I'll help. If you don't want this baby, I can arrange it. Italian law is strict, but I know people, I can—"
"No." I cut him off, voice steadier than I expected.
My hand instinctively covered my stomach. It was still flat, but I knew a small life was quietly growing there. Igor's child. The child of the man who betrayed me, hurt me, destroyed me. But also my child.
"I'm keeping this baby." I heard myself say.
Marco's eyes widened.
"Elena!"
"I know it sounds crazy," I continued, thoughts becoming clearer. "I know being a single mother will be hard. I know raising a child takes a lot of money. I know it'll be difficult. But I can't do it. I can't get rid of it."
I looked up into his eyes. "This baby is innocent, Marco.It didn't choose its father, didn't choose to come into this world this way. I can't hurt this child because I hate Igor."
Marco stared at me for a long time, complex emotions churning in his eyes. Then his expression slowly softened.
"Okay." He said quietly. "If that's your decision, I'll help you."
"Marco."
"I'm serious." He stepped closer. "Elena, I'll help you raise this child."
My breath caught.
"What?"
"I'll give you both a home, Elena. I'll take care of you, protect you."
His words made my heart race, but not from being moved—from unease.
"Marco, you don't have to do this." I stepped back. "You've already helped me too much."
"This isn't an obligation." There was suppressed emotion in his voice. "Elena, all these years I've been... damn it, I shouldn't be saying this now."
He turned away like he was wrestling with something.
"Forget it." He finally said. "Now's not the time. You need rest, need to process this news. We'll talk later, okay?"
I nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Okay."
