And I refuse to let anything take it from me.
Chapter 15 – Valeria
It’s been hours since I found out I’m pregnant, and I still haven’t fully wrapped my head around it.
Before last night, I knew something was off. My body felt different—subtle shifts I couldn’t quite explain. But I didn’t want to assume. I didn’t want to hope for something this big…only to be wrong.
Now there’s no guessing.
No doubt.
It’s real.
I’m pregnant.
My steps are slower than usual as I make my way up the stairs, one hand resting lightly against my stomach. The gesture is instinctive. Protective. Like my body already understands something my mind is still catching up to.
I head toward Matteo’s studio.
Timofey had one of the rooms in the estate converted for him—fully equipped, filled with fabrics, sketches, mirrors, and everything he needs. With the number of events coming up, Matteo is practically a permanent fixture here now.
It’s fine by me, since I like Matteo very much. I should probably tell him I’m pregnant, so he knows to avoid corsets or anything too fitted around my waist. Maybe I’m overreacting, but I don’t care. I just want to be careful.
Very careful.
I haven’t told anyone else yet, and I’m almost certain Timofey hasn’t either.
But the looks I’ve been getting from the staff say enough.
Soft smiles.
Lingering glances at my midsection.
A quiet shift in the way they move around me.
They probably already know.
It makes me smile.
As I approach Matteo’s studio door, I hear his voice from inside.
He’s on the phone.
At first, I assume it’s work. Fabrics. Deliveries. Deadlines. He has a lot on his plate. Then, a name cuts through the air. Matteo mentions Anton. Everything inside me goes still. My hand freezes just before the door.
My breath catches—sharp, sudden. I don’t move. I don’t breathe.
I listen.
“…security rotation changes after midnight,” Matteo is saying. His voice is low. Controlled. “The East Wing is lighter now, especially during events. That’s your best window.”
My blood runs cold.
No. No—
“The gala schedule is already set,” he continues. “She’ll be there. He won’t leave her side much, but there are moments….”
There’s no warmth in his tone.
