Hidden pregnancy

Nicole had heard the loud noise caused by things falling and glass shattering. She sat calmly, ignoring what was happening. Bertha got up and ran off, and a little while later, she returned looking completely pale.

"Mr. Bruno is in a bad mood. He threw everything off his desk, the glass broke, and he ordered that you clean up later," she said.

"Well, he makes the mess and I'm the one who has to clean it up," Nicole replied, annoyed.

During lunchtime, Bruno came out looking very serious and stood in front of Nicole's desk.

"You will come and have lunch with me," he said in an authoritative tone.

"Sorry, I already made plans to eat with Bertha," she responded, irritated by his way of addressing her.

"I'm not asking you. Let's go," he said, approaching and grabbing her arm to force her to get up.

Nicole felt that she had had enough of Bruno's behavior. She couldn't stand him anymore and needed to find a way to distance herself from him. They walked to the restaurant together, which was on the same block as the corporate office. It was a well-known place in the area, and they were promptly shown to a table.

They sat down, and the waiter approached to give them the menu while smiling at Nicole. Bruno tried not to get agitated and focused on reading the menu.

"Bruno, I need you to sign the divorce papers. I spoke with my family lawyer earlier, and he will take care of everything," she decided to be direct. She couldn't continue by his side any longer.

Bruno felt his face burn at what she said. He would never allow her to leave; she belonged to him alone.

"I've already told you, not even in your wildest dreams will you get rid of me," he responded furiously.

Nicole felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She had to try to be strong. It was useless to try to reach an agreement with him.

They ate in silence, avoiding eye contact. After a while, they left the restaurant. They had only walked a few steps when Nicole felt a strong dizziness. She leaned against the wall, feeling someone holding her waist. Everything around her turned black.

She woke up in a hospital bed and thought that she should eat much better. Bruno was by her side, as always, watching her intently.

"How do you feel?" he asked genuinely concerned.

"I don't think you really care, but I'm feeling fine now," she replied listlessly.

"The doctor ordered some tests for you. They took your blood, and the results will be here soon. You were unconscious for a while," he said.

Bruno's phone rang at that moment. It was Nicole's father, and she assumed he must have notified him. The doctor entered just then, and Bruno stepped out into the hallway to answer the call.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Leone. I have received your results. You have anemia, and you'll need to take good care of yourself and eat well, especially now that you'll have to do it for two," the doctor said.

"I don't understand, Doctor. What do you mean?" she asked.

"You are pregnant. Allow me to congratulate you. You are at least three months along. We'll need to confirm it with an ultrasound. Bruno will be happy, and your parents even more so. I have been a friend of the family for a long time, and I know they desire an heir," he explained.

Nicole felt terrified. She had hoped for anything but this. It was the worst news she could receive at that moment, not because of the baby, but because she wanted to distance herself from Bruno as soon as possible. She wouldn't be able to hide it for long. If she had previously denied him the divorce, now it would be impossible to give it to him.

"Doctor, please don't tell Bruno about the pregnancy. I want to surprise him when the whole family is gathered," she pleaded.

"Don't worry, I'll just inform him that she has anemia since he will ask what caused her fainting spell," the doctor assured her.

"Thank you, Doctor," Nicole replied gratefully.

When Bruno entered, the doctor explained that Nicole needed rest and a proper diet. He prescribed some vitamins to prevent the anemia from progressing. Nicole was grateful that he agreed not to mention her pregnancy.

"Thank you very much, Jorge. I will make sure she follows your instructions to the letter," Bruno said.

They returned to the mansion, and Bruno decided that Nicole should not go to the office. She needed to rest. His nanny grew concerned when she found out what had happened.

"Mr. Bruno, my girl needs my care. I assume she won't be coming to the office until she recovers," the nanny said.

"That's right, Nana. She will stay under your care until the doctor indicates she can return to work," Bruno agreed.

Nicole felt depressed at the thought of being confined once again. What a stroke of bad luck! It would be even harder for her to escape from there. She had to hurry before the pregnancy became noticeable or before the doctor decided to tell Bruno or her parents.

Bruno returned to the office, and Nicole stayed with the nanny. She noticed that the atmosphere in the house was different when that pair wasn't around.

The next morning, she went downstairs for breakfast. The nanny had prepared fruit and a delicious soup for her. As she was finishing her meal, she heard laughter coming from the living room. When she went to see what was happening, she saw Dante, Máx, and Sophie. All three approached her with smiles.

"Little sis, it's great to see that you're feeling better. Your parents called me last night and asked me to come see you. They'll be back from Singapore in two weeks," Dante said.

"Sophie, it's so good to have you here. I talked to my mother last night, but she didn't mention that they were coming to see me," Nicole said as she hugged Sophie.

"And what about a hug for me, my dragonfly? I know we saw each other a few days ago, but I was really worried when Sophie told me what happened to you," Máx said.

"Thanks for coming, Máx. You know you and Dante are like brothers to me," she replied.

"Sis-in-law, you really scared Bruno. Even if he doesn't want to admit it, he was really worried about you. When he called me because you wouldn't wake up, he could barely speak," Sophie chimed in.

"Hi, brother-in-law. It's great to see you. Thanks for bringing my friends," Nicole said.

Nicole was surprised to hear Dante say that Bruno had been worried. Perhaps deep down, he had some hidden feelings.

They went out to the garden, and the nanny brought them some drinks to refresh themselves. They spent time chatting, but as all good things come to an end, Sondra and Bruno arrived.

"Dante, my brother, it's great that you're visiting us."

"If you don't invite me, I have no choice but to invite myself," Bruno said.

He walked towards Máx, but Dante noticed his intentions and grabbed him by the shoulder, leading him away from there.

Dante wouldn't allow Bruno to ruin Nicole's gathering, so he took him to the study. Bruno reluctantly went along, more out of force than willingness. They had a few drinks together, and it had been a while since they had sat down to talk as brothers. Most of their encounters at the office were focused on business matters.

Later, Dante bid farewell when he noticed Nicole's friends were leaving. Bruno immediately went up to his room, feeling angry and not wanting to see Nicole. Sondra had gone upstairs as soon as she saw herself being ignored by Nicole and her friends. Even Dante didn't greet her. Bruno was thankful that she was already asleep when he entered.

In the early hours of the morning, his mind couldn't stop racing, preventing him from sleeping. He thought it was unbelievable that Nicole could act like that, but the evidence against her was clear. He got up and headed towards her room, determined to make her suffer. 

She had to pay, but that wouldn't stop him from enjoying her body. He knocked on her door, but there was no response. He thought she might be too tired and returned to his own room.

Upon entering, he was surprised to see Sondra waiting for him, dressed in a red lace babydoll. It was a very transparent and suggestive garment that left nothing to the imagination. He observed her and couldn't deny that she was beautiful, but shallow and empty. He grabbed a sheet and threw it over her.

"This better be the last time you do this. We have an agreement, and if you don't respect it, you're out of my house," he said, clearly annoyed. He was tired of having to deal with that woman every day.

He saw fury in her eyes as she quickly put on a robe. Bruno walked past her into his small office without even looking at her. Who did she think she was? He decided who he wanted to be with, and he wanted to be with Nicole, whoever he pleased.

Elsewhere, Rina Jones was contemplating how she could reclaim her daughter. She knew that hiding from Sergio De Santis wouldn't be easy. She wouldn't let him institutionalize her daughter again. She would seek out Gío. He had to know that he was Nicole's father.