7

"Ma'am Maddie?"

The knock on the door broke the calm in the room. I got up to answer and found Lucille standing there.

"Ma'am, I’m here to remind you about your 2 pm appointment with Doctor Hayes," she said.

Appointment? I couldn’t remember making any plans to see a doctor.

"Mr. Marco Moretti arranged for you to see an OB-Gyn today," Lucille added, like she was reading my mind.

"OB-GYN?" I repeated, trying to process what she just said. "Why would I need to see an OB-GYN?" I was confused—what was Marco up to?

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I don’t have all the details. But I believe the doctor will explain everything when you meet. Both Mr. Moretti and the doctor will discuss it with you."

I could tell Lucille was just relaying the message, so I stopped asking more questions. It seemed like she was just delivering the message, not providing answers.

After lunch, I finally left the house and headed to the hospital with Renzo. He guided me to the clinic, knocked on the door, and once they confirmed my identity, I was invited in.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Madison Rose Moretti. It’s a pleasure to meet you," Doctor Stella Hayes greeted me, gesturing for me to sit down.

I smiled back, still unsure about why I was here, especially with Marco being the one to set it all up.

"I’m sorry, Doctor, but I don’t really know why I’m here."

"No worries. I just need to run a few tests to make sure you’re okay and figure out which contraceptive pills would work best for you," she explained.

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Did she just say contraceptive pills?

"I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Did you just say you're planning to prescribe me contraceptive pills?" I asked, still stunned.

"Yes, Mrs. Moretti. That’s what your husband told us. Hasn’t he talked to you about this?" she replied.

I just sat there, completely speechless, trying to wrap my head around why Marco would insist on this.

I totally lost track of time at the doctor’s office. I agreed to some tests, and the doctor reassured me everything was fine. She gave me a prescription for the medication I needed.

When I left the clinic, I glanced at the prescription but didn’t even thank the doctor. I just left without saying anything.

I handed the prescription to Renzo, knowing I could get the medication from the Moretti-owned pharmacy.

On the way home, my mind was all over the place. While I wasn’t exactly dying to start a family, the thought had crossed my mind lately. Now that I’m married, the idea of having kids one day—kids that Marco and I could love—kept popping up.

Was Marco thinking the same thing? Maybe. I started wondering if he thought that because I didn’t want this marriage, I also didn’t want kids. I remembered our first night together, and he used protection.

"Do you know when Marco will be back?" I asked Lucille, hoping she knew something.

"I'm not sure, Ma'am," she answered. "But earlier, he told Renzo he might come home a little earlier than yesterday."

I just nodded. Lucille left me alone in my room, like I asked.

She was right. Marco came home earlier today. Maybe he didn’t have as much to do at the office today.

When he stepped into the bedroom, I wasted no time. "I went to the doctor’s today... like you wanted," I told him.

He looked at me with that cold stare, one eyebrow raised, but didn’t say anything.

He went into the walk-in closet and came out a few minutes later, changed.

"Why did the doctor give me a prescription for contraceptive pills?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "She said you told her to do it. Can you explain why?"

I felt a mix of emotions, choosing my words carefully so I didn’t upset Marco. His reactions were always so unpredictable.

"Yeah," he replied, almost nonchalantly.

I couldn’t help but laugh, though it wasn’t really a happy laugh. Was that it? No explanation?

I had thought our relationship was getting better. I thought he’d eventually open up and act like a real husband. But now, I could see how wrong I was.

It was clear our relationship wasn’t what I thought it was. Marco had a different idea of what our future looked like.

Confused and wanting answers, I asked him, "Why?"

I was taken aback when Marco stopped what he was doing and looked directly at me. A wave of fear hit me—not just for myself, but for him too.

Every time I look at Marco, there’s this angry vibe he gives off, even though he’s good at hiding and controlling his emotions. Maybe it’s just my own reflex from growing up—whenever Papa looked like that, it usually meant something bad was coming.

I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts aside. Marco’s not like my father, right? He’d never hurt me the way my father did.

"I’m just trying to understand why I have to take pills..." I started.

Marco cut me off. "I don’t want to rely on condoms. And I figured you wouldn’t want an unplanned pregnancy either... We’re on the same page. I just don’t want any surprises."

His words made me bite my lip, my heart racing. "I-I mean... I don’t want kids—"

"Good," he said, his gaze locking with mine. "I don’t want to risk getting you pregnant. I’m not really into having kids in general."

The way he said it, so bluntly, made my chest tighten. I’ve always thought about kids, but hearing him say he didn’t want them hit me hard.

After our first night together, when he left me right after, it hurt. I couldn’t help but feel like there was something wrong with me. He came back, saying it was for my safety, but now, talking about not wanting kids, it really stung. I wasn’t ready for kids now, but maybe in the future, I would have been open to the idea.

Marco stepped closer, his hands landing on my sides. I lowered my head, trying to hide my feelings. Then he gently cupped my face, and I felt this sharp ache in my chest. His touch felt almost like a blade.

He lifted my chin with his fingers, making me look at him. I tried to hold back, trying to protect myself from whatever he might say next. But he saw right through me, winning this little emotional battle.

Our eyes locked, and I gasped, trapped in a swirl of fear and confusion.

"I don’t want kids. It’s just you and me in this marriage, Maddie. Do you get it?"

I couldn’t fully understand. So many questions raced through my head. Why didn’t he want kids? Was it just because I was his wife? Would he feel the same if he married someone else? Just thinking about that idea hurt—like a dull ache in my chest.

"Let me ask again, do you understand?"

I shut down my questions, pressing my lips together. I nodded, signaling that the conversation was over. Marco let go of me and stood up straight.

"Get ready. Dinner will be served soon. I’ll be in my study until then." He gave me one last look, one that left me confused and weighed down with all the unanswered questions.