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9. The Baby isn't Mine

last update Huling Na-update: 2024-07-06 00:00:32

The floorboards creaked under Antonio's feet as he paced back and forth in his room, unable to shake the feeling of confusion and disbelief. Valerie Foster had rejected him—at the hospital of all places, right after she gave birth to their child.

Okay...the baby wasn't actually his, but so what? His name was attached to him now, accidental or not. He was his son now. Because he had already claimed him to be!

"Can you believe this?" Antonio muttered to himself, throwing his hands up in the air. His heart raced with anger and frustration. And a bit of sadness. "I offered to make her son legitimate. And she just...rejected me."

He couldn't comprehend it. The pieces weren't fitting together in his head. How could she turn down such a generous offer? It felt like a slap in the face.

He had never wanted to get married and had never cared about having children, but he had thrown himself out there. For her.

"Unacceptable!" he growled under his breath, clenching his fists at his sides.

"Bene," Antonio said aloud, determination coursing through him. "I won't give up just yet."

He believed that once Valerie was back at his brother's house and feeling healthier, she might have a change of heart about his proposal.

"Maybe she was just scared," he reasoned, trying to understand what had gone wrong. "She needs time to adjust."

He thought back to the hospital when he first held the baby in his arms. The warmth of his tiny body, his small fingers curling around his—it was a feeling he couldn't describe. A sense of fatherhood washed over him, solidifying his love for this child. He hadn't even known he was capable of such feelings.

Strange concept...love was. He had never thought he'd love something, let alone someone. He hadn't even known what love was until...

Until he held that tiny human in his arms. As soon as the baby opened his eyes to look at him and gave him that tiny smile, he knew...he knew what love meant.

"See?" Antonio murmured to himself, picturing the moment vividly in his mind. "I can be a good dad. Valerie just needs to see that."

"Who're you talking to?" a voice cut through his thoughts, making him jump.

"Jesus, Sam!" Antonio exclaimed, turning toward his right-hand man, who had snuck into the room without him noticing. "Don't sneak up on me. I could've shot you in the face!"

"Sorry, Capo," Sam grinned sheepishly. "But seriously, what's going on? You've been acting weird ever since you came back from the hospital."

"Nothing," Antonio said grimly. "What news do you have for me?"

Sam gave him a rundown of how his businesses were going, but Antonio barely listened. His mind was occupied with thoughts of the child and the mother. He had proposed to Valerie Blackwood on a whim so he wouldn't have to let the child go, but now that he thought about it, he wouldn't mind having her as his wife either.

She had a fiery attitude that matched the color of her hair and those intense green eyes that seemed to pierce into his soul. And her lips...those full pink lips...

He wanted to bite them.

"Enough," he muttered to himself, trying to stop daydreaming.

To distract himself, he decided to go check on his grandmother. She had raised him and was the only living relative he had left. No one could understand him better than her.

"Nonna?" he called out, turning the corner to find her sitting in a cozy armchair. Her fingers worked nimbly, knitting a small scarf of some sort.

"Ah, Toni, my darling," she smiled gently, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses. "You look troubled, nipotino. What's on your mind?"

"Nonna, I need your advice," Antonio said, his voice cracking slightly. "Valerie...she rejected my proposal."

Her eyes crinkled in confusion. "Valerie? Who is that?"

Right...he should've started from the beginning.

Antonio took a deep breath and sat down on the floor beside his Nonna's chair. She continued knitting, her needles clicking rhythmically, a comforting sound that had always soothed him as a child.

"Nonna, there's this woman... Valerie. She just had a baby, and there was a mix-up with the paperwork at the hospital. My name ended up on the birth certificate as the father."

His grandmother's eyebrows shot up, but she didn't interrupt. He continued, "I thought it would be a good idea to propose to her, to make things right, you know? But she turned me down."

Nonna paused her knitting, her sharp eyes studying him. "Toni, amore mio, you can't force someone to marry you, especially not in such a situation. And you say the baby isn't yours?"

"The baby isn't mine," he replied.

"Then why do you want to adopt it, amore mio?" she asked, confusion evident on her face.

He shifted uncomfortably. "I... I don't know, Nonna. When I held the baby in my arms, I felt something I'd never felt before. A sense of responsibility, maybe even love. But..."

She put her knitting aside and reached out to cup his face with her wrinkled hands. "Toni, you have a good heart. But love isn't something you can rush or force."

"Hmph..."

"Sometimes, Antonio, life doesn't go as planned," Nonna continued softly, resuming her knitting. "But if your intentions are pure, then perhaps this Valerie will come around."

Antonio's mind wandered back to the moment in the hospital, holding the baby girl and feeling her tiny fingers curl around his. He smiled. "Yes, you are right."

"Of course I am right," she nodded, her eyes never leaving her work. "Just remember, love takes time and patience. Don't force it."

"Grazie, Nonna," he whispered, his heart swelling with gratitude. He knew what he had to do now.

She finally looked up from her knitting, a small smile teasing her lips. "Now, Toni. Care to tell me how you came to sign the birth certificate by accident?"

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Tommie Buescher Caddell
The editor needed to catch how many times they called the baby boy , her.
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  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   10. Silly Man

    "It's raining," Valerie whispered to Landon as she stared out the window.It had been three days since she had brought Landon back home. Lucas and Tiffany were overjoyed to see their cousin, and they were eager to help her put Landon to sleep or tell him stories that they had just heard from their mom.The house felt warmer with the sound of the kids' laughter and Landon's tiny coos. Despite the storm outside, there was a sense of peace within these walls.Valerie glanced down at Landon, his tiny hand curled around her finger. "Your cousins are quite the storytellers, you know," she murmured, smiling. "We are going to be very happy here."As if understanding her words, Landon gave a little yawn and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep. Valerie gently placed him in his crib, tucking him in snugly. Standing there, watching him sleep, she felt a mix of overwhelming love and fierce protectiveness. Landon was her world now, and she would do anything to keep him safe.The past few days ha

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-06
  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   11. Let Me Handle It

    River's voice thundered through the room. "Absolutely not!""River," Ellie started, placing a hand on his arm, but he glared at her before turning back to Valerie."Under no circumstances do you need to be seeing Antonio again," he insisted.Valerie took a deep breath, trying to remain calm in the face of her brother's anger. "River, I understand your concern, but we need to sort out what Antonio wants from me. We never got to put that whole Julian thing to rest because I went into labor!" she exclaimed."You have bigger things to worry about now, Valerie. I will set things straight with Antonio Costello. All you need to worry about now is being a mother to your son," River argued."And what if he won't stop, River? What if ignoring him just makes things worse?" Valerie asked, frustration seeping into her voice. "We can't pretend he doesn't exist. He has already intruded into our lives, and we need to know what he really wants.""Valerie, you're not dealing with an ordinary man," Rive

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-07
  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   12. A Family

    "I need you to be honest with me, Antonio," Valerie said.Antonio sat across from Valerie, his eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. "I will always be honest with you, Amore," he said, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips.Valerie's expression twisted into a scowl, her distaste for endearments evident. "Stop it with the nicknames," she barked.It was clear that she wouldn't tolerate any form of affectionate language from him, but Antonio found it all the more entertaining to push her buttons. He lifted his arms in mock surrender and offered her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry," he said, meeting her intense gaze. "But I can't seem to help myself."Her body grew taut with tension as she glared at him, demanding answers. "What is your game, Antonio? Why are you forcing yourself into my life?"Antonio leaned in closer, his expression grave as he rested his elbows on his knees. "Would you believe me if I told you that all of this was for the chance to win your affection?" The

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-07
  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   13. Men are Great Idiots

    Valerie's head was spinning when she returned home. Antonio's words played like a broken record in her mind.A family. With Antonio?She laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all. Who did he think he was, her knight in shining armor?River was waiting for her in the living room, shooting out of his chair as soon as he saw her. Meanwhile, Ellie sat on the couch with her eyes wide open, waiting for the drama to unfold."What did that asshole say to you?" River demanded with a growl.Valerie looked at Ellie. "Sometimes I think men are great idiots," she declared, earning a snort from Ellie.River's face twisted with confusion and concern. "What do you mean by that, Valerie?"Valerie shook her head, trying to make sense of the chaos in her mind. "Antonio... he said he wants us to move in with him. Me and Landon. He wants to be a family."River's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "What?""Yup, and what's worse is, I think he is actually serious!" Valerie exclaimed. "

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-08
  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   14. You are Hurt

    Glass shattered. Boots thudded.Instinct kicked in for River. He grabbed his gun and dove behind the cabinet while Ellie scrambled to her feet, grabbing Lucas's hand. She didn't hesitate for a second, and neither did Valerie and Tiffany. Valerie had Landon in her arms. All of them ran upstairs immediately.Gunfire cracked through the house, bullets splintering wood and punching holes in the walls. River peered around the cabinet and spotted masked men swarming inside, assault rifles blazing.This wasn't just a break-in. It was an attack.River squeezed off a shot, dropping one of the bastards. The others scattered, ducking behind furniture and returning fire.He heard his men rushing in, shouting. Bullets zinged by, chewing into the cabinet inches from his face. He leaned out and took aim, squeezing the trigger in a steady rhythm. The intruders fell one by one, their blood pooling on the hardwood.The gunfire slowed, then ceased. Silence descended, broken only by River's ragged breath

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-08
  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   15. Live With Me

    Antonio wiped a hand over his face, blood smearing across his cheek. "Ah. I guess I was shot. It's probably just a flesh wound. Nothing I can't handle." He grinned at Valerie. Valerie shook her head. Was this man for real? "I need to see to that," she said, her tone firm. "Why? Are you worried about me amore mio?" he smiled sheepishly. Valerie sighed, exasperated by Antonio's flirtatious antics. "Not the nickname, please." She looked at Ellie. "Would you mind watching Landon while I take care of Antonio?" Ellie nodded. "Of course." Valerie grabbed his arm. "Come with me," she said. "Ahem..." River cleared his throat. "I don't think you should be alone with him, Val." Valerie glared at River. "He just helped us, didn't he?" River hesitated. "Yes, but..." "Let Valerie help Antonio," Ellie scolded River and motioned Valerie to carry on. Valerie looked at Antonio. "Come with me." Antonio nodded and obediently followed Valerie out of the room. Valerie led Antonio to the bathro

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-09
  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   16. Is it to your liking?

    River's voice barked out, sharp and urgent, as Valerie packed up her belongings into suitcases to move in with Antonio. Her hands trembled with nervous energy, and her heart raced in her chest. "Don't do this, Valerie. This is insane," he pleaded.It was two days after the event, and she had told Antonio to prepare for them to live with him. Antonio looked very excited and his excitement had seemed a little too much for her liking. River constantly badgered her about changing her mind but Valerie was firm with her decision.Valerie turned to face River, trying to stay calm and composed. "River, please. Just let me go. It's going to be okay," she said, though doubt gnawed at her insides.Desperate for support, River turned to Ellie, who stood beside Valerie with a worried expression on her face. "Ellie, tell Valerie she's making a mistake," he implored.Ellie let out a heavy sigh, her gaze shifting between the two of them. "Valerie, are you absolutely certain this is what you want?" sh

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-09
  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   17. Men Like Him

    Suppressing a laugh, Antonio watched as Valerie jumped in surprise. Apparently, she hadn't heard him approaching from behind."Hello, beautiful. I'm here to check if you need anything," he said with a smile.Valerie nervously bit her lip. "That won't be necessary," she responded shortly."Nonsense." Antonio waved off her protest. "What can I help you with? Unpacking? Babysitting? I'm a jack of all trades," he said as he eyed Landon in his crib.Valerie scoffed. "For some reason, I don't see you as a babysitter.""I will prove you wrong," Antonio challenged, raising an eyebrow.Valerie looked at him for a moment, then, without another word, turned and walked away. But Antonio knew that was just part of the game, the push and pull they found themselves in. He wasn't going to let her go that easily.He followed, keeping a few steps behind her.She went to the room next to hers and looked around. For a moment, her facial expression softened. "You have a library," she stated."Yes," Antoni

    Huling Na-update : 2024-07-10

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  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   211. Better Than You

    “What are they doing now, Jimmy?” Lucas texted the man he hired to spy on Amy and Asa.Lucas stared at his phone as the message sent, his fingers tapping impatiently against the edge of his desk. His thoughts churned, the irritation growing with every passing second.His phone buzzed with a reply.Jimmy: They’re still on the mini golf course. No sign of anything strange. They’re just playing, talking, looks like having fun. She seems relaxed.Lucas narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.Lucas: Keep watching. I want to know if they kiss.Jimmy: They are on the last hole now. Looks like they’re finishing up. Could be wrapping up soon.Lucas: I want to know everything. Stay close, don’t miss anything.He stared at the screen, watching the little dots indicating Jimmy was typing. The delay felt agonizing, each second stretching longer than the last. Finally, the message came through.Jimmy: They are finishing up now. No kiss yet, though. She’s laughing at something he said. Looks like a prett

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   210. Date Night

    Amy paced across the bedroom.Seventeen steps to the window, pivot, fifteen steps back to the mirror. Her new sundress swished around her knees – impulse purchase, one size too optimistic. Twenty-seven minutes until he arrived. Twenty-six, actually. The clock on her microwave was fast.“You are a grown woman,” she told her reflection, which stared back with unconvinced eyes. “You’ve been on dates before.”“Why am I so nervous?” she asked herself in the mirror. “It’s just Asa, your nice neighbor.The sundress was yellow – “Daffodil Dream” according to the tag – with tiny white flowers scattered across the fabric like stars on a summer night.She’d spent forty-three minutes and all her remaining dignity in the fitting room deciding between this one and a blue number that made her look like a corporate retreat brochure. The yellow won because it didn’t take itself too seriously. Amy wasn’t sure she could say the same about herself right now.Amy paused at the window, fingers fidgeting wi

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   209. Kiss Him

    “Have fun on your date.” That’s what he had said.Amy had been annoyed at him since then and refused to look him in the eyes for the rest of the day. And then it was time to go home.“Maybe I should ask Mom and Ben to drive me back to the apartment. No reason for you to drive all the way there,” Amy said when they were near his car.“I have every reason to,” Lucas barked.Amy blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Lucas’s voice.She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you being so weird about this? It’s just a ride home.”Lucas scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Because I brought you here, so I am taking you back. Since when have you had a problem accepting rides from me?”“Since you started acting like a jealous control freak,” she shot back, her irritation flaring.Lucas’s jaw tightened. “I’m not jealous.”Amy let out a dry laugh. “Right. So, what was all that about earlier? Telling me I can’t go on a date with Asa? Last I checked, you’re not my boyfr

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   208. Idiot

    Lucas couldn’t stop worrying about what Amy implied throughout dinner. He found himself stealing glances at her.Was she serious? Was she bored of him already? How could she already be bored? They had barely just started!When the meal finally ended, Lucas didn’t have the chance to get her to be alone with him again because Tiffany decided to pull her away from him. “What are you doing?” he growled without thinking.Tiffany arched a brow. “Relax, little brother. I just want to get to know Amy better. You did say she’s your girlfriend, right?” she teased, pulling Amy along before he could argue.Amy gave Lucas a nervous smile but didn’t resist as Tiffany led her away.Lucas clenched his jaw, watching them disappear into another part of the vineyard. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. This is ridiculous. He needed to talk to Amy. Now.Jacob chuckled beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You’re acting like a dog whose favorite toy was taken away.”Lucas shot him a glare.

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   207. Never Again

    Lucas waited until they were out of earshot of Amy before turning to Alicia.“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, glaring at her.“What do you mean?” Alicia asked innocently.Lucas sighed. “You know exactly what I meant, Alicia. Why are you being so rude to Amy? What is wrong with you?” he barked.“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with YOU? What are you doing, dating my stepsister, Lucas? I didn’t realize you’d play dirty just to get to me,” she said.Lucas stared at her. “Get to you?”Alicia crossed her arms. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you, Lucas. You don’t just accidentally end up with her, of all people. It’s a game, isn’t it? A way to—what? Get back at me? Make me jealous?”Okay, technically, she was right. This was supposed to be a game to get close to Alicia, but Lucas had no intention of doing that anymore. So all he could do now was to deny the accusation.“That’s actually insane, Alicia. You really think everything is about you, don’t you?” He took a step close

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   206. Jealous

    “Ah, Luke! Come on up, my boy,” Antonio Costello exclaimed jovially as Lucas led Amy and her family inside the building.Lucas grinned and stepped forward to shake Antonio Costello’s hand. The older man clapped him on the back.“Good to see you, Uncle Tony. Thank you for letting me bring some guests to tour your Vineyard,” Lucas said.Antonio waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense, Lucas! You’re family. My home is your home.” His sharp eyes flickered over to Amy and the rest of the group. “And who do we have here?”Lucas placed a hand on Amy’s lower back. “This is Amy,” he said. “And this is her mother, Margaret, her stepfather, Benjamin, and…” His voice dipped just slightly. “Her stepsister, Alicia.”Antonio smiled warmly. “It’s nice to meet you all. The Vineyard here is one of my pride and joy. I can’t wait to show you all the true beauty of making wine.”Margaret clasped her hands together, clearly delighted. “That sounds wonderful, Antonio.”Antonio nodded. “Come, let’s not waste any

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   205. Perfect

    Amy kept pacing back and forth in her bedroom. Her room was tiny, so there wasn’t much room to pace, but she made it work. She had to think.“This is stupid,” she muttered under her breath. She touched the hem of her shirt—a shirt she had changed three times already.“Jeans and a blouse. Jeans. And. A. Blouse.” She spoke each word like a mantra. She looked at herself in the mirror and blew out a breath. It was a simple outfit, and she looked plain as usual. But who really cares? Lucas had seen her already, so it was not like she had to impress him.“Lucas may have that smoldering, infuriating knack for making me second-guess myself,” she acknowledged to her reflection, “but not today. Today, I am the epitome of casual indifference.” Besides, she was still kind of mad at him.Okay, maybe not mad. But irritated.She thought about Asa and how he asked her out. How would she break that to Lucas? He would go ballistic!But she had to admit…it was kind of nice to be wanted.“Let them fight

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   204. Is She Mad?

    Lucas did not like Asa.Not at all.How could Amy choose to stay with him?Lucas ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her and that asshole ever since he left his apartment, his blood boiling with jealousy.Another thought suddenly occurred to him. What if he had pushed Amy toward Asa even more by acting like a caveman back there?Stupid, stupid, stupid!Lucas gritted his teeth, pacing his living room like a caged animal. His fists clenched at his sides as frustration clawed at his insides.What the hell was wrong with him?He had been acting like a lunatic, snapping at Amy, throwing accusations, and now—now she was probably going to go out with Asa.His stomach twisted at the thought.What if Asa made her laugh? What if she actually liked him? What if she realized she didn’t need Lucas in her life anymore?His pulse pounded in his ears.This was his fault. He’d let his jealousy get the best of him, and now she was probably thinking he was a pos

  • The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride   203. I Like You

    “He is not going to come back in the morning and beat me up, is he?” Asa asked after Lucas stormed out, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang.“I doubt that. He acts all tough, but he is just a giant teddy bear inside,” Amy said.Asa looked at her intently. “So, is he your boyfriend or what?”Amy bit her lower lip and shook her head. “No. He is not.”“Then why was he acting like a jealous boyfriend?” he asked." It’s…it’s complicated,” Amy said.Asa arched an eyebrow. “Complicated, huh? That’s just a fancy way of saying I have no idea what the hell is going on.”Amy groaned, flopping onto the couch. “Tell me about it.”Asa plopped down next to her, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Well, from what I gathered, he’s either in love with you, in deep denial, or on the verge of a mental breakdown.”Amy let out a tired laugh. “I hardly think he is in love with me, but the mental breakdown part might be true.”Asa took a thoughtful sip of his beer. “Whatever it is, I think y

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