Secret Love

Chapter 24 - Fear

Isabella's POV

"He is angry at you because you forced his mother to sit under your desk for more than thirty minutes." I said, smiling.

He raised his eyebrow. Then a playful smirk appeared on his face. He bent down and placed a soft kiss on my stomach while caressing it. I smiled at him happily and stroked his hair. He lifted his head up and looked at me mischievously.

"My boy, you will understand me when you get older, how amazing is seeing a sexy woman sitting between your legs." He commented hoarsely, looking into my eyes with his dark eyes.

"Alessandro!" I exclaimed, blushing. "Watch your language beside our boy." I added, grinning.

He straightened, showing me his signature smile which melted my heart every time I saw it and cupped my cheek.

"I am in love with you, woman." He confessed and brushed his lips against mine.

****

I sighed, depressed while staring out of the window. Today was Alessandro's engagement day. They were going to celebrate it in the garden. It was Gaia's idea. They were going to celebrate it in the hotel, but she changed the place at the last minute telling them that it would be better if they celebrated it in the mansion. Alessandro refused, but Gaia and his mother insisted on it. So he was forced to accept it.

I pursed my lips together, resting my hand on my belly as I felt slight pain in my stomach. I had been feeling slight pains since this morning. I breathed deeply and walked towards the bed. I decided to lie down.

After resting a while, I got up and started getting ready. I put on a blue chiffon long dress. I sighed, depressed, looking at myself in the mirror. As much as I tried to reassure myself that it was a fake engagement, I felt bad. My heart tightened. A tight knot formed in my throat. I didn't want to attend the party. I didn't want to see Alessandro with that woman, but I had to attend it because Silvia had already been on our back; if I refused to go, she would get more suspicious.

I took a deep breath and left my room. When I was about to go downstairs, Gaia called me. I closed my eyes, sighing and turned around.

"Congratulations." She said, giving me a fake smile as she approached me, staring at my bump.

"Thanks." I mumbled, forcing a smile as I rested my hand on my stomach.

"Where is the baby daddy?" She asked, looking into my eyes.

"In New York." I lied.

"Hmm...Silvia told me he was busy with his company. It seems he isn't so interested in being a father." She commented sarcastically and smirked.

I gritted my teeth. I wanted to punch her, vanishing her arrogant smirk.

"No. On the contrary, he is delighted with this news. He looks forward to holding our boy in his arms." I informed and gave her a cocky grin.

"Good for you then." She said, forcing a smile.

Suddenly, I felt dizzy. I grabbed the railing in panic as I was about to fall downstairs. Gaia looked at me, dumbfounded.

"Help me!" I exclaimed in panic as my grip was loosing around the railing. Tears ran down my cheeks as I got scared about my baby. My heart was beating faster.

Gaia was looking at me without doing anything.

"You should be careful." Instead of helping me, she commented arrogantly.

"Please." I murmured, crying. "Help!" I screamed in panic and tried to catch the rail with my other hand as well.

Suddenly, my fingers loosened around the rail. As I was about to fall down, someone caught me.

"Isabella! Are you okay?" Alessandro asked, panicked as he tightened his arms around my body, holding me tightly against his body.

"Alessandro...." I murmured and started crying hysterically, burying my head into his chest, gripping his collar tightly. His heart was pounding as well.

"Calm down. It passed." Alessandro reassured me, stroking my back. I looked at him with teary eyes. His face was pale. He must be scared too.

"What happened?" Silvia asked in worry as she approached us.

"Isabella almost fell down. Fortunately, Alessandro caught her in time." Gaia said, pretending worried. Silvia gasped in shock. "I told her she should be more careful in her state and take care of her baby more." She added.

I gritted my teeth, annoyed. How dare she tell that I don't take care of my baby?!

When I wanted to put her in her place, Alessandro intervened. "Gaia! Isabella is so protective and affectionate towards her baby. You don't need to warn her." Alessandro was holding himself back hard. He was tense.

"Alessandro...."

"Come on, Isabella." He said, cutting Gaia off and scooped me up in his arms.

When I looked at Gaia, she gave me a death glare.

"I will inform the doctor." Silvia informed, concerned. Alessandro nodded and carried me to my bedroom.

He placed me on the bed and placed a soft kiss on my forehead, resting his hand on my belly.

"I felt like I was dying when I saw you on the stairs." He confessed as he sat down beside me on the bed, stroking my bump gently while holding my hand.

"I was so scared, Alessandro. I thought..." I burst out crying as I remembered what happened.

"Shh. Calm down, bella mia." He said softly and placed a soft kiss on my palm.

He leaned towards me and wrapped his arms around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. I leaned my head against his chest as I hugged him tightly.

A few minutes later, I finally stopped crying. Alessandro pulled back slightly and cupped my cheeks.

"Are you better?" He asked, concerned.

"Yeah." I mumbled, giving him a slight smile.

He smiled at me and brushed his lips against mine. Then he leaned his forehead against mine. We pulled back as we heard his father's voice coming in the hallway.

Federico walked in, looking worried. Alessandro stood up immediately and ran his hand through his hair as he put his hand into his pocket. He cleared his throat as he traveled his eyes from Alessandro to me.