Chapter 7 - A Mother's Defiance
Back at the penthouse, Dr. Aris had departed, leaving behind a strict regimen of vitamins, iron supplements, and mandatory bed rest.
The master suite had been rearranged to accommodate me. A closet the size of my old living room was already filled with luxurious cashmere sweaters, silk maternity pajamas, and designer dresses in my exact size. Adrian had wasted no time.
I sat on the edge of the bed, wearing an oversized ivory robe, staring down at my hands.
Adrian knocked once before stepping in. He had removed his tie, and the top two buttons of his dress shirt were undone, giving him a dangerously relaxed look.
"The chef prepared roasted chicken and wild rice," he said, nodding toward a covered silver tray on the desk. "You need protein."
"I am not a prisoner, Adrian," I said, my voice steady despite the flutter in my chest.
"You are a guest. And the mother of my son."
"Then treat me like an adult," I stood up, crossing the room to face him. "You think you can solve everything with intimidation and money. You intimidated Nathan, you confiscated my life, and you took away my choices. How am I supposed to raise a child in a home built on blood?"
Adrian didn't flinch. He stepped closer, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that burned.
"Nathan Vance degraded you because he thought you were powerless," Adrian whispered, his jaw tight. "He looked at your pregnant belly and thought you were disposable. In my world, Claire, a man who insults a mother is lower than vermin. I didn't destroy him for my pride. I destroyed him so he would never dare cast a shadow over you again."
"And what happens when your enemies come for you?" I demanded, tapping my finger against his chest. "What happens when someone wants revenge on Don Moretti, and they realize I'm carrying his heir? Do you honestly believe a penthouse with bulletproof glass will keep my baby safe forever?"
Adrian went completely still. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken realities.
Then, slowly, Adrian took my hand. Instead of pulling me against him, he placed my palm over his own heart. Beneath my fingertips, his heartbeat was steady, heavy, and profound.
"The day I learned you were carrying my child was the day I initiated the restructuring of my family," Adrian revealed, his voice surprisingly raw. "I have spent the last three months transferring operations into legitimate maritime shipping, real estate, and private equity. The syndicate is dissolving its illicit ties. By the time our son takes his first breath, Claire... there will be no blood on the name Moretti."
I stared at him, stunned. "You... you're getting out?"
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"For you," he breathed, stepping so close his lips brushed my forehead. "For him. I would burn my empire to the ground if it meant keeping you both in the light."
***
