บท 2: Chapter 2: Confrontation and Encounter
I took a deep breath as I gazed out the window of my kitchen.
The tea I'd prepared was cooling on the counter. I was trying to focus on simple tasks, to cling to a routine, but it was futile. Since my appointment at the clinic, my life had become a tangled mess of questions without answers.
I was pregnant.
And not in any ordinary way. Not in the kind of story where you joyfully celebrate a pregnancy test while holding hands with a loving partner. No. I was pregnant because of a mistake. An accidental insemination. The doctor's words kept echoing in my head: "The identity of the father is particular."
I tried not to think about it, but it was like ignoring a ticking time bomb. No matter what I did, this situation was going to change my life forever.
A series of sharp knocks sounded at the door, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I frowned. Who could be visiting me at this hour?
Setting down my cup, I walked toward the door.
When I opened it, my heart skipped a beat.
Marco.
He was standing there, tense-faced and brows furrowed. I hadn't seen him in months, yet the familiarity of his expression brought back memories I had no desire to revisit.
"Marco? What are you doing here?"
He took a deep breath before responding.
"Can we talk?"
I instinctively stepped back, my hand still gripping the door handle.
"I'm… busy, Marco. This isn't a good time."
He stared at me, his jaw clenched, then finally said:
"I know you're pregnant."
My breath caught. Those words hit like a thunderclap.
"What? How…?" I stammered, my eyes wide.
"Nina told me," he said flatly.
Nina.
My stomach twisted at the mention of her name. She had told him?
He sighed, running a hand through his hair before continuing.
"Look, I know things have been messy between us, but I want to do the right thing. If it's my child…"
That sentence hit me like a slap. I raised my hand to stop him.
"Marco, stop."
He frowned, confused.
"What do you mean?"
I took a deep breath, crossing my arms in an attempt to shield myself from the storm I was about to unleash.
"This baby… it isn't yours."
He froze for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh.
"Then what? You're telling me you're pregnant by someone else? You just jumped into bed with another guy right after me?"
His remark stung like a slap across the face.
"It's not what you think!" I shot back, my voice trembling.
"Then explain it to me," he said, crossing his arms, anger flashing in his eyes.
I took another deep breath.
"It was a mistake. A medical mistake. An accidental insemination."
He stared at me, stunned, before shaking his head with a disbelieving smirk.
"An accidental insemination? Really, Ari? You expect me to buy that?"
I straightened up, my voice turning cold.
"I don't expect anything from you. Because this child, mistake or not, is mine. And I'll take care of it myself."
A heavy silence hung between us. Marco stared at me for a long moment before slowly shaking his head.
"Fine. Do whatever you want. But don't come crying to me when this all blows up in your face."
And before I could respond, he turned on his heel and walked away without another word.
I slammed the door, my hands trembling with rage. I was trying to steady the frantic beating of my heart when my phone buzzed on the table.
Nina.
I picked up immediately, my anger bubbling over.
"Nina, what did you do?"
"What?" she replied, feigning innocence.
"You told Marco. You told him I was pregnant. Why?"
She sighed, exasperated.
"Look, Ari, I didn't mean to cause trouble. Marco called me a few times. He wanted to know how you were doing. He seemed really worried, you know? And… it just slipped out."
I felt my jaw clench. "Did you tell him it was a medical mistake?"
"I didn't get the chance!" she retorted.
"He hung up before I could explain anything. I'm sorry, Ari. Really. I was just trying to help him understand."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to contain my frustration. Something about her tone felt off, but I didn't have the energy to dig into it.
"Don't ever do that again, Nina. Never again," I said before hanging up.
I walked through the streets of my neighborhood, trying to sort out the chaos in my head. The warm air clung to my skin, and even as my feet carried me mechanically toward my building, I didn't feel ready to go back home.
I was pregnant. The thought still felt unreal. And yet, it was there, constant, hammering in my mind like a drum. And everything the doctor had told me… "The identity of the father is particular." Just thinking about it gave me chills.
When I finally reached my building, I stopped abruptly.
A sleek black car, elegant and intimidating, was parked right in front. Its sharp presence stood out against the aging vehicles of the neighborhood.
Frowning, I stared at it, intrigued. Leaning against the door of the car was a man.
When he noticed me, he lifted his head. He was tall and imposing, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. Even from a distance, his confidence was unmistakable. His dark hair was impeccably styled, and his features were sharp, almost sculptural.
But it was his eyes that struck me: steely gray, cold and piercing, as if they could see through every secret I'd ever tried to hide.
My heart quickened despite myself.
He straightened slowly, detaching himself from the car with an almost calculated fluidity, and began walking toward me, his steps measured and unhesitant.
I instinctively took a step back, my mind racing.
Who was he? And why did he look like he was here for me?
When he stopped at a respectful distance, he fixed his gaze on mine and finally spoke.
"Miss Costa?"
His voice was deep, calm, and incredibly composed, but it carried an undeniable authority, as if he wasn't used to hearing the word no.
I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting.
"Yes. That's me. Who are you?"
He gave a slight nod, a barely perceptible gesture.
"My name is Alessandro Valenti. We need to talk."
His name meant nothing to me, but the way he said it sent a strange shiver through my chest.
"Talk? About what?"
He hesitated for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words. Then, without preamble, he said:
"About the child you're carrying."
Those words knocked the air from my lungs. I stood frozen, unable to respond.
"I believe your doctor informed you about the mistake that was made," he continued.
"The child you're carrying… is mine."
The words hung in the air, heavy and impossible to ignore.
I blinked, trying to gather my thoughts.
"I… What?"
"I'm the donor in this procedure," he explained calmly, never breaking eye contact.
"By mistake, my sample was used during your examination. That makes this child… my heir."
My entire body felt like it had turned to stone, as though my brain refused to process what he had just said.
"Wait a second," I finally managed, my voice trembling. "You're telling me you knew? That you're here because…?"
"Because I was informed, yes," he cut in softly but firmly. "And I'm here because I take this situation seriously."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. This all felt unreal.
"But… why? Why come see me?"
He straightened slightly, crossing his arms in a slow, deliberate gesture.
"Because this child is not just the result of a medical error. It is a Valenti. And that means it needs stability and security. I'm here to ensure it has both."
His words were carefully chosen, but the intensity with which he spoke sent a shiver down my spine.
"Look," I finally said, my voice breaking under the weight of the chaos in my mind. "I don't know what you expect from me, but… this situation is already complicated enough."
He nodded, as if he understood.
"I'm not here to make things harder for you. I'm here to propose a solution."
"A solution?" I repeated, my gaze locking onto his.
He remained silent for a moment, as if ensuring I was truly listening.
"We need to talk. About the future. About what this means for you, for me, and most importantly… for this child."
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