CHAPTER 17

LUCIANO’S POV

The scene in front of me makes me worried and scared. Scared to lose Analise.
Analise is laying on the floor in a bathrobe. Her legs are covered with blood and I can see some glass pieces piercing her skin as well as on the floor.
She is looking lifeless and her normal colored face has turned pale.

I move towards her and try to wake her up. “Ana wakes up. Wake up, baby.” I lightly tap on her face but she remains unconscious. Her face is cold under my hand.
“CALL THE DOCTOR RIGHT NOW.” I yelled to maids standing behind me. Her face is so pale.
From the corner of my eye, I see a broken mirror piece on the floor near her hand. Has she hurt herself or attempted suicide? I look at her wrist and her body but there is no sign of harm except her legs.

What has happened here? She has never done this before. I pick her up and gently lay her on the bed.
I tightly wrap the robe around her and try to wake her up but to no avail. Seeing her in this state is so painful.
Finally, the doctor arrives. “Ciao signore. Per favore muovi un po 'a parte.” She is our family doctor Bianca and my friend. Whatever happens to someone she tends to them. (Hello Sir. Please move a little aside)

I move aside giving her time to check her. She examines her legs for two to three minutes.
She then looks towards me before saying. “Signore, le pezze di vetro hanno trafitto la pelle profondamente. Dobbiamo rimuoverli prima.” I permit her and she starts treating her wounds. (Sir, the glass pieces have pierced the skin deeply. We have to remove them first.)
Her legs were completely covered with blood.

After one hour finally, Ana's legs are bandaged now. They are wrapped in a thick bandage. I don’t think she will be able to walk for some time.
She is still unconscious. Bianca is examining her right now. An IV is attached to Analise.
Bianca starts packing her things and then come towards me. “How is her condition? What has happened to her?” I ask her.
“Sir she is fine. She fainted because of not eating properly. There will be no infection due to wounds on her legs. She is too weak sir and- “She stops mid-sentence
when Analise starts to wake up groaning in pain.

“And what?” I ask her impatiently. I hope there is nothing to worry about.
“Complimenti signore. She is pregnant.” She says brightly with a smile on her face and looking towards Analise. (Congratulations Sir)
I am shocked. I don’t know what to say anymore. I am happy beyond words. I look at Bianca unable to believe it. Happiness envelops me.

It seems like a miracle. Finally, we will have our children.
“W-What did y-you say?” Analise speaks in her weak voice. She starts to get up and she notices an IV on her hand.
She screamed shocking us. Tears start running down her eyes. “Take this out. Take this out right now. I said right NOW.” She speaks loudly pointing towards her hand.
I forgot that she is afraid of needles.

“Ana calms down. Relax.” I move beside her and try to calm her but everything happened so fast.
She fainted in my arms. My week angel. What has happened to her?
“Signore non c'è nulla di cui preoccuparsi- “Bianca starts saying while looking at Analise but I interrupted her harshly. (Sir there is nothing to worry about-)

“Portalo fuori dalla mano in questo momento.” I say to her while gently holding Ana's hand in mine. (Take it out of her hand right now)
“Ok signore.” She starts taking the IV out of her hand. (Ok Sir)
“Qualcosa che dovrei sapere?” I ask Bianca and she nods. (Anything I should know about)
“As she is week so try to feed her properly. She will experience morning sickness but there is nothing to worry about. I have prescribed some tablets as well as
painkillers which she has to take.” She says and then leaves.

I look at Analise and then at her stomach which will not be flat soon. I am going to be a father.
Now my and Ana’s relation will be stronger. I stroke her face in hope that she will wake up soon. I hope that she will be as happy as I am.

ANALISE’S POV

I open my eyes and see that it is dark outside. Looking around me I notice that I am lying in bed. The clock shows nine.
I am feeling thirsty and my throat hurts. Why my legs are in so much pain?
I move the comforter from my legs to see them bandaged from my foot to knee.
Slowly everything starts becoming clear. I remember everything. I remember how I fell.
I remember how I fainted after listening to the doctor saying I am pregnant. I probably fainted because of that needle in my hand.

I look at my side to see Luciano working. He is sitting on the balcony with his laptop. He is looking calm.
I look at my bedside table in search of water but it is not there. I check the room and see water on the table which is far from me.
I move my legs to get up and wince loudly in pain. Luciano hears me and gets up. In a second, he is beside me.
“What happened? It is paining?” He asks me. He is worried and he looks tired.

“Water.” I barely manage to say because my throat is as dry as the desert.
He listens and brings me water. I gulp the whole glass in seconds. I take another glass because I am so thirsty.
Luciano talks to someone on phone then he sits beside me and takes my hand in his. “Congratulations baby. You are pregnant. Finally, we are going to be parents.” He says happily.

I can see a new glint in his eyes. His happiness can be sensed. I don’t know why but looking at him makes me think that maybe he has some good in him.
“I don’t want this child.” After gathering courage, I finally said to him what was in my mind. Though it pains to say these words.
Luciano's face suddenly becomes dark. Now there is no smile on his face. There is anger. Pure anger.
“Why?” He asks barely controlling himself.

“After what you did to me you still think that I will want to have your child.” I say to him. I don’t know why but I want him to sit far from. I am afraid that he will kill me any second as he is sitting so close.
“What you mean you don’t want my child? We are married and I love you.” He speaks.
“I want an a-abortion and I don’t want this c-child.” I say with tears in my eyes. Only I know how much painful it is to say these words.

I want this child but I don’t want my child to be a monster. To be raised as someone who kills other people.
To my surprise, Luciano instead of taking his anger outcomes towards me takes my hands in his gently.
“I know you want this child. If you wanted you could have killed it in the bathroom. But you didn’t. I know deep down you are as much happy as I am.”
After listening to him I start crying in his arms. He holds me tightly in his embrace and tries to soothe me.

Someone knocks on the door. I quickly wipe my tears because I don’t want anyone to see me like this. The door opens and Chiara walks in with other maids holding lots of food.
“Congratulations.” She says to both of us and hugs me tightly. I thank her and she leaves after placing the food beside us.
Luciano picks the bowl of soup. He takes a spoonful of it and brings it close to my mouth.

“I don’t want to eat it.” I say to him lightly. I don’t like soup. It has a bad taste.
“You have to eat it if you want or not. You have not been eating properly for some days that’s why you fainted.” He says and I can do nothing but oblige.
I take a spoonful and I am surprised. It is tasty. Chiara is surely good at cooking. He feeds me the whole bowl and gives me fruits.
After that he gives me medicine and now, I am already ready to sleep. Luciano is holding me tightly with his hand on my stomach.

“Why you thought of killing our child?” Luciano asks breaking the silence. He has asked that question which I dreaded the most to answer. Should I answer him or not?
“I am afraid that you might take my child away from me.” I tell him a half-truth.
“I will never do such a thing, Tesoro. You and this child are my world. Don’t try anything like this again.” He speaks.
“I know what you are thinking. I was scared when I saw you in the bathroom in that condition. I was afraid that I might lose you and believe me I don’t want to lose
you. I promise I will be a good father to our child.” He says shocking me.

His words seem true. This makes me think that how many days will he keep his promise.
I don’t tell him anything further and let sleep come over.
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