Chapter 230

“Mommy is here!” I grabbed a talkative Siena as she was jumping up and down in her crib. It was the early morning and my last day in this household.

Days had gone by quickly, and I spent them with my loved ones as much as I could. After spending several days with my parents, I had decided to spend my last day back home—as a family.

Saying goodbye to my parents and siblings was the hardest because I could not tell them about my worries. As if it wasn’t bad already, I couldn’t forget my brother’s final words.

“Just know if someone would ask me between my life or yours….” Beau joked around yesterday. “I would tell them to take yours.”

We all knew it wasn’t true, but it would’ve been better if it was. I didn’t want anyone to follow me or to fight for me. All I wanted was to surrender myself so we didn’t have to lose any more people.

Siena looked around, searching for Christian. “Do you want daddy?”

She squealed, flapping her hands. “I’ll just take that as a yes?”

I made my way downstairs and headed to the kitchen, where Christian was making breakfast.

“Hey, you’re up!” He turned to look at me. “I made you something!”

I didn’t know what to say, so all I could do was smile. We had come a long way from him giving me a side-eye each time I was in his presence.

I sat down with Siena on my lap. “Do you want me to take her?” Christian offered immediately, placing a plate in front of me.

“No, I just want to hold her for a bit longer.” I hugged Siena. I wanted to be with her for as long as I could.

Christian reached for my hand. “Sure.”

I looked into his eyes, remembering all the time we got to spend together, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing.” I smiled. “Do you remember asking me what I was sorry for?”

“Yes, I shouldn’t have pressured you like that.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you because, believe it or not—I’m the cause of all of this.”

Christian seemed surprised. “Serena…”

“All of this started with me. I ruined your family.” I stated. I forced him to fall in love with me, knowing that he did not want to. Unfortunately, his uncle was out to break him no matter the cause, and because he knew how much love Christian has for me, it would’ve only been a matter of time before he would’ve gotten to me anyway.

At least this way I can protect the Lamberti’s.

“That’s not true. You are my family.” Christian frowned. “I also don’t know why you’d bring up something like that.”

“Well—“

“All of this will be over next week, and then we can focus on you, me—and Siena.” Christian interrupted me. “Okay?”

“Okay.”

I felt guilty for making him believe that all would be fine, knowing it wouldn’t. They had put so much thought into this plan, only for me to do my own thing. Was my life worth more than others? No, and that’s why I could not regret my decision.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked.

“Anything.”

“I want to ask you to put Siena first, no matter what—you need to put her first.”

Christian furrowed his brow. “Am I not doing that already?”

I nodded with a bright smile on my lips. He had been doing that ever since she was born. Although he didn’t always use to cleanest words around her, he had always been careful around her.

“I like this, just the three of us,” I said. “I know my expression is a bit dry, but I’m having fun.”

“So is Siena.” Christian pointed his head at Siena, trying to get to my food. “So, how was living with your family?”

“Thanks for asking.” I rolled my eyes before going on a rant.

I came to learn my two older brothers could not spend a day without arguing and were even worse than dad and Beau.

Luke, who had shown no interest in the family business, had done a complete 180 and tagged along whenever he could, which had initially worried me because he’s still a teenager.

Carmen and Kenny began dating, and dad wouldn’t leave that poor boy alone. He even told him he wasn’t allowed to break up with her, or he would kill him regardless of being a Lamberti.

My mom turned out to be quite alright, though.

“What?” I glared at Christian, who was eyeing me strangely. Was I overreacting?

“Nothing,” Christian spoke.

“I’m listening and admiring the view.”

I made a pose and brushed my hair to the side as Christian laughed at me. He had this strange habit of staring at me, one I would miss. I hadn’t told him about the baby, but I knew it was something I had to do today.

No matter what, he had the right to hear it from my mouth, and I was going to give him the news tonight. I wanted our last memory to be a happy moment.

“Do you remember our first unofficial date?”

Christian went into deep thoughts. I could tell that he didn’t want to give me the wrong answer. “The night we made Siena?” He asked carefully.

“No, not that day!” I laughed out loud. “It was a few weeks after I started living here,” I explained.

“We didn’t get along, and I asked you to make more time for me—so you did.”

A smile grew on his lips. “I remember.”

“Yes?” I confirmed. “We watched movies for the entire night, and you knew every Disney princess and every line?”

“Because of my sisters!” Christian came to his defense. Back then, we were so awkward and couldn’t even look each other in the eye. At that time, I couldn’t wait until Siena was born so that I could get the hell out of here.

“Sure, if you say so.” I played along. “I was wondering if we could do that again…with Siena?”

“Whatever you want.” Christian shrugged. “I’ll watch those boring movies with you or whatever.” He smirked.

Just as promised, that was precisely what we had done for the entire night. I wanted to make the most out of our final night and couldn’t have wished for anything better.

Even Siena, who was already asleep in her crib, had a fun time. As sorry as I felt, I had written a letter to both Christian and Siena. I knew words couldn’t explain my feelings, but I could at least try.

I grabbed the small box containing the pregnancy test and hid it behind my back as I made my way back to our bedroom. “Is Siena still asleep?” Christian asked.

I gave him a nod and stepped forward. “I brought you a present,” I spoke.

“Me?” Christian pointed at himself. I scoffed, revealing the box behind my back. “Unless you’re seeing ghosts in this room?”

“Serena, you didn’t have to.” Christian reached for the box, but I turned before he could get to it.

“In that case, I’ll keep it.”

Christian got up from the bed and wrapped his arms around my back, forcing me to hand over the box. “I never said I didn’t want it.” He argued.

Eager to open it, he didn’t waste a second and opened it. It had almost felt as if the world had stopped as I waited for his reaction, but all I noticed was a confused expression.

“Oh, wow...” Christian spoke. “Do you have…a fever?”

I facepalmed. “God, you’re stupid.”

“I’m stupid?” Christian whispered. “What does this mean?”

“Come on.” I pouted at his changed expression.“You know what it means.”

What was wrong?

Did he not want the baby anymore?

Was I mistaken?

It made me think of my first pregnancy.

“Christian…say something.”

“Is this real?” Christian laughed nervously. Unable to control my emotions, a tear had already escaped from my eye.

Christian wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against his chest. “Those better are happy tears!”

“I don’t know,” I spoke, flustered. “It depends on how you feel about it.”

“How I feel about it?” He chuckled, lifting me off the ground and twirling me around. “Stop it!” I giggled. “I’m getting dizzy!”

“For how long have you known?“ He placed me back on my feet and rested his hand on my shoulders. The news had excited him, and once again, I felt guilty for taking away his happiness, just like that.

“A few weeks.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me anything?” Christian asked. “You know I’d be by your side.”

“Because I didn’t want to worry you,” I spoke. “And I had Beau by my side.”

“He knew, and he didn’t tell me?” Christian laughed, hugging me again. Having a big family was all he ever wished for.

“Have you seen a doctor?”

“No—“

“Then we should go right now—“

“Christian!” I called him out. I grabbed his hand and took a deep breath. “You’re making me nervous.” I smiled. “We’ll go tomorrow.”

Lies, I wouldn’t even be here tomorrow.

“Sure.” Christian agreed. “We’ll go first thing tomorrow, deal?”

I tried my hardest to keep my lips from trembling. “Deal.”

“Is there something you need?”

Yes, I need for you to move on with your life—I need you to find happiness, and I need for you to be safe.

“All I need is you.”