Chapter 100 RETURNING HAPPINESS
.
.
.
AUTHOR’S POV
“Oh my God, Adeline, I knew there was something going on between you two!”
Eva nodded vigorously, her hands clasped together.
“We all knew, honestly. The tension between you guys was so obvious!”
Rose smirked as she leaned in.
“And now look at you, pregnant with uncle Luciano’s child! This is huge.”
Adeline, still overwhelmed, wiped at her tear-streaked face and tried to catch her breath.
“You guys… this isn’t—”
“It is happening,”
Kiara interrupted with a knowing smile.
“And you need to start accepting it.”
Alessandra, watching the girls fuss over Adeline, smiled warmly before stepping forward.
“Adeline, are you happy?” Her voice was gentle, yet firm.
“Because that’s what matters most.”
Adeline looked up, her teary eyes meeting Alessandra’s.
She hesitated, emotions swirling inside her like a storm. Was she happy? Everything had happened so fast—too fast.
She had barely even processed it.
But when she thought about it, about the life growing inside her, about him…
Her gaze flickered to Luciano, who was still standing there, watching her with that unreadable yet intense expression.
His presence was steady, unwavering, as if silently reassuring her that he was right there, just as he had said.
She swallowed hard before nodding slowly.
“I… I think I am.”
Alessandra let out a breath of relief.
“And the father of the child?” she pressed gently.
“Is he happy?”
Adeline felt her chest tighten at that question. Her heart pounded as everyone turned to look at her, waiting for her answer.
Nervously, she glanced at Luciano again, trying to read his face, but before she could say anything, the weight of it all suddenly became too much.
Tears spilled over again, and this time, she couldn’t stop them.
A sob broke free from her lips, her hands shaking as she covered her face.
Vladimir, who had been standing quietly this whole time, stepped forward with a frown.
“Adeline, why are you crying again?”
His tone was more confused than concerned.
Isabella chuckled, shaking her head.
“She’s overwhelmed,” she murmured to Vladimir.
“She doesn’t know how to handle all of this.”
Aurora, ever the troublemaker, smirked mischievously.
“Maybe she’s crying because she thought Luciano would run away.”
Adeline gasped, glaring at her through her tears.
“Aurora!”
Aurora only laughed, but before Adeline could say anything else, Luciano finally let out a deep sigh, stepping forward.
His voice was calm, yet there was something final about his words.
“I’m right here.”
The room fell silent.
For a few moments, no one spoke, the weight of his statement sinking in.
Then, realization hit, and a collective gasp swept through the group.
Eva’s hands shot to her mouth, her eyes wide.
Aurora’s smirk disappeared, replaced with sheer disbelief.
Rose looked like she had just witnessed a miracle.
Kiara blinked rapidly, her brain trying to process the information.
Even the older family members, including Alessandra and Isabella, exchanged surprised glances.
“You’re the father?” Kiara finally found her voice, her mouth hanging open.
Luciano exhaled, his gaze never leaving Adeline.
“Yes.” His tone was unwavering, confident, as if daring anyone to challenge him.
Kiara turned to Adeline, then back to Luciano, then back to Adeline again.
“Wait, wait, wait. So, you two…” She pointed at them dramatically.
“Actually slept together?”
Adeline groaned, covering her face in embarrassment as the other girls gasped in delight.
“Oh my God, you guys have really been keeping secrets,” Eva teased.
Isabella smirked knowingly.
“It all makes sense now.”
Alessandra, however, simply smiled, her eyes softening as she took in her son’s expression. She had never seen him this serious about anyone before.
This wasn’t just responsibility—this was something more.
“Adeline,” Alessandra said again, stepping forward.
“Thank you.”
Adeline lifted her teary gaze, confused.
“Why are you thanking me?”
Alessandra’s smile deepened.
“For giving my son something he never thought he would have—a family of his own.”
Adeline let out another choked sob, unable to contain her emotions any longer.
The weight of it all—everything she had gone through, everything she had feared—seemed to crumble in that moment.
And before she could even think, Luciano was there, pulling her into his arms.
The warmth of his embrace was overwhelming, and she melted into him, her fingers clutching onto the fabric of his suit as she buried her face into his chest.
The others watched, some in shock, some in awe, some simply smiling at the sight of the infamous Luciano Morellu holding a woman like she was his entire world.
Aurora, unable to resist, grinned.
“Now who’s the emotional one?”
Rose chuckled, shaking her head.
“She’s gonna cry herself to sleep at this rate.”
Kiara smirked.
“She’ll be fine. Luciano’s got her.”
Luciano, ignoring the teasing, leaned down slightly, his lips brushing against Adeline’s ear.
“Are you cold?”
She sniffled, nodding slightly.
Without hesitation, he pulled the blanket from Aurora’s hands and wrapped it securely around her, making sure she was warm.
Adeline sighed, her eyelids growing heavy, exhaustion slowly settling in.
Luciano pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“Rest,” he murmured.
“I’ve got you.”
As the others continued to chatter excitedly about weddings—especially hers—Adeline finally let herself relax, knowing that for the first time in a long time, she was safe.
Safe in his arms.
Safe with him.
.
.
.
The room was bathed in a soft morning glow, the curtains swaying slightly as a gentle breeze slipped through the open window.
The warmth of the blankets cocooned Adeline in comfort, but nothing compared to the heat of the body wrapped around hers.
Luciano had been awake for a while, lying still, simply watching her. His strong arm draped over her waist, his fingers splayed protectively over her stomach.
The realization that his child was growing inside her sent an unfamiliar warmth through him—a mixture of excitement, pride, and something deeper, something possessive.
His thumb moved in slow, absent-minded circles over her bare skin, feeling the softness beneath his touch.
Every inhale she took pressed her body against his, her form delicate against his much larger frame.
His other hand rested beneath the blanket, tangled in her silken hair.
Adeline shifted slightly, her body stretching as a small gasp left her lips. She let out a sleepy sigh before unconsciously turning toward him, seeking warmth.
Luciano smirked, tightening his hold as he pulled her gently against his chest. Her soft leg draped lazily over his thigh, her warmth seeping into him.
The moment she stirred, his hand slid lower, resting against the curve of her bare ass. His fingers instinctively flexed, kneading the supple flesh, earning the quietest of whimpers from her.
She stirred again, her lashes fluttering, before her hazy, sleep-filled eyes met his.
Adeline gasped softly, her mind slowly registering how close they were, how entangled their bodies had become.
Her gaze flickered down, realization dawning upon her as the heat of his bare skin against hers became undeniable.
Luciano’s deep morning voice rumbled against her.
“Good morning.”
Her breath hitched at the huskiness of his tone, and she shyly offered him a small, sleepy smile.
But as her mind became clearer, she became acutely aware of her state—her completely naked state.
A faint shiver ran through her body as she whispered,
“Why am I… naked?”
Luciano’s lips curled in amusement, his hand never leaving her skin.
“That dress was too tight.” His voice was slow, deliberate.
“I didn’t want our child to feel uncomfortable.”
Her heart stuttered at his words. Our child.
A blush crept up her neck, warmth spreading through her entire body as she glanced down, instinctively placing her hand over her stomach.
But she wasn’t the only one.
Luciano’s large palm was already there, his fingers spreading possessively over the small swell of her belly.
A rush of emotions flooded her—disbelief, excitement, nervousness.
She bit the inside of her lip before lightly scratching the back of his palm, a silent acknowledgment.
He watched her closely, taking in the softness of her expression, the innocence in her touch, the way she fit against him like she had always belonged there.
Slowly, Adeline nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, her lips ghosting over his skin as she whispered,
“I… I want you.”
The words were so quiet, so timid, yet they sent a wave of heat coursing through him.
Luciano inhaled sharply.
His grip on her waist tightened as he slowly rolled, shifting his weight so that he hovered above her.
The heavy blankets slipped lower, draping over his broad shoulders but leaving her completely bare beneath him.
Adeline’s breath came in shallow pants as she felt the weight of his body settle between her legs.
The cool morning air kissed her exposed skin, her chest rising and falling with anticipation.
His dark gaze swept over her—slow, intense, and filled with something dangerously addictive.
She trembled beneath his scrutiny, her hands instinctively reaching to cover herself, but before she could, Luciano caught her wrists, pinning them gently above her head.
A deep, knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
“Don’t hide from me, bambina.”
Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, her heart pounding against her ribs as his eyes roamed over her form with unashamed appreciation.
Her body was his to admire, his to worship, and from the way he looked at her, she knew he had no intention of letting her forget that.