Chapter 197 The Secret She Came to Tell Him

Chapter 197 The Secret She Came to Tell Him
Nico slowly opened the door to Bianca's room.
He stepped inside.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Bianca was lying on the bed, her injured shoulder carefully bandaged. Her face was pale, but her eyes were open.
She turned toward the sound of the door.
The moment she saw him, her eyes widened.
"Nico?"
He stopped.
Bianca stared at him in disbelief.
"How...?"
She tried to sit up.
"Nico, how did you get here?"
Nico immediately moved toward her.
"Don't get up."
He gently placed a hand against her uninjured shoulder.
"You've been shot."
Bianca stared at him.
"How come you are here?"
A small smile appeared on Nico's face.
"What happened?"
She probed.
"A lot."
He pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat beside her.
"But none of that matters right now."
His eyes moved over her face.
"I'm just happy you're alive."
Bianca swallowed.
"You thought I was dead?"
"I was told you were dead."
"Viktor lied to me."
Bianca stared at him.
"He told me that, to manipulate me."
Nico looked down.
"He wanted me to believe Roman killed you."
Bianca slowly shook her head, then slowly reached for his hand.
There was something different about him.
He looked tired.
Broken.
But sincere.
Nico took it.
"I'm glad you are here."
He squeezed her fingers.
"So am I."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Bianca's expression changed.
She suddenly looked worried.
"Nico..."
"Yes?"
"Where is my father?"
Nico's heart dropped.
There it was.
The question he had been dreading.
Bianca looked toward the door.
"I want to see him."
Nico swallowed.
"Bianca..."
"Where is he?"
She tried to sit up again.
"I need to see my father."
Nico gently pushed her back against the pillow.
"Please, don't move."
"Where is he?"
Her voice became desperate.
Nico looked away.
Bianca immediately noticed.
"Nico..."
He couldn't look at her.
"Something happened."
Her breathing became faster.
"What happened?"
Nico finally looked at her.
His eyes were already filled with tears.
"I'm sorry."
Bianca froze.
"No."
Nico shook his head slowly.
"Your father was shot."
Her face went blank.
"Shot?"
"Viktor shot him."
"No."
"Bianca..."
"No."
She shook her head.
"No, he can't be."
Nico reached for her hand.
"The physician tried to save him."
Bianca's eyes filled with tears.
"But he lost too much blood."
Nico's voice broke.
"I'm sorry."
Bianca stared at him.
She couldn't process the words.
Her father was dead?
Gone.
Her only surviving parent.
"No..."
A sob escaped her.
"No!"
She covered her face with her hands.
Nico immediately moved closer.
"Bianca..."
"My father!"
She broke down.
"He can't be dead."
Nico wrapped his arms around her carefully.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't even get to say goodbye!"
Her sobs grew louder.
"I was angry with him..."
Nico held her tightly.
"I know."
"I told him I hated what he was doing."
Her shoulders shook.
"And now he's gone."
For several moments, she couldn't speak.
Then she broke down again.
Nico remained beside her, holding her as she cried.
Whatever mistakes Don Russo had made...
Whatever betrayal had occurred...
He had still been her father.
And Bianca had just lost him.

\---

Meanwhile, Don Roman pushed open the door to his study.
He already knew Aurelia would be there.
He had expected her to wait.
And she had.
Aurelia stood near the large window with her back toward the door.
She heard his footsteps.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither said anything.
Don Roman closed the door behind him.
Aurelia's heart pounded.
She had imagined this moment countless times while hiding inside that truck.
She had imagined running into his arms.
She had imagined him smiling.
She had imagined him asking why she came.
But she hadn't imagined the silence.
Don Roman walked past her.
He went straight to the drinks cabinet.
He poured himself a glass of whisky.
Then another.
He downed both without saying a word.
Aurelia watched him nervously.
She could see the exhaustion in his face.
The tension in his shoulders.
The dried blood on his clothing from the battle.
He looked like a man who hadn't slept in days.
Finally, DonRoman placed the glass down.
He turned toward her.
"Why?"
Aurelia swallowed.
"Roman..."
"Why did you risk your life?"
His voice was controlled.
But beneath it was anger.
"I put you somewhere safe."
He stepped closer.
"I deliberately kept you away from this."
"I didn't contact you because I didn't want anyone tracing you."
"I wanted you alive."
Aurelia lowered her eyes.
"And you decided to throw all of that away."
"I'm sorry."
Don Roman shook his head.
"Don't apologize yet."
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
"Tell me why."
Aurelia took a shaky breath.
"I kept having nightmares."
Don Roman frowned.
"Nightmares?"
"About you."
She wiped a tear from her cheek.
"They kept coming back."
"What kind?"
Aurelia hesitated.
"I would see you..."
Her voice trembled.
"Sometimes you were lying somewhere covered in blood."
Don Roman's expression softened slightly.
"Other times, I would see you surrounded by people trying to kill you."
She shook her head.
"I kept waking up terrified."
Don Roman remained silent.
"I tried to tell myself it was only a dream."
"But every time I closed my eyes, it happened again."
Aurelia looked at him.
"And you weren't calling."
Don Roman's expression changed.
"I was keeping you safe."
"Now I know."
She stepped closer.
"But I couldn't stay there anymore."
Don Roman sighed.
"Aurelia..."
"I needed to know you were alive."
She reached for his hand.
Don Roman didn't pull away.
"I needed to see you with my own eyes."
She gently held his hand.
"And there was something else."
Don Roman looked at her.
"What?"
Aurelia's heart began pounding harder.
She slowly lowered his hand.
Then placed it against her stomach.
Don Roman frowned.
He looked down at their hands.
Then back at her.
"Aurelia..."
She smiled through her tears.
"I came here because I needed to tell you something."
Don Roman's eyes searched hers.
"What?"
Aurelia took a deep breath.
"I'm carrying your child."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Don Roman stared at her.
His eyes slowly widened.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
He looked down at his hand resting against her stomach.
Then back into her eyes.
"You're..."
His voice failed him.
Aurelia nodded.
"I'm pregnant."
Don Roman's lips parted.
He couldn't speak.
He stood completely speechless.
Aurelia watched him anxiously.
"I needed to let you know."
Don Roman slowly looked at her stomach again.
His expression changed completely.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Then something Aurelia had never seen in his eyes before.
Pure emotion.
"A child..."
He whispered.
"Our child."
Aurelia nodded.
"Yes."
Don Roman slowly lifted his eyes toward her.
All he could see was Aurelia, and the life growing inside her.