135: His Princess
ARIANA
Enzo was holding my hand. He still didn't let go. The doctor placed the baby on my chest. “It's a girl. Congratulations. You have been bestowed with a beautiful baby girl.” The doctor added in a low tone. I looked at my perfect little girl. They had cleaned her up just a little. My heart swelled with happiness. All that I went through, at that exact moment, it was all worth it.
I could feel Enzo excitedly looking at the baby. His eyes were filled with tears and he had this smile on his face that I had hardly seen on his face before. He looked at me and then at the baby. He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “Mr De Luca. Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?” The doctor asked Enzo, offering him one of her scissors.
Enzo was hesitant. He squeezed my hand a little. His eyes were on the umbilical cord. He didn't want to miss that experience but at the same time, he didn't want to leave me alone. “Don't think too much. Just go and cut that cord. It's your right as her father.” The question in his eyes, that he couldn't speak, I was able to read them in his eyes.
The moment he got the clear signal from me, he was literally jumping in excitement. Smiling like a fool, he walked over and cut the cord. Then he placed his huge hand on the baby's back. The tears he had been holding in his eyes, started flowing almost immediately as he touched his baby.
“How small she is. How fragile. Will I be able to protect her?” He whispered while caressing the baby's cheek gently. He was trying to stay strong for my sake. But he was allowed to be human for once.
I placed my hand on top of his. The baby cooed as if she felt us connecting again, with her, as a signature of the relationship that we shared. “You will make a great father. You raised me. You raised Suzie. We both turned out fine.” I whispered while staring into his eyes.
He gulped hard as he listened to me. “You will make mistakes. We both will. But we will try to do our best. To give her the best life possible.” I added further. He smiled and wiped his own tears. Leaning in, he kissed the baby's head and then he kissed me on my lips.
The doctor took the baby from me. Enzo was alert all of a sudden. “I need to take her to get her checked, vaccinated and cleaned up. Don't worry. It's normal procedure.” the nurse spoke in a low tone.
I could clearly see that he was disturbed. He didn't want anyone to take his baby away from him. But yet again, he decided to stay. I also didn't want him to go but at the same time, I didn't want our helpless baby to get into any trouble while she was defenceless.
“Go! Be with her. Protect her.” I gave him permission. Although he was happy, he didn't move.
“What about you? Who will stay with you? I don't want to leave you alone.” Enzo was trying to hold back. I knew he was dying to follow that nurse. But I had no way to reassure him that I would be okay.
“You can go after your baby, dad. I will stay with Ariana. I will stay with her until you come back.” It was Suzie who spoke as she walked into the room where I had given birth to my baby. She looked at me with a small smile on her face. She was hesitant. Yet, she was there to be with me.
I gave her a tired smile and offered her my hand. She was quick to grab my hand, and she took a seat beside me. “Go! I will be fine with Suzie.” Now my reassurance worked on Enzo. He nodded his head and walked out of the room, following the nurse who took away my baby.
The doctor helped me slowly push the placenta out of my belly. Once done, she started cleaning up everything.
“I am glad. And I am happy for both of you. After everything, you and dad finally found happiness. And my mother is no longer here to ruin your perfect family.” She had tears in her eyes as she talked about our family.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You are part of that family too. You might not be Enzo's biological daughter. But he loves and cares for you like you both share blood. Forget about Valentina. She was a bitch and she deserves every bit of whatever Enzo is doing to her. But you don't have to bear the consequences of that evil witch's sins. You are free now. Be happy.” I calmly replied to her. A sob left her lips but she was smiling.
She nodded her head and hugged me. She was careful not to hurt me.