Chapter 289 — It’s Her

Chapter 289 — It’s Her
Five months later, life had finally settled into a calm rhythm—until one quiet complaint turned the entire night upside down.

“Are you still working this late?”

Elena’s voice carried a soft trace of protest as she stepped into the bedroom. She had just finished putting Lila and Leo to bed after dinner. The house had grown quiet, wrapped in the peaceful silence of night, yet her husband was still awake.

Dario sat against the headboard of the bed, his long legs stretched out comfortably. A laptop rested on his lap while he reviewed a report with focused concentration. When he heard her voice, he lifted his head immediately.

The glow from the screen faded as he slowly closed the laptop.

The moment his eyes landed on Elena, the tension in his shoulders disappeared.

She stood there in the soft light, her pregnant figure radiating warmth and life. Even after ten months of carrying their child, she still looked breathtaking to him.

“Is my wife complaining?” he asked with a teasing smirk.

Before she could respond, he reached out, caught her hand, and gently pulled her onto his lap.

Elena gasped in surprise, instinctively placing her hand against his chest to steady herself.

“Be careful, Mr. Moretti,” she scolded lightly, tapping his chest in playful warning.

“Okay, amore mio,” Dario replied softly.

He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. His fingers lingered gently near her cheek while his gaze moved slowly to her lips.

He leaned closer, clearly planning to kiss her.

But Elena reacted quickly.

“Ah… no,” she murmured, shaking her head while placing her hand over his mouth.

“No naughty business.”

Dario sighed dramatically, his disappointment obvious.

“Baby,” he complained, “how long will you keep torturing me like this?”

Elena smiled mischievously and patted his cheek.

“Hubby, I’m in my tenth month. The baby could arrive any moment. So behave.”

Her teasing tone only encouraged the powerful mafia don even more.

His muscular arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her closer.

“Alright, mia moglie,” he murmured in a deep voice.

“I’ll be careful.”

His tone softened as he continued.

“But at least let me love you a little.”

The warmth in his voice sent a quiet shiver through Elena’s body.

Her heart responded instantly.

She wanted him too.

But uncertainty lingered in her mind.

This stage of pregnancy was unfamiliar to her. The doctor had not forbidden intimacy, but she still felt unsure.

The last time she had been pregnant, Dario had not been there.

She had faced everything alone.

Before she could speak again, Dario’s lips brushed against the sensitive skin behind her ear.

Elena closed her eyes as warmth spread through her body.

“Ah… hubby…” she murmured softly.

His hands moved gently over her body, resting briefly over her chest, which had become more sensitive during pregnancy.

Then suddenly—

Dario froze.

His expression shifted instantly.

A warm liquid sensation spread across his pajama pants.

Wet.

His eyes widened as he pulled away in confusion.

“What—?”

Before he could finish, Elena looked at him calmly.

“My water broke.”

The words hung in the air.

Dario blinked slowly.

“Huh?”

“Oh G, od!” Elena suddenly exclaimed. “Hurry up! My water broke—it’s time!”

Reality hit him like lightning.

His mind finally snapped back to focus.

Without another word, he carefully lifted her from his lap and placed her gently on the bed.

Then he jumped up and began pacing frantically around the room.

He looked everywhere.

The wardrobe.

The dresser.

The floor.

He seemed completely unsure of what to do.

Elena watched him with a mix of amusement and frustration.

“Dario!”

He turned instantly.

“Take the hospital bag. My medical files and clothes are inside. Call the driver. We need to go to the hospital right now.”

“Yes… yes, amore mio,” he replied quickly.

He rushed to the wardrobe and grabbed the bag and medical files from the top shelf. Then he pulled out his phone and called the chauffeur.

Meanwhile, Elena called the nanny and asked her to watch Lila and Leo while they were gone.

When Elena tried to stand up carefully, Dario turned around and saw her moving.

“Hey!”

Before she could take another step, he rushed forward and lifted her into his arms.

“I can walk,” Elena protested.

“No,” he said firmly.

“You relax.”

He pressed a reassuring kiss against her forehead as he carried her toward the car.

Elena studied his face quietly.

Her fearsome mafia husband looked nervous.

Extremely nervous.

And somehow, that made her smile.

Soon they arrived at the hospital.

Dario had already alerted the doctors ahead of time. Even though the hospital staff rushed forward to help, he refused to hand Elena over.

He carried her all the way to the labor room himself.

Once the delivery began, he refused to leave her side.

He held her hand tightly.

Watching her face twist in pain made his chest tighten painfully.

Her cries echoed through the room, each one stabbing directly into his heart.

He felt helpless.

“Doctor!” he snapped impatiently.

“Do something! Speed this up!”

The doctor remained calm.

“Mr. Moretti, the baby will arrive in her own time.”

But that answer did nothing to calm Dario.

“You’re useless,” he growled angrily.

Elena’s eyes widened despite the pain.

“Bring another doctor!” he demanded.

“If you can’t do it, I’ll find someone who can.”

The doctor stared at the notorious mafia don with disbelief but wisely avoided arguing.

Instead, he focused on guiding Elena through the delivery.

“Dario!” Elena suddenly shouted.

“I’m the one in pain!”

“I know, baby,” Dario replied immediately.

His voice softened.

“Calm down.”

Everyone in the room exchanged stunned looks.

The terrifying mafia boss had turned into a gentle husband in seconds.

“Shut up!” Elena yelled again.

Dario pouted.

“I’m sorry, baby. I won’t say anything else.”

He began demonstrating exaggerated breathing.

“Just breathe like this—”

“Stop it, Dario!” she shouted again.

This time he placed a finger over his lips obediently.

He stayed silent.

But his sharp gaze moved toward the doctor, silently warning him to be careful.

After several exhausting pushes—

A newborn's cry filled the room.

The nurse lifted the baby gently.

“A beautiful girl,” she announced.

The sound of his daughter’s cry overwhelmed Dario.

When the nurse placed the baby in his arms, his powerful hands suddenly felt fragile.

“She looks just like you, Mr. Moretti,” the nurse said with a smile.

For the first time in his life, Dario felt like he was holding the most precious treasure in existence.

“Hello, my princess,” he whispered.

A tear slipped down his cheek.

He kissed his daughter’s forehead gently.

Soon the nurse handed the baby to Elena so she could feed her.

After helping them settle, the nurse quietly left the room.

Dario stood beside the bed, watching them with awe.

“What?” Elena asked softly.

Dario’s voice became quiet.

“I regret missing Lila and Leo’s births.”

His eyes reflected deep emotion.

Elena swallowed gently.

She had missed him too during those moments.

But she chose not to dwell on the past.

“We can create new memories,” she said warmly.

Dario’s eyes brightened.

“You mean… we can have more children?”

Elena blinked.

“What?”

She had just given birth to their third child.

And he was already thinking about more?

“Only if you’re willing to carry them and feel the pain,” she teased.

Dario laughed deeply.

“I would do anything to have a big family with you.”

He leaned down and kissed her softly.

Suddenly, the baby began crying again.

Dario sighed.

“Give her to me.”

He lifted the baby and rocked her gently.

Soon she calmed down and drifted back to sleep.

Elena watched them quietly.

Her heart filled with warmth.

Her powerful husband, feared by so many people, had become the gentlest father.

She felt like the luckiest woman alive.

She picked up her phone and shared the news with their loved ones.

The next day, friends and family arrived to meet the baby.

Lila and Leo were thrilled to see their new sister.

Elena’s mother arrived.

Her brother Duke Torres came with his wife, whom he had married only a month earlier.

Camila and Matthew also came to celebrate.

The room was filled with joy and laughter.

Only one person was missing.

Matteo.

He had sent gifts but could not come.

When Elena called him, she scolded him playfully.

“That’s not fair! You didn’t come, but you sent gifts. Even Camila came, and she’s heavily pregnant!”

On the other side of the phone, Matteo smiled faintly.

“Mila, you know I’m busy with movie promotions,” he said apologetically.

“I’ll visit you and the baby when everything is finished.”

His schedule was overwhelming.

His upcoming film had him buried in endless events.

The carefree Matteo from before felt like a distant memory.

Now he worked constantly.

Perhaps to escape something.

“Alright,” Elena sighed.

“I forgive you this time.”

Then her voice softened.

“But take care of yourself.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Matteo chuckled.

“What did you name the baby?”

“Olivia,” Elena replied.

She looked toward the newborn sleeping peacefully in Dario’s arms.

“This time Dario chose the name.”

“Olivia,” Matteo repeated quietly.

“Beautiful name.”

He sighed.

“I’ve arrived at the hotel. The event is starting.”

“I’ll talk to you later.”

He ended the call.

He was in New York City.

Outside the Seven-Star Hotel, reporters and fans crowded the entrance.

Matteo stepped out of the car with his usual star-like confidence.

Cameras flashed.

Fans cheered.

He smiled politely.

But inside…

He felt empty.

Suddenly—

His eyes froze.

Across the crowd.

A familiar face.

His heart stopped.

It was her.

His wife.

His Clara.

Meanwhile—

“Please, Jorren,” Clara pleaded softly from the doorway.

“Can I take the day off? I’m not feeling well.”

Jorren leaned back in his chair with a sly smile.

“How can you ask for leave today?” he said mockingly.

“We have a huge event at the hotel.”

Clara knew exactly what he was doing.

He had deliberately not told her that Matteo De Luca would be there.

Since the scandal, her life had collapsed.

She had been blacklisted everywhere.

No company wanted to hire the woman accused of betraying Matteo De Luca.

So she left Los Angeles.

Moved to New York.

And took whatever job she could find.

She needed money.

She had bills to pay.

And she couldn’t afford to starve.

Especially now.

Because she was not alone.

She was pregnant.

With Matteo De Luca’s child.

When she first missed her period and began feeling constant nausea, she went to the hospital.

The test result changed everything.

She was carrying his baby.

The discovery filled her with both happiness and pain.

But it also gave her a reason to keep moving forward.

Inside her…

She carried the child of the man she still loved.