Chapter 48: The Dinner

Lucca Cavelli's POV My heart lurched with anticipation as I waited for my wife to arrive at the restaurant we agreed to have dinner this evening. Though my original plan was to pick her up in our home but she refused telling me that she will just meet me here. I glanced at my watch for at least ten times now in a quarter of an hour. I just phoned Tatiana and told me she's already near. Only a few minutes and my Tatiana will finally arrive. I still can't believe that Tatiana was now carrying our twins. Dio, I'm going to be a father at last. I'm sure my mother would be thrilled once I broke the news about Tatiana's pregnancy. But I think it's not the right time yet to tell mother about it. There are things that Tatiana and I should be discussing first. And as I thought, this dinner will be the best thing to do tonight. I don't want to wait another day to open this discussion to my wife. But I held myself open to this topic due to Tatiana's state last week. My breath was caught at the sight of the strikingly beautiful woman who just entered the restaurant. She's achingly beautiful in that simple black dress that makes every man inside the posh restaurant stopped and watched her saunter inside. It seems that the world had stopped while she walked. My ever-possessive self roared with the knowledge that this singular woman was mine. My wife. My duchess. Mine. I stood from my chair once she's near the table I reserved. It's one of the best spots in the restaurant. "Good evening, Duchess." I stole a kiss on her blood red lips as I pulled out a chair for her, making sure that every man inside the room knew that she's mine. A pretty blush stained her cheeks. "Good evening, Your Excellency." She murmured demurely. I tried to hide my wolfish smile as I took my seat again. A waiter had moved to our table to give us the menu and wait for our order. I waited for Tatiana to give her order before I gave mine. I waited for the hovering waiter to be away from our table before I started what I wanted to say to Tatiana. About our marriage. "How's your day, darling?" I asked. "It's fine, Lucca." That's when I noticed that something was off on Tatiana's face. Uneasiness sneaked into my spine. I knew something was wrong. "What is it, Tatiana? Tell me. Something has happened to your day. I knew it." "Oh, it's nothing, Lucca." she waved her hand as if that's the cue that I can't ask more about it. "Tatiana..." I warned in a voice that my staff and employees shook with fear upon hearing it. She took a deep breath and glared at me. "All right, fine. Sabrina paid me a visit early this morning." I knew it. "So, what happened?" "Not much." Tatiana shrugged. "She asked for forgiveness and I gave it." "You've what?" I asked indecorously. "I said I forgive Sabrina." "I can't believe that I am hearing this rubbish. After all the pain and heartache and hell she's put you through just like that...." I snapped my fingers together. "...you forgave her?" Tatiana took a deep breath her pretty violet eyes flashed with fire. "It's not easy to forgive. But I think everyone should move on with their lives. The wallflower's revenge is finally over." "I can't believe that you're letting your stepsister off the hook that easy, mia moglie." I told her honestly. "I think she should be in jail with your ex-fiancé." "I don't want my niece or nephew to be born in jail, Lucca." I knew that deep down she's still a compassionate woman. She forgave the woman who betrayed her, nearly killed her and tried to get everything she has just for the sake of the baby growing inside her stepsister. "That baby is innocent to all of these." Tatiana added. "I know." Our conversation was interrupted when our order of food arrived. "But I don't want to talk about Sabrina's visit tonight, Lucca." Tatiana said, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I want to talk about something." "Yes." I agreed, sampling the food I ordered. "Me too, I want to talk about our marriage." Did I just imagine it or Tatiana paled beneath her already pale skin? "Yes." Tatiana swallowed hard. "I think it's about time we draw the divorce papers and set up joint custody for our children." Does the earth tilt from its axis? Or the ground beneath me suddenly opened? Because it feels that way. My heart pounded so loud that it made it difficult to breathe. I could swear Tatiana just said that she wants divorce. "What...did...you...say?" I asked Tatiana in a voice that I wasn't sure it's mine. She took a deep breath before focusing her unreadable gazed to mine. "I said, now that I finally let go of my revenge. I think we should talk about ending our partnership also." "The hell you say, woman!" I roared so loudly that severe heads turned in our direction. But I don't give a damn. Right now, all I wanted to do is wrong that pretty neck of hers. "Lucca," Tatiana murmured softly, giving a sideway glance at the people who'd been openly staring. "Your voice." Suddenly, I have enough of this ridiculous notion of Tatiana. I want this conversation inside the walls of our home, not in public places. We might as well make ourselves fool in tomorrow's paper if we don't leave right now. "You know what, cara mia?" I said in a deadly tone, fishing out my wallet I threw some rolls of cash on the table and abruptly stood from my chair. "I think it's better to finish this conversation home." I didn't wait for her replay and literally plucked her from her chair and dragged her out of the restaurant. As expected, she goes in rage pulling away with my grip while I continue to drag her away from the restaurant. "Lucca! What are you doing? Lucca! Lucca Domenico Cavelli!" I released her from my dead grip on the parking lot beside my Ferrari. "You woman," I said in a lethal tone. "What got into you to spurt nonsense to me?" "It wasn't nonsense." She contradicted. "It's what we have to do." "Why?" "Why?" Tatiana had the gut to scowl on my face when I should be the one doing that. "Our agreement was to help me gain my retribution but after that we will separate our ways." Oh, that stupid agreement we consent during the first few days of her in Amalfi Coast when she's still planning her revenge. "But things have changed now, haven't they?" I told her, sandwiching her between the cold metal on the car and my body. "Yes..." She breathed. Focusing her waning gazed on my face. I tried not to attack her in the middle of the parking lot but it's too damn hard. "I, being pregnant, changed everything. But we can't stay on a loveless marriage just because I'm having your baby. We can still raise them together even if we're divorce." "Loveless marriage?" I asked outrageously, I can't believe what I'm hearing with this woman. "Is that what we have, Tatiana? A loveless marriage?" "Maybe," she replied hesitantly. "You can't call it real if I'm the only one who's in love in our relationship, Lucca." "What did you say?" "I said," she took a deep breath, her violet eyes filled with hurt. I wanted to wipe that hurt away from her eyes because it feels like my heart was being crashed by a giant hand. "I love you, Lucca. I have loved you the moment I woke up in your villa. But I'm just so scared to make myself fall in love with another Italian guy." "I'm different with your ex-fiancé, Tatiana." I brushed off the hot tears that threatened to fall on her pretty eyes. "I know that." She replied in a low whisper. "That makes you a really kind man. And it's your right to find the woman you will love for the rest of your life. That's why I don't want you to trap us in our marriage just because I got pregnant. I am setting you free." "You are the most aggravating, thickheaded, dense woman I have the misfortune to meet!" "I don't understand why you are fuming?" "What is this nonsense 'setting me free'?" I roared to her. Right now, my fury was back with vehemence. "Of course. I love you, woman! Why do I need to look for the woman I will love for the rest of my life when I am already married to her! Do you think I'm that stupid to stay married with the woman I don't even love? You really thought that I am that gallant knight who will stay married to you just to have your revenge, Tatiana?" "I don't understand," She said dazedly. "You said before that you agreed to my scheme so you can have hold of our family's hotels." "I will agree to anything Tatiana if that is the only way that would make you mine." I admitted to her softly. "Lucca..." "I know you're not ready to hear my confession of love before so I patiently waited." "Really?" I smiled at her lovely face. The face of the woman I will treasure for the rest of my life. "Sì. Te amo, mi amore." "I love you too, Lucca Cavelli." "I know." I cradled her face and kissed her so sweetly for the first time tonight. It was the sweetest kiss I ever had. "You captured my heart the moment I saved you from the sea, darling." "Really?" She asked her eyes filled with love. "You never told me yet the story of how you saved me, Lucca." "One day, Tatiana mia." I promised her, kissing her hand. "Now that your revenge is finally over, I think it's past the time for us to go back home in Italy and live there for good. I want our children to be born there. And I will give you the grandest wedding Italy will ever see. But right now, let's go home and let me show you how much I love you." Tatiana Rostova's POV The next morning, I searched for the handsome man next to me on the massive bed. I stood up abruptly—still naked when I found myself alone. Where was Lucca? I still can't believe that he loves me. Him, one of the most powerful men in Italy had fallen in love with me. But last night he showed me how much he loves me and admitted without a hint of remorse that my pregnancy wasn't unexpected. He had it planned all along making sure so I can't escape him forever. So where was my husband this morning? I happened to glance at the nightstand beside me and notice the all familiar note. A reluctant smile broke to my sleepy face as I read it: Dearest Duchess, Good morning, my love. I hope you are in a good mood today as I promised last night, I will give you the grandest wedding Italy will ever see but first your proposal of marriage. Are you in for a little game, my lovely wife? -Lucca I squeaked. Lucca's little game was back. I threw the covers and slipped on the night dress Lucca threw on the other side of the room last night and saw Lucca's surprise.