Chapter 8%
Renzo. He was way too eager to beat his older brother and take over as their family’s heir.
That night, Rocco showed up wearing a clean white loungewear set, and there was a faint citrusy bitterness–like orange peel–clinging to
him.
My lips, which had been pressed into a pout, curled into a sweet little smile. Without thinking, I ran up and threw my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his chest.%
In a soft, almost playful whine, I muttered, “You come back this late, but texted me super early. Do you have any idea how long I waited?”
I was dressed in the black lace camisole Renzo had picked out for me…. plus, I was wearing those cute cat ears on my head.
Rocco’s breath hitched, and his hands landed on my shoulders–his palms buring hot.
I rose up on tiptoe, leaned in close to his ear, and whispered, “Renzo… you don’t like it?“%
His eyes flickered. For a second, he looked shaken. Then he narrowed them just slightly.
“What did you just call me?”
I blinked, caught off guard for a beat. Then I giggled, stuck out my tongue, and said in a teasing tone, “Oops–babe!“}
Before I could react, he grabbed my cheeks and claimed my lips.
The next seven days? Total blur. Aside from eating and sleeping, we were basically wrapped up in each other the entire time. At one point, I looked at him and asked, “Why’ve you been so… intense lately?“?
Rocco paused, then tilted his head and tossed it back to me.”
“You tell me. Why do you think I’ve been that way?“?
I was wearing a white dress, hands tucked behind my back as I walked backward barefoot across the grass in the courtyard.
“I think… it’s ‘cause you’re really in love with me,” I answered with a grin.
He actually let out a soft little laugh.
“You’re not wrong.”
The truth? I still didn’t know why he had fallen for me.
We’d been testing each other since the beginning, both constantly feeling the other out.
And then–about a month later–Renzo came back.
He looked totally wrecked, standing there in front of me, dusty and exhausted like he’d just rushed in from a long trip.
I blinked at him in surprise.
“Didn’t you just leave for the office earlier? Why’d you turn around all of a sudden? And… you even changed clothes?“% He was clearly fuming. His jaw was tight, and he looked like he was about to explode.!
But right as he opened his mouth, Rocco’s car pulled into the driveway.”
“Renzo. Come upstairs with me.”
Rocco slammed the door shut, didn’t wait for a reply, and headed straight for the study on the second floor.
Renzo clenched his jaw, gave me a long look, then followed his brother without a word.
I immediately snuck after them and pressed my ear against the study door.
But no luck this time–they’d shut it tight. Couldn’t hear a single word.
Still, I wasn’t worried. I had backup plans either way.”
By the time the two guys came back down, it was already dark outside.
Renzo looked pissed–his expression was stiff and unreadable.}
Dinner was already laid out by the housekeeper, and the two of them sat down one after the other.
Renzo didn’t say much, but he looked troubled–and the way he kept glancing at me was… off. Like something was eating away at him.
Trying to break the tension, I leaned over and started serving him food, picking out the pan–seared short ribs I knew he loved. “Try this, it’s–mmph–“/
The smell of the meat hit me before I even took a bite, and instead of feeling hungry, my stomach twisted. A wave of nausea hit me out of nowhere, and my chest felt tight.”
I dropped the fork, slapped a hand over my mouth, and bolted to the bathroom.
I didn’t see it, but I knew both of them stood up at the exact same time behind me.”
By the time I came back out, pale and weak, Rocco was already there waiting with a tissue in hand.
“Thanks, bruh,” I said quietly, taking it from him and flashing him a grateful look.
“What’s wrong with you?” Renzo asked sharply, eyes narrowing. He didn’t even seem to realize how sharp his tone had gotten.
I looked up at him, then quickly lowered my gaze like a shy little girl, cheeks tinted pink.
“I went to the hospital yesterday… The doctor said I’m pregnant.”
Renzo staggered back a little, caught totally off guard. But there wasn’t a trace of joy on his face.
Instead… he looked like the ground had just fallen out from under him.”
