Page 39 of The Billionaire's Destiny

“I’m sorry, Rocco. I have agonized over this, but the most prominent thought has been that I would hate to hurt you. Because you’re right. Loving someone means you put them first.”

“Please don’t keep secrets. It ruins trust.”

“I agree.” So does manipulation, and I felt I’d had a lifetime of that. I truly hated to see Rocco so angry…andso disappointed in me. “I don’t want to make any excuses, or suggest that it could beideal either, but if we’re pregnant, perhaps we can make it work like Nadia and Paul have.”

My brain wasn’t able to defend. How could I defend what I knew was wrong? Even to my ears, I was grasping at straws.

He grimaced. “I don’t want Nadia’s and Paul’s life for our child. Miles flies around with tutors, lives in ten different places a year with nannies.”

I shrugged. “Miles seems happy. He’s wonderful.”

“He is,” Rocco said. “He’s Paul. Everyone loved that Paul was a little adult, too. But I know the pressure and expectations Paul’s been under, raising himself. I was lucky I had my grandparents. Grandpa didn’t leave me while my parents jet-setted all over the world. He taught me so much. But damn…he wins. He always wins.”

“It’s not about winning or losing, Rocco. It’s about us chasing our dreams. I want you to have your movie studio. The new terms will help—”

“You still don’t get it. The terms robbed us both of our choice—”

“My choice is to be happy now,” I said and cleared my throat. “I have a good life with a man I love and possibly a child created in love—”

“Created for profit. Created for gain. I would be no better than my father.” His repulsion made me hate what I’d done even more.

I dropped my head into my hands and sobbed. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I know I was wrong. I don’t know what will happen, but there’s a good chance I’m not pregnant.” I wanted to offer him hope, anything to make him stop looking at me like I was a stranger.Or worse, his enemy.

“Yeah.” He blew out and checked his watch. “We’ll make an appointment with Dr. Vitale. But, anyway, we need to catch our flight.”

“You still want me to go with you?” I mumbled, peering up, but he’d already turned away from me.

“That’s right. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“Isaw the smile on your face when you left a ‘hint’ at a baby to that reporter at Hotel Caro. Even then, you tried to deceive me, but I doubted it because I couldn’t believe you’d be so cruel…”

What I’d done to Rocco gnawed at me, my conscience feasting on my heart. Luca’s message echoed with unwavering certainty that he’d believed I’d always put duty above all else, even Rocco. I only had myself to blame, and it was hard to admit how much my negligence cost us.How could I ever hurt him?He was alwayshonest with me.When I had struggled with what he knew about Luca and my father, he had risked everything to earn my trust.And now, I’d shattered his.

“Here, I’ll take that from you,” Zane said, catching my attention. I removed the USB and handed the laptop to him before climbing into the back seat of the Mercedes. My mind went back to the video and Luca. I hadn’t had the chance tofinish watching it. What else did he have to tell me after Nico left?

The car door swung open and Rocco stepped in, his magnetic presence crackling in the air and sending my pulse racing. He raked a hand through his hair and shot me a glance so cool I instinctively lowered my head. I’d spent my life surrounded by people I could never truly relax around, but Rocco had dismantled my walls until I barely recognized myself. It felt like teetering on a tightrope, desperate for balance with nothing to grasp. All I could do was sit, silent and still, clinging to hope.

He took out his phone and dialed, then raised it to his ear. “Yes. It’s me, Mom. I’ve talked to Adelina. You know what about? Hmph. That’s right. Listen, listen to me. Younever everthreaten her again…I don’t care…I don’t care…No one can replace her. Got that? If you hurt her again…You apologized? Do more. Do better…I need to make another call. Yeah. Bye.”

Shock and gratitude collided inside me as Rocco leapt to defend me, even against his own mother. I realized then how much I’d underestimated him and how much I regretted it.

I cleared my throat. “Thank you. Thank you, Rocco.”

He didn’t even look or answer me, but dialed another number. “Yes, what’s next?”

I wilted, and my gaze fixed on my restless hands.How can I fix this?I craved advice, but who could I trust? Cass would take my side, but I couldn’t bear to confess what I’d done. Nadia probably wouldn’t understand, and my list ended there.That was the curse of my family and Rocco’s fame: so few people I could truly confide in.

“Yes, it’s new…Milan,” Rocco said in an abrupt tone that took my attention. “My lawyer’s on his way. I expect you there.” He ended the call, grumbling, “Fuck.”

“What happened?” I asked.

He went quiet, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was deciding if he could trust me.

My stomach squelched. “Please, Rocco. I only want to help, and I know you’re upset, but please…”Give me a chance.

Minutes went by, and I had all but given up when he finally said, “Gunnar and I will be having a meeting to discuss our plan. We’re considering holding a board meeting so we can all watch the video together and hear Luca’s own words. You said he doubted the legality of his new will and mentioned he was sick?”

I nodded. “Yes.”