Page 7 of Banished and Pregnant by Her Sicilian Billionaire Husband

Someone finally shows up from the second floor.

But it’s not him.

It’s not him.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Bastianelli.”

Curzio is another sweet old man who once had it tough. But like Mr. Brent, he’s turned his life around. And yet he, too, is looking at me like I’m breaking his heart the way all of this is breaking mine.

P-Please, Curzio...

He shakes his head slowly.

“You don’t understand,” I sob out. “H-He promised, okay, and t-that’s why...”

I can’t stop looking up again and again, can’t stop praying and hoping that he’ll show up, and this will just be a bad dream...

But nothing happens.

And Marcello...

It’s as if I’ve already stopped existing for him.

“You must stop crying.”

Curzio is suddenly next to me, his tone gentle but final.

“You must think of the baby.”

I know he’s right. This is bad for the baby. But what about Marcello? Doesn’t he realize that all of this is bad for our baby?

He motions for Maria to step forward, and she knows what to do as soon as he hands her my coat.

“Mrs. Bastianelli, let me help you with this...”

I feel like this puppet on strings as Maria helps me put on my coat.

This is a bad dream.

This isn’t real.

This isn’t...

This isn’t really happening.

And that’s why I hear myself say, “There’s something I forgot to take from the n-nursery.” I look at Maria. “The white rabbit...”

Maria nods right away. “Let me get it for you, Mrs. Bastianelli.”

I can see in everyone’s faces that no one understands why I need that rabbit, and I just don’t have the energy to explain.

Maria comes back down and gives me the rabbit.

“T-Thank you.”

Her eyes tear up anew. “I...I...”

I think she wants to say that this isn’t how she wants me to leave, but because she’s also loyal to Marcello first and foremost...