Page 8 of Banished and Pregnant by Her Sicilian Billionaire Husband

“It’s okay, Maria. I understand.”

I look at the rest of the staff, and they’re all trying their best not to cry. I’ll miss all of them, but I think if I say those words...

No, Chisa, there’s no need anyway.

This is a dream.

This isn’t real.

I square my shoulders and manage a smile for the staff. “Thank you. I’m sorry if I made things...a bit difficult earlier.”

I keep my smile as Mr. Brent and Curzio walk me to the car.

But once I’m alone in the backseat, and the house that I once thought was ours...

I watch it slowly shrink in view. A part of me is waiting for a sign...like a curtain twitching, a glimpse of Marcello perhaps realizing that this is all a misunderstanding...

But the house eventually disappears completely from sight, and I’m—

You’re not alone, I remind myself fiercely.

I have my baby inside of me, and more importantly...

There’s still a chance that Marcello will realize, whatever it was that caused this...

He’ll soon realize that this is all a misunderstanding, and then he’ll come running back to me, and he’ll ask me to forgive him, and I’ll forgive him because I get it. I get how people who grew up like he did can be really bad at trusting. I’ll tell him we can start again, and we’ll just think of this as a bad dream.

But in the meantime...

I look down at the white rabbit in my hands.

It’s Marcello’s first gift to me, when we just started dating. He told me that I’m to think of it as my little bodyguard, to keep it with me at all times, if he isn’t by my side. It will keep me safe, and more importantly, it will remind me of how much he cherishes me.

Tears start falling down my cheeks.

I’m sorry, baby.

I know it’s not good that I’m crying.

I’m just a little scared that your father...

I can’t even complete the thought, and all I can do is hug his little rabbit to my chest.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Please let this be all a bad dream.

Eight Years Later

Chisa

“MAMA. IF I LOSE IT at Papa’s house, does that still count as his turn or your turn?”

My daughter has been working on this tooth since Tuesday. She’s got it going back and forth with her tongue in the back seat.