A Love Restored

I open my mouth to protest. But then I don’t say anything. If he leaves right now God knows what will happen to us. And I don’t want him to go.

The doctor sighs, but gets to work. After the first pinch, Jalian flinches, and lets out a deep, struggled breath.

I reach toward him on my own accord, falling to my knees and grabbing his hand, tightly. I kiss his knuckles a few times.

He smiles. “It doesn’t hurt me that much.”

No, but it hurts me.

We sit like that for a while, my hand grasping his tightly- for whose comfort, I’m not aware. But I think its mostly mine….

When Dr. Fossi is finished, he steps away. “You know the drill, Capo Capstone.” He cringes. “Er. Dante. Don’t wet them. Don’t open them yourself. Try

not to lay on your

Julian nods. “Si

Dr. Fossi leaves, and I try to untangle my fingers from Julian’s, suddenly conscious.

Please He whispers. “Stay”

I look back at Nico, who is staring at us with In his jaw s

SET.

“Gimmy,” he says, “Do I seriously need to remind you of all the shit this dude has pulled on you?”

| fall silent. I know he’s right. But my heart won’t accept

never has

And what happens if you go away with him? You gonna be homeless with a kid?”

“I have money, Nico.” Jalian coughs. “Ginevra and the baby will never want for anything

Nico rolls his eyes, exasperated. He strides forward, and grabs my arm, pulling me away from Julian.

I can provide for my baby. Nico says sharply. “And for my wife.”

Something inside me snaps, then. Maybe it’s the grief in Julian’s eyes. Maybe it’s the way Nito is holding me, roughly, against him, like I’m a doll he can

snatch. Maybe

it’s my own grief. Maybe I’m just done.

“Its not your baby.” I whisper. It’s so soft, but I know both of them have heard it.

Julian stands up abruptly, and Nico’s grip on me tightens. I shake my arm free.

“Huh?” Julian lets out, dumbfounded

“Its not your baby, Nico.” I whisper. My voice breaks. I think I am more suprised by me saying this than either of them. I see all the color drain from Nicos face. He knows. He realises. This is it.

“Its mine.” His voice is soft and I hear a track in his otherwise strong voice. Realization dawns upon Julian. He rushes to me, but I step hack. I can’t feel his touch right now. I want him to stay away from me. I want them both to.

I shake my head. “Mine.” I say, “She’s mine. Not yours,” I look at Julian, “Not when you left me all alone when I needed you most, when you gave me bits and pieces of yourself when I gave you everything I have, making me wait for you in your bed like a whore while you spent your days with some other girl.” I turn to Nico. “And not yours, when you claimed her without asking me, when you claimed both of us, never giving me a choice. Nico,” I say softly, You have done so much for me. You have loved me like no one ever has. And I love you, and I’m grateful to you, which is precisely why I can’t do this.”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

I take a deep breaths and slip my engagement ring off my finger, handing it to Nico. “You deserve to he loved like you love others, Nico. Fully. Completely. With devotion.”

Nicos hand trembles as he takes the rings from me. But he doesn’t protest, he knows this is it.

I feel a hand try to grab mine, Julian. I turn to him, and the whole world disappears. My eyes fill with tears, my vision is blurry, but I can still feel his green and blue eyes burning into me.

Julian holds my hands, then bends donen and places a soft kiss on my mouth. “A daughter.” He sighs. “A baby girl.”

1 blink away tears. “I love you.” I whisper, because if I speak any louder he will hear the cracks in my voice. He will hear the cracks in my heart. I don’t Think I ever stop. But I don’t trust you anymore, Julian. I don’t know how to”

He nods solemnly. “I know.” He wipes my tears with his thumb. “I will spend my whole life making it up to. I will spend every waking moment trying to gain your trust.” He smiles, sadly. “I am yours. I will wait. Everything I have is only for you.”

My chest tightens. I never imagined this. I smile at him, nodding, then go to Nico and envelop him in my arms. “Thank you.” I tell him. “I hope someday we will be friends again.”

He laughs. “We’ll always be friends, Ginny.”

Nico withdraws from my hug, and strokes the side of my face tenderly. “Get some rest,” He tells me. I’ve got something to do.

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