The Mafia’s Forbidden Desire

ROSALINDA.

Reliving the mesmerizing kiss with Antonio was something I couldn’t stop doing. Once our lips connected, everything else ceased to matter. I didn’t even know what I was doing until the kiss ended-the deep, long kiss punctuated with our shared breaths and occasional gasps.

We had crossed a line. And as much as I tried convincing myself that he wasn’t engaged to Sofia anymore, the guilt of kissing him still clung tightly to my chest.

But did I regret kissing him? A smile curled on my lips as the sweet memory of the kiss flooded my head for the hundredth time today.

“You’ve been smiling from time to time. Did something good happen?” Sofia asked, cutting through my torrents of thoughts.

I shook my head slightly as I turned to look at her. “I’m just excited to see the baby.” I lied.

Sofia, Matteo, and I were at the hospital. We accompanied her for her first pregnancy ultrasound. The baby was sixteen weeks old. Apparently, Sofia had been pregnant even before the failed wedding. But she was oblivious about her pregnancy status. When she realised she was pregnant, she became moody and distant. All this time, I thought she was distant because of what she thought was going on between Antonio and me. But I was wrong. She was going through an emotional hell. And I really hoped I was more observant.

“Are we going to wait here forever before you are called on?” Matteo asked, impatiently tapping his feet. “I am tired of waiting.”

“Relax.” I told him, slightly shaking my head.

“You know what? I think I’ll go out and take a smoke. Call me if you need anything.” He muttered as he leapt to his feet and walked away.

Typical of Matteo. He was never a patient man. And to make matters worse, he hated hospitals. It was clear that he’d rather be anywhere else than be in the hospital with us. He only went with us because Papà wouldn’t allow us to go to the hospital alone.

Hoisting my head up, I caught sight of an average-height man sprinting towards us. He had a facemask and a face cap on, making it incredibly difficult to see his face.

“Sofia.” I called with a start as I instinctively wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

“Oliver?” She called, unsure, as the person came to a stop before us.

He swiftly unmasked himself and pulled off the face cap, a smile spreading on his lips.

“Oliver?” I called, surprised, before quickly looking around to be sure Matteo had left.

Confirming that he wasn’t in sight, I returned my gaze to Oliver, my eyes squinting at him. “Are you out of your mind? I thought I made it clear that you should leave town and never return.”

“I left. But when she told me that she’d come for the first ultrasound sound today, I couldn’t help but come. I couldn’t miss it.” Oliver explained.

I swung my head to the side to look at Sofia, raising a brow. “You’ve been communicating with him?”

She shrugged. “I tried not to contact him, but I couldn’t. I cannot do without him.” She darted her gaze at Oliver, a small frown on her face. “But I didn’t tell you so you could come. You being here is risky.”

“That’s why I waited for your brother to leave before coming close. I’ve been lurking around, waiting for an opportunity to get closer.” He said excitedly.

Sofia’s face brimmed with joy as she sprung up and wrapped her arms around him excitedly.

As annoyed as I was, I couldn’t help but sneak a smile on my lips. They both looked adorable. Despite almost losing his life, he still stuck with her. Love was indeed a wonderful thing. But it was sad that they’d never be together.

Papà would never allow that.

“Ms. Sofia Moretti.” A nurse suddenly called, and we all shifted our attention to her.

“Here,” Sofia said, waving her hand frantically.

“Are you ready?” The nurse asked, and Sofia nodded excitedly.

Her mood had gone from zero to a hundred since Oliver appeared. I loved it for her.

We were led to a room, and as we walked in, a pretty blonde woman who was seated by the examination table flashed her teeth at us.

“Hello, Ms. Moretti. I’m Caroline. How are you today?” The woman asked.

“Fine. And you?” Sofia replied.

“I am good.” She said, darting her gaze between Oliver and me. “I believe this is the father, right?” she asked, settling her gaze on Oliver.

“Yes.” Sofia replied, a smile curling on her lips.

“Hello, baby’s daddy. And-” She trailed off, her gaze fixed on me.

“I’m Sofia’s sister.” I quickly said, saving her the trouble of guessing.

“Right. Hello.” She said, a smile spreading on her lips.

A polite smile touched my lips as I replied. “Hello.”

Sofia lay on the examination table, and when the sonographer was sure that she was comfortable, she applied a gel to her abdomen. We eagerly watched as she skillfully glided the wand over Sofia’s abdomen.

As she continued moving the wand, a grainy image was revealed on the screen, and the rhythmic whooshing sound of the foetus heartbeat echoed through the monitor. Sofia’s eyes glistened with tears, her lips curling into a smile as she marvelled at the first glimpses of her unborn child.

Oliver also had the same expression, as would any parent.

When I saw the first glimpse of Carlo, I was overwhelmed with joy, and the second I heard the gentle echo of his whooshing heartbeat, a profound connection flourished between me and the tiny life growing within me.

“Oh wow.” Caroline beamed, darting her gaze between Sofia and the monitor. “Two hearts beat. Two foetuses.”

“Oh, my God!” I exclaimed as my eyes started welling up with tears. Tears of joy.

She didn’t have just one life flourishing within her, but two!

Two!

That was an incredibly great news, and I was more than happy for her. I’d be an aunt to two beautiful babies.

“Sofia.” We suddenly heard Matteo’s voice call before the door swung open, revealing him.

“Aren’t you done?” He asked as he slipped into the room.

My heart dropped to my stomach as I turned to look at Oliver. He had crouched behind the examination table, pretending to pick something up. One could tell that someone was there, but his face wasn’t visible.

“Wait. Are those two  fetuses?” Matteo asked, his face lighting up with joy as he walked further into the room.

“Matteo, you smoked, right?” Sofia asked, scrunching up her face. “Please leave.”

“Why?” Matteo asked, confused, as he stopped in his tracks.

“The smell is all over you.” She suddenly started hitting her chest dramatically. “The smell is nauseating. I feel suffocated.”

“Since when did smoke start suffocating you?” Matteo asked, still confused.

“Since I became pregnant!” She exclaimed, shooing him away.

“Just leave, Matteo. Before she suffocates.”, I played along, raising my brow at him.

I knew very well that Sofia wasn’t suffocating. It was all pretense. She wanted him to leave so he wouldn’t see Oliver.

Blowing out a sharp breath and slightly shaking his head, he turned around and walked out of the room.

“That was close.” Oliver sighed as he straightened back up.

“You shouldn’t come so close next time.” I retorted, shaking my head.

“If I may ask, what was that about?” Caroline asked curiously as she darted her gaze between the three of us.

“Nothing.” We all said in sync.

After getting the photo from the ultrasound, we went back home, excited to share the news with Mama. She was the only one who had been supportive ever since Sofia announced her pregnancy, though she wasn’t completely okay with it. She hated that her second daughter would also give birth out of wedlock. She was disappointed but understanding.

“Mama.” I beamed as I pushed her door open and slipped into the bedroom.

But the smile on Sofia and I’s faces slowly faded when we caught sight of the person who was in the bedroom with her.

Papà.

“Good news?” Mama asked, a smile curling on her lips.

“Fantastic news!” I beamed as I approached her, not minding that Papà was still there.

“Guess what?!” I exclaimed, excitedly flashing the ultrasound photos at her face. “Twins!”

Mama’s face lit up as she took hold of the photos. “This is good news!”

“Double disgraces.” Papà groaned with disdain.

“Roberto!” Mama exclaimed, glaring at him.

“I have important things to do.” He muttered as he started trudging towards the door.

He always had a way of ruining moods!

After a few steps, he suddenly came to a halt, turning to look at me.

“Anyway, Rosalinda. You’ll be engaged soon. I just thought I should let you know.” He announced.

“To who?” I quickly asked, my eyes filling with horror.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“You’ll know when the time comes. You should be glad someone sees interest in you despite  your…” He trailed off. “Despite having a son,”

My heart started beating rapidly at the horrendous news.

My father still intended to proceed with the marriage alliance with the Romanos. Despite the fear Antonio tried to instill in him.

Does he really have no regard for my life?

Does he really put his business before me?