Chapter 7

A Secret Life

The days were growing colder, just like my resolve. Each gust of wind felt sharper, cutting through my coat as I navigated the streets of this small coastal town. The chill in the air mirrored the icy determination I felt every time I thought of Matteo.

I knew he was still looking for me. I could feel it, the weight of his pursuit like a shadow that never left my side. And now, with each passing day, my growing belly was becoming harder to hide.

I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck, trying to blend into the background, just another face in the crowd. The town wasn’t the kind of place where people asked too many questions.

The locals were friendly but respected privacy, which was why I had chosen it. It was far from the life I once had in Chicago, but it was exactly what I needed now; quiet, unassuming, and far enough away from Matteo’s reach. Or so I hoped.

But as the baby grew inside me, the stakes felt higher. I couldn’t stay hidden forever. At some point, the life growing inside me would make my secret too obvious to conceal, and I wasn’t ready for the world; or Matteo, to find out. Not yet. Not until I figured out what to do.

I stopped at a small café, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the door. The nausea had been relentless today, more intense than it had been in weeks. It felt as though my body was waging a war with itself, as though it knew the secret I was keeping and was punishing me for it.

I had tried to eat breakfast, but it had come right back up. Now, hunger gnawed at me, but the thought of food made my stomach turn.

"Tea, please," I whispered to the barista, my voice barely audible over the chatter of the other patrons. I hoped the warmth of the cup would settle my stomach, even if just for a moment. I slid into a booth in the far corner, keeping my head down, avoiding eye contact.

As I sipped the tea, my thoughts drifted back to Matteo. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, about the way things had ended. How furious he must be, how betrayed he must feel.

I had disappeared without a trace, leaving nothing behind but a trail of questions and broken trust. I had to. He didn’t know the truth, and I couldn’t let him find out. Not now, not when I was still trying to make sense of it myself.

But I knew Matteo. He was relentless, a man who didn’t take kindly to being deceived. He would never stop looking, not until he found me, and when he did, I wasn’t sure what he would do. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, not just from fear but from the weight of the emotions I still carried for him.

It wasn’t just anger or resentment. I missed him. I missed the man I had fallen in love with, the man who had once made me feel safe, even if that safety had turned out to be an illusion. But there was no room for love now. Not with this baby. Not with the lies I had spun to protect myself.

I rested a hand on my belly, feeling the faint flutter of movement beneath my skin. The baby was growing faster now, more noticeable by the day. I could no longer hide the slight curve under loose clothing, and soon, it would be impossible to keep it a secret. My time was running out.

A part of me wondered what Matteo would say if he saw me now, belly swollen with his child. Would he be angry? Hurt? Or would he be furious that I had kept such a monumental secret from him? Knowing Matteo, it would be the latter. His need for control, for knowing everything, would make this betrayal unforgivable in his eyes.

I couldn’t let him find out. Not yet. Not until I had a plan, a way to protect myself and this baby from the storm that was sure to come when Matteo finally caught up to me.

As I sat there, lost in thought, the door to the café swung open with a gust of cold wind. I looked up instinctively, my heart skipping a beat. For a split second, I thought I saw Matteo’s tall, commanding figure standing in the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room for me.

I blinked, my pulse racing, but the man wasn’t him. It was just some stranger, bundled up in a heavy coat, looking for a place to sit.

I exhaled slowly, my hand trembling as I set my cup down. How long could I keep living like this, jumping at shadows, always on edge, always afraid?

I couldn’t do this forever.

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The small room was quiet, the only sound the distant crashing of the waves against the shore. The baby kicked gently, reminding me that I wasn’t alone. This wasn’t just about me anymore. It never had been.

I knew I had to make a decision soon. I couldn’t keep running, hiding, hoping that Matteo would somehow give up his search. He wouldn’t. He wasn’t that kind of man. And deep down, I didn’t want him to be. A part of me wanted him to find me, to confront me, to demand answers. Maybe then, I could finally stop running.

But what would that mean for the baby? For our child? I couldn’t trust Matteo with this. Not when I didn’t even know what he would do. Would he demand to be part of the baby’s life? Would he try to take the child from me, asserting his dominance, his need for control? The thought of Matteo fighting for custody, of him using his power and wealth to take my child away, terrified me.

I couldn’t let that happen.

As I lay there, feeling the baby’s movements, I made a decision. I couldn’t stay here any longer. The town had been a safe haven, but it was too close to the world I had left behind. Too close to Matteo. If he finds me, if he discovers the truth, everything would fall apart.

I had to leave. Again.

I would find another place, somewhere farther away, somewhere Matteo’s reach couldn’t extend. It was the only way to protect myself, to protect this baby. I wasn’t sure where I would go or how I would manage on my own, but I had no other choice.

Matteo was still looking for me. I knew that. But he wouldn’t find me. Not this time.

With that thought, I closed my eyes, my hand resting protectively over my growing belly. Tomorrow, I would leave this town behind and start over. Again. It was the only way to keep my secret safe.