Chapter 6 - The Wife He Had Never Learned to LoveMonths passed.
Vincent stayed.
Not perfectly.
He still worked too much.
He still had nightmares.
He still sometimes woke at three in the morning convinced someone was coming through the doors.
But he stayed.
He learned Claire's medical routines.
He went to her appointments.
He learned which foods triggered her reflux.
He kept spare inhalers in his car.
He learned not to panic when she coughed.
Most importantly, he learned to ask.
“Do you need help?”
Instead of assuming.
One evening, snow covered the manor.
Claire stood at the piano.
Vincent listened from the doorway.
“What are you playing?”
“Something my mother taught me.”
He sat.
She continued.
When the song ended, he clapped quietly.
Claire smiled.
“You've improved.”
“I didn't know I was being tested.”
“You married a musician?”
“No.”
“You're disappointed?”
“No.”
He stood.
“I married a woman who can do things I can't.”
She smiled.
“That's almost romantic.”
“I'm trying.”
“You're doing better.”
He walked toward her.
She became suddenly aware of how close he was.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“Because I missed this.”
“What?”
“You.”
Her breath caught.
He touched her cheek.
“I spent three years trying not to think about you.”
“Did it work?”
“No.”
She smiled sadly.
“Good.”
He kissed her.
Not urgently.
Not possessively.
Carefully.
Like he was asking.
Claire answered by leaning closer.
Their marriage changed that night.
Not because a contract demanded it.
Because for the first time, they chose each other.
Weeks later, Claire woke before dawn.
She felt strange.
Nauseous.
She sat up.
Her stomach turned.
She barely reached the bathroom.
When she returned, Vincent was awake.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You're pale.”
“I think I ate something bad.”
The next morning, Claire took a test.
Then another.
She stared at the result.
Positive.
Her hands began shaking.
Vincent found her standing in the bathroom.
“What happened?”
She looked up.
“I think…”
He waited.
“I'm pregnant.”
Silence.
Vincent didn't move.
Claire suddenly remembered the old records.
The false diagnosis.
His supposed infertility.
The lies.
“I know what you're thinking.”
He stared at her.
Then walked closer.
“Say it again.”
She smiled through tears.
“I'm pregnant.”
He touched her stomach.
His hand trembled.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked almost broken.
Then he laughed.
A real laugh.
“You're going to make me a father.”
Claire laughed too.
“Apparently.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then her cheek.
Then her lips.
He held her for a long time.
But the happiness lasted only a few days.
Because the doctor found something.
Claire's pregnancy was considered high risk.
Her lungs were damaged.
Her heart was under pressure.
There were serious risks.
Vincent went pale.
“No.”
The doctor looked at him.
“We don't know what will happen.”
“We can terminate the pregnancy.”
Claire's face changed.
Vincent immediately stopped.
“You decide,” he said.
She stared.
He took her hand.
“Whatever you decide.”
She whispered,
“I want our baby.”
He closed his eyes.
“Then I'll fight for both of you.”
She squeezed his hand.
The news should have brought joy.
Instead, it attracted danger.
Because someone leaked the pregnancy to the press.
And by sunset, every enemy Vincent had ever made knew one thing.
May you like
The woman carrying his child was no longer just his wife.
She was the heir to the Moretti future.
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