Chapter 9 - The Life Nobody Planned
Two years passed.
Our lives became surprisingly ordinary.
Niko still ran his company.
I worked at a Manhattan law firm specializing in political corruption and financial crimes.
Sometimes clients recognized our names.
Sometimes reporters photographed us.
But we stopped caring.
We bought a brownstone.
Not a mansion.
A home.
We planted roses in the backyard.
Niko complained about gardening.
Then secretly hired someone to teach him.
I caught him one Saturday morning kneeling in the dirt.
"You look ridiculous."
He looked up.
"You try keeping these alive."
"They're plants."
"They're difficult."
I laughed.
He threw a little dirt at me.
I gasped.
"You did not."
He smiled.
"Come here."
"No."
"Elena."
"No."
He chased me around the garden.
We were laughing like children when my father appeared at the gate.
He watched us.
Then smiled.
"I haven't seen you this happy in years."
I walked toward him.
"How are you?"
"Better."
He looked at Niko.
"Thank you."
Niko nodded.
"We both know I didn't do it alone."
My father looked at me.
"I owe you an apology."
"You've given me several."
"I'll probably give you more."
I smiled.
"Then we're making progress."
He hugged me.
It was the first time we'd hugged without either of us pretending everything was fine.
Later that night, I found Niko sitting in the nursery.
I froze.
We hadn't told anyone yet.
He looked at me.
"How long have you known?"
I smiled.
"Three weeks."
His eyes widened.
"You're pregnant?"
I nodded.
He stood so quickly he knocked over a chair.
"You're serious?"
I laughed.
He crossed the room.
Then stopped.
"Can I?"
I nodded.
He placed his hand gently over my stomach.
Nothing happened.
He waited.
Then smiled.
"I'm going to be a father."
"Yes."
He laughed.
Then suddenly became emotional.
"What?"
"I'm remembering the first night."
"The couch?"
"The couch."
I smiled.
"You were so afraid to touch me."
"Because you looked terrified."
"I was."
He looked into my eyes.
"I never want you to be afraid of me again."
I touched his cheek.
"I'm not."
That night, we told our families.
My father cried.
Stella screamed.
Niko's mother immediately began planning everything.
For the first time, our families celebrated something that wasn't a political arrangement.
It was simply love.
But three months into the pregnancy, a problem appeared.
A man from Niko's past resurfaced.
His name was Luca.
He had worked for Marco.
He had avoided prosecution by disappearing.
Now he wanted revenge.
He sent one message.
Marco took my family. Niko took my freedom. I'll take his.
Niko wanted to handle it himself.
I stopped him.
"No."
He stared.
"I can protect you."
"By becoming the man you promised never to become?"
Silence.
He understood.
Instead of revenge, we went to the authorities.
Luca was arrested.
The last shadow of the old Santoro empire disappeared.
Niko returned home that evening.
He looked exhausted.
I hugged him.
"It's over."
He nodded.
"Yes."
He kissed my forehead.
Then whispered:
"Thank you for reminding me who I wanted to be."
I smiled.
"You're welcome."
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The next morning, we began preparing the nursery.
And this time, nobody chose our future for us.
