SOPHIE & THE DUKE 🔞

Chapter 17

Gio

"Do you like it, Strega?" I asked her, my breath gently brushing the back of her neck.

"I... wow, I wasn't expecting this. I mean, you outdid yourself, Gio," she replied, still with her back turned to me. I noticed goosebumps gracing her neck, which made me suppress a laugh, so I opted for a scoff instead.

"That's not the answer to my question... Do you like it or not?" I asked again, hoping for a more direct response.

"I love it," she finally replied, a touch of surprise and delight in her voice, "but black, Gio? How do you expect a baby to stay in a room with black aesthetics?" There was a glint of humor in her eyes.

"Well... I didn't think... Uhmm," I stumbled with my words, feeling a bit caught off guard, and she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"I never knew there would be a day when the great Giovanni would be dumbfounded. We'll just have to touch it up with colors, that's all," she added, playfully teasing me.

"Touch it up with colors, huh? Well, Strega, you know me. I might surprise you again," I retorted, a hint of ruthlessness creeping into my voice. "After all, I can't let this little one have a nursery that's too ordinary. They deserve something unique, as an Accardi."

Her eyes widened, and a mischievous smile danced on her lips. "Oh, is that a challenge, Gio? You're on," she declared, and I knew I had sparked her competitive spirit.

"It definitely is," I said as I turned her to face me. I let my gaze settle on her flushed face, memories of the afternoon beclouding my mind.

As the silence stretched on, what felt like an eternity, I decided to break eye contact with Sophie and shifted my gaze towards the soon-to-be nursery. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and I needed a distraction from the intensity of the moment.

"I got the DNA test results," I blurted out instinctively, hoping to steer the conversation into a less emotional territory. I watched Sophie closely, waiting for her reaction.

"Oh, I see," she replied, her gaze shifting to meet mine.
"I doubted you, which was not reasonable," I admitted, "but I'm ready to make amends," I added, hoping she could sense my sincerity.

"Is that why you did all this? Because you finally realized I was carrying your child?" she bit out, hurt flashing in her eyes.

I paused for a moment, my heart heavy with regret. "Yes, I should have trusted you from the start," I confessed. "But seeing the test results made me realize how wrong I was. I want to be there for you and our child, and I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

Her eyes searched mine for any sign of deception, and I knew I had to be brutally honest. "I cannot love you, Sophie," I continued firmly, "That is something you should never expect from me. I can only be there for you and the child, but I cannot have romantic feelings for you, and you cannot have them for me."

Sophie's expression wavered between disappointment and something else that I didn't recognize. "I appreciate your honesty," she replied, her voice a mix of hidden emotion. "I never expected you to change your feelings overnight, Gio. We have a lot to navigate, and the priority is our child's well-being."

I nodded, but also aware of the complexity of the situation we found ourselves in. "You're right," I agreed. "Our child deserves to have both parents involved in their life. I will do my best to be a responsible father and support you in any way I can."

As Sophie nodded, indicating she was ready to retreat to her room, I simply replied, "Of course, take all the time you need." I watched her walk away, but as she disappeared from sight, an indescribable pang of emotion overwhelmed me.

Hurt and regret mingled in my heart as I realized the gravity of the situation.

I found myself grappling with an unfamiliar sense of longing, a desire for a connection that I had suppressed for so long. It was as if a door I had locked away had slightly opened, revealing emotions I had shielded myself from.

I tried to shake off these conflicting feelings, reminding myself that the priority was our child's well-being. But as I paced the room, I couldn't help but wonder if I had made the right decision. Could I truly separate my emotions and remain distant when it came to Sophie?