My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 62

Ivy

Silence hung in the air as I waited for Aidan to respond, but he remained still and mute. The news of his potential fatherhood seemed to have robbed him of his usual sharp wit and clever comebacks.

"I...uh..." he stammered, struggling to find the right words.

I couldn’t contain my frustration anymore. "Seriously, Aidan? You have nothing to say to me?" My voice came out sharper than intended, barking with a mix of anger and disappointment at his lack of reaction.

Aidan cleared his throat. "I’m sorry, Ivy. You caught me by surprise. I was not expecting that. I thought you were going to try to leave me again," he said tentatively.

I laughed. "I said I wouldn’t leave you, didn’t I? Don’t you trust me?" I asked.

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "Of course I trust you," he said. "But I wouldn’t be too surprised if you changed your mind."

His words hung heavily in the air, but I refused to let them affect me. "Are you more surprised that I got pregnant?" I mused, forcing a small smile. "To be honest, you shouldn’t be shocked at all."

The memory of our passionate, reckless nights together filled my mind. "Time and time again, you pushed me into having sex without protection," I stated, each word dripping with bitterness. "And now, finally, your actions have consequences. You’ve marked your territory."

Silence fell between us as I stared him down, daring him to deny it. "And now," I continued, my voice laced with anger and resentment, "I will be carrying your child."

I could feel his eyes on me, full of regret and shame. But it wasn’t enough. He had taken something from me that night when he made me have sex with him, something that couldn’t be returned with a simple apology.

"I know you’re trying to make it right," I said, my voice laced with bitterness and hurt. "But it’s not that easy. You didn’t even say sorry properly."

His eyes widened, a sudden realization dawning on him like a shock of electricity. "Oh, Ivy. You’ve never truly forgiven me, have you?" His voice trembled with a mix of desperation and bitterness, his fingers clenching onto mine as if they were the only lifeline keeping him from drowning.

"But it wasn’t always a forced, was it? There were times when it was real. When you wanted me as much as I wanted you," he said, his grip on my hand tightening as he searched my face for any sign of affirmation.

I sighed, feeling the weight of of hurt and betrayal I felt that night. "No, it wasn’t always forced," I said slowly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Most of the times I wanted it. Because even though I denied it many times, deep down I knew I still loved you."

Aidan’s facial expression turned dark, a storm brewing behind his troubled eyes. For a moment, I held my breath, hoping he would finally apologize to me for all the pain he had caused.

But he didn’t. Instead, he turned away, his body tense and rigid. He balled his hands into fists at his sides before speaking again in a low, solemn tone. "I know I don’t deserve this. You or the baby," he said grimly, his words heavy with regret and self-loathing. "But I hope you will stay."

I studied Aidan’s troubled expression, my heart aching with a mixture of anger and sympathy. Despite everything he had put me through, I couldn’t shake the feeling of compassion for the man standing before me—the father of her unborn child.

"I will stay," I said softly. "For us and the baby. But if you hurt me like that ever again..."

Aidan’s shoulders sagged with relief, his gaze meeting mine. "I won’t, Ivy," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I promise I will do everything in my power to make things right."

I smiled. "You still haven’t told me how you feel about me being pregnant."

Aidan hesitated, his eyes darting around the room as he tried to find the right words. "I...I’m happy," he finally said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Being a father...it’s something I never thought possible for someone like me. A piece of shit."

My heart ached at his self-deprecating tone, and I reached out to cup his face in my hands. "You are not a piece of shit, Aidan," I said firmly, looking deep into his troubled eyes.

But he shook his head, refusing to meet my gaze. "I am my father’s son," he said bitterly. "All these years, I’ve been trying to escape his shadow. What if I end up hurting my child the way he hurt me and Ellie?"

Tears welled up in my own eyes at the pain in his voice. "Aidan, you are nothing like your father," I said firmly, willing him to believe me. But the fear was still there in his eyes, haunting him.

"How can you be so sure?" His voice cracked with raw emotion.

"Because I know you, Aidan," I said softly. I know your heart and your soul, and they are nothing like your father’s."

"I am a violent, ill-tempered man, Ivy. Just like how he was," he insisted.

I drew closer to him, placing my hand on his chest. "Yes, you are violent and a criminal," I said. "I’ve seen the kind part of you. And I believe that you will be a wonderful father."

Aidan’s eyes softened as he looked down at me, but there was still doubt lingering in them. "But what if..." he began, but I cut him off.

"Aidan, we can’t continue living in ’what ifs’," I said gently. "What happened to us in the past is over now and all that matters is our future."

He nodded slowly, his grip on my hand tightening. "You’re right," he said softly. "I just...I want this baby to have a better life than I did."

"We will make sure of it together," I reassured him with a smile. A small part of me was afraid of Aidan’s violent side, but I promised myself I would give him a chance. God...I hope I wasn’t making a big mistake.

For a fleeting moment, we stood there in perfect stillness, the air thick with unspoken words and emotions. The weight of our shared history hung heavy in the air, but amidst it all, a glimmer of hope for our future shone through.

Finally, Aidan broke the silence with a deep sigh, turning to face me fully. His brows were furrowed and his eyes bore a serious expression. My heart skipped a beat, bracing myself for whatever he was about to reveal.

"Ivy," he began hesitantly, "there’s something else I need to talk to about."

Anxiety shot through my body as I waited for him to continue. What could possibly be weighing on him so heavily?

"I may have to move you to a different location," he said.

My eyes widened with shock as his words sunk in. "What? Why?" I asked, my heart beginning to race with worry.

"Someone attacked my restaurant," Aidan replied calmly, though there was a glint of anger in his eyes. "And I found out it was one of my enemies, Raphael Sinclair. It’s just a matter of time before he targets my home."

I gasped, feeling a surge of fear for both Aidan and myself. "Raphael...is that the man we had dinner with?" I asked, trying to recall the well-dressed man who had joined us at our table. The one who shamelessly tried to make a lewd offer to me.

Aidan nodded grimly. "Yes, that’s the one."

"But why would he attack you?" I asked. "I thought you two were on good terms?"

Aidan let out a heavy sigh, the lines on his face deepening into a grim expression. "He was never a friend, just someone I made an uneasy truce with. But it seems he’s now backing away from it."

I sank back into the cushions of the couch, feeling trapped and helpless. "Can’t I just go back to my own home?"

Aidan’s voice was gruff and full of urgency. "No, that’s far too dangerous. Right now, your safety is my main concern. You have to stay close to me until I take care of Raphael."

I let out a low groan, feeling like a prisoner again. The walls of Aidan’s home seemed to close in around me. It felt like a life sentence with no possibility of parole. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"I understand," I said resignedly, my shoulders slumping in defeat. "Just promise me that this won’t go on forever."

Aidan pulled me into his embrace, his chiseled jaw pressing against my forehead. "I swear on my life that I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe until we can find a way out of this mess."

"Well, you better," I murmured, my voice laced with frustration and fear. Fear for my baby, fear for our future.

He chuckled softly, his arms tightening around me protectively. "I love you, Ivy."

"I love you too," I whispered, closing my eyes tightly as tears threatened to spill over. At that moment, I clung to his words and the warmth of his embrace, finding solace in the fact that we were in this together.