Page 57 of Punishing His Runaway Bride
Her face went whiter, mouth shaking, tears already pooling in her eyes.
"Ezio?" She looked at me, those eyes begging. "Just one look. That's all."
I opened my mouth.
Flashes came.
Juliet crying all night. Bianca alone holding her, pacing, soothing for hours.
Olivia now looking so fragile. Pale face, dark circles, so thin a breeze would topple her.
If she came here, baby cried, she'd break worse.
She'd blame herself.
Spiral harder.
"Bianca's right," I heard myself say, voice dry. "The baby needs rest. When she's awake and settled, you can come back."
Olivia stared at me.
That light in those green eyes dimmed. One flicker at a time.
"When she's settled?" she repeated, voice hollow. "When is that?"
"This afternoon, or evening," Bianca said, still gentle. "I'll have Elsa notify you. You can stay as long as you want then."
Olivia said nothing.
She just stared at the cradle, tears finally sliding down.
"Okay," she said, voice distant. "I understand."
She turned, walking to the door.
Her back was straight, but every step trembled.
I watched her reach the door, hand on the handle, pause.
"Ezio."
She didn't turn around.
"She's my child."
Then she pushed the door open and left.
I watched that small, fragile back disappear down the hallway. So thin. So paper-thin. One gust and she'd blow away.
She never looked back.
"She'll understand eventually," Bianca said softly beside me. "You're doing this for her own good."
I didn't respond.
But Bianca was right.
The baby stays safe with care. Olivia can visit anytime, and once she's stronger, emotionally stable, she can spend more time with the kid.
