The Secret Pregnancy of the Billionaire’s Ex–Wife
Chapter 271: Perhaps Forgetting Is a Gift–1
Angela POV
The moment my father’s arms wrapped around me, something insideme shifted. He held me so tightly I could barely breathe, but I didn’t want him to let go.
“Angel,” he whispered against my furit, his voice breaking with emotion. “My little Angel
felt my throat constrict, unable to form words as tears welled in my eyes. Though my memory remained fractured, my body ensembered this embrace–the safety, the unconditional love of a father who had raised me alone,
Sean gently placed his hand on my shoulder, his touch a tender reminder of his presence. When I finally pulled back from my father’s embrace, I caught a glimpse of Sean’s expression–affectionate but tinged with something possessive.
“We should get going, Sean said softly. “The children are tired from the flight.”
My father immediately stepped between us, placing his arm protectly around my shoulders. “Angel rides with me,” he declared, not quite a request. “I want to catch up with my daughter. You can take the other car with the children.”
Sean’s jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded with practiced civility. “Of course. We’ll
il see you at
the villa.”
By the time we arrived at his sprawling Mediterranean villa, twilight had settled over the cypress trees, casting long shadows across the terracotta tiles.
The front door swung open as we approached, revealing a woman with olive skin and a cascade of dark curls. She stepped forward with arms outstretched, her smile radiant.
“Angela! Finalmente!” Her accent was distinctly Italian as she enveloped me in a warm embrace. “I am Giulia, your father’s wife. He
talks of you constantly!”
Despite not remembering her, I felt immediately at ease. “Thank you for welcoming us, Giulia. It’s wonderful to meet you…again.”
Giulia laughed, understanding in her eyes. “Come, come inside. I prepare dinner–all your favorites from when you visit before.”
Victoria entered the kitchen moments later, her elegant presence contrasting with Giulia’s more exuberant demeanor. Yet they quickly found common ground, Victoria admitingly examining Giul handmade pasta,
must teach me this technique, Victoria said, watching Giulia’s expert hands shape the dough. “I’ve never mastered proper Italian pasta.
Through the window, I glimpsed Sean and Alexander in the garden, och holding a child’s hand as Aria and Ethan explored the grounds. The afternoon sun glinted off Ethan’s dark hair–so like his father’s–while Aria skipped alongside her grandfather. chattering animatedly.
t sure what
“I have something for you, I told my father and Giulia, retrieving the carefully wrapped gifts from my luggage. “1 wasn’t sure you might like.”
My father unwrapped the burgundy cashmere scarf with reverent hands. “It’s perfect, Angel. You always knew exactly what I would
At dinner, the table overflowed with traditional Italian dishes. My father continuously added portions to my plate.
od to pass me a
This risotto–you loved this as a child,” he reminisced, spooning another helping onto my plate. When Sean attempted to pass plate of grilled vegetables, my father intercepted it with a slight frow
1/2
Chapter 271: Perhaps Forgetting is a Gift–1
Angel never liked eggplant, the stated firmly, moving the plate away. Too bitter for her taste.”
I caught Sean’s fleeting grimace, quickly masked behind a polite smile. The subtle tension between the two men who loved me most created an undercurrent throughout the meal that both warmed and unsettled me.
““Come,” my father said after dinner, leading me toward his study. “There’s something I want to show you.”
The room smelled of old paper and the fai
faint trace of espresso that seemed to follow my father everywhere. He retrieved an album from his desk drawer, handling it with extraordinary care. Tve kept these all these years,” he said, his voice soft with remembrance.
Chapter Comments
The Secret Pregnancy of the Billionaire’s Ex–Wife
Chapter 271: Perhaps Forgetting Is a Gift–2
1 settled beside him on the leather sofa as he opened the album: The first photo showed a penly girl of perhaps. upside down on uneven bars, her face a study in concentration.
That’s……. me?” I asked, genuinely surprised.
My father nodded, his smile proud and nostalgic
“State gymnastics championship. You were fearless–climbing trees, running races, always scraping your knees. Like a little bery sometimes,” he chuckled. “Then university came, and suddenly my tonbury disappeared. You grow your hair long, started wearing dresses.” He touched the photo gently. I suspected it was because of that boy you met.”
“Sean?” I asked.
“Mmm,” he nodded noncommittally. “But whatever version of you- the tomboy, the elegant boninesswoman–you were ahenys toy beautiful Angel.
As we tumed the pages, I noticed the absence of any mother figure.
I recalled Christopher mentioning that my mother had abandoned us when I was very young. The question about her hovered on my lips, but seeing my father’s tender expression as he reminisced, I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
Instead, I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face against his shoulder. “Thank you for raising me by yourself,” I whispered the gratitude welling up from somewhere deep within me. “It couldn’t have been easy”
His arms tightened around me. “I wish I had protected you better,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “When the bank collapsed… you had to endure so much on your own.
The bank?”
“Wilson Investment. Our family bank. His face clouded. The crisis destroyed everything. You worked so hard to rebuild something from the ashes.” He cupped my face in his hands. “You were always carefree before, Angel. Now I see a seriousness in your eyes that breaks my heart. I wanted more for you than worry.”
We held each other, my tears soaking his shirt as years of unremembered pain and love flowed between us
Later that night, in the modest but warmly decorated guest room of my father’s small Tuscan home, Sean sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slightly slumped.
“You’ve barely looked at me since we arrived,” he said quietly
I turned toward him, surprised. That’s not
at true.”
“It is,” he insisted. “The mo
moment you saw your father, you forgot one else. And he clearly doesnt
snt approve of me.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Is that jealousy I hear, Sean Shaw?”
His brow furrowed. “I m not jealous of your father.”
“Of course not,” I leased, moving to sit beside him. “But just imagine how you’ll act when Aria brings home her first boyfriend.”
“Aria?” Sean’s expression darkened instantly. “Shes a child. That wont happen for…decades.”
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