Truthful
~

May 31st, 2019
Southampton, New York
Twentieth Week Pregnant

Third P.O.V.

11:12 pm.

"So how far along are you?" Leone asks, wrapping his arm around Vera's shoulders. She was fiddling with her fingers as the yacht took off into the bay. "I'm reaching twenty-one weeks next week." She answered simply. She clutched her shawl closer as the wind began to arise goosebumps across her skin.

She looked up to see Leone admiring her. She blushed, letting her head drop into his chest to hide her blushed face.

"I wanted to ask you something tonight." He murmured, setting his chin atop Vera's head. She hummed in response before looking back up at him. He cupped her chin gently, brushing his lips against her ear.

"I wanted to ask if you'd want to make things official tonight." He whispered. She shivered at his warm breath cascading down her neck.

Her eyes flickered between his eyes. She wasn't sure how to respond, considering she dropped the bomb earlier that night. "A-are you sure? After what I just told you?" She asked quite shyly. "Do you know what you're committing to?"

She bit her lip anxiously. Oh, did she want to be with him, but she wanted to know if he was in it with her for the long run. She had to begin taking steps for her baby's future.

He nodded. "I accept you—" He kisses her forehead before his hand landed on her bump. She took a sharp inhale of air. "—and this baby. No matter who the father may be. I'm more than happy to be with you both."

This brought tears to her eyes. He leaned down, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. She gladly accepted before deepening the kiss a bit further. She nodded, giving his lips multiple pecks. "Yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

She felt relieved of saying that. He grinned down at her, admiring the beauty he couldn't seem to believe. He kissed her temple before they gazed into the bay, admiring as the yacht swam across.

Meanwhile, Xavier and Aleksander were with his brother, Ezio who noticed the new couple being affectionate with each other privately. Ezio decided to come tonight. He wasn't sure why since he wasn't familiar with the Bernacelli family, but he accompanied his brother.

At this point, Aleksander was the first Valentino to be aware of her pregnancy. Vera planned to speak with him soon, but she wasn't sure how to approach, neither did Aleksander. Ezio wasn't aware of the pregnancy yet, due to her shawl covering up the secret.

Xavier took a seat near the couple, where everyone else gathered. Aleksander joined Xavier.

"How are you and Alia?" Aleksander asked. Xavier shrugged. "We haven't made any moves since. We've just been texting back and forth; harmlessly flirting." Xavier sighed after answering.

Aleksander nodded.

Lilly was introducing Cherie to Norah and Luca. They came back down for more business matters, but to visit their friends too. Norah was grinning ear-to-ear, admiring how Lilly's date brought joy into her life.

Bruce embraced his wife from behind as she took in the view from the front of the yacht. He pecked where her neck and shoulders met. Enjoying the view in silence, the married couple spent a few more moments like this.

Vera approached Xavier and Aleksander soon after. She was adamant to stall her time meeting Aleksander, but after having a deep conversation with Leone, he persuaded her to come face with it now than later.

"Can I talk to Aleksander alone?" She asked rather quietly to the boys. Xavier nodded, smiling as he left the two alone.

Vera took the chance to take Xavier seat next to Aleksander. "I'm sorry that I wasn't honest with you sooner," Vera whispered shamefully. "We've gotten closer in these few months, but I wasn't sure how to drop a bomb like this." She added. Aleksander pursed his lips as she continued.

"I understand. It's not something you had to tell me. It was your business. I should be sorry for overhearing something that personal." Aleksander responded. Vera shook her head before accepting him into his embrace. Deep down, she knew she would have to confess that he would be the baby's uncle.

"I vote that it's a boy." He added with a smirk. Vera rolled her eyes amusingly. "Really?"

He nodded confidently before his eyebrows furrowed. "Or a girl. One of those two." He muttered confusingly. I giggled before he joined along.

A few moments later, she departed to go get herself a drink from the bar. Of course, she chose a nonalcoholic drink; nature's selection, water.

Her father was at the bar, finishing his drink. He took a glimpse to his side, his eyes meeting his daughter's. He stood up, pushing his glass away before leaving a kiss on her forehead. She visibly relaxed, leaning into his arms as he wrapped them around her. "I'm sorry for acting the way I did."

Vera wasn't sure how to respond, she only nodded. They both said goodbyes, leaving on good terms.

"Here we are again." She heard a male voice say. Her head turned around, her eyes meeting the familiar emerald ones. She smiled, clutching her shawl closer, but it was no use as his eyes lowered below.

Ezio seemed to be caught off-guard. First, she was now in an official relationship, and now she has a pregnant bump. "Congratulations." He replies. She smiled, yet she was having a panic attack inside. She thanked him casually.

"How far along?" He asked without thinking. He coughed, apologizing for asking such a personal question. She shook her head before replying, "Nearly reaching six months." The response shocked herself too. She was amazed at the fact that six months had already passed in her pregnancy. She was carrying her fetus for half a year now.

His eyebrows shot up. "Wow. That's a while." He murmured to himself.

He must've thought that she had met another man around the time they first met. There was no way it was his: He thought. They had used protection that night. He brushed off the slight panic before someone came by to greet him.

"Hi, Eva. Hey, mom." Ezio greeted his sister and mother. This caught Vera's attention. She was met with an exact copy of Ezio, but as a young female adult, and a copy of Aleksander, but as a middle-aged woman, who was yet capable of looking so young.

"Who's this?" Evalena asked, smiling Vera's way. "I'm Vera Bernacelli." She introduced, offering her hand. Evalena scoffed, slapping her hand away before going in with a hug. This caught Vera off-guard for a few seconds before she responded to the hug, softly chuckling. She glanced down at her belly, congratulating her on Vera's pregnancy.

"Congratulations to you, too. Ilyssa is too cute!" Vera complimented. Evalena smiled and nodded vigorously. "Would you like to see her baby pictures? They're so adorable!" Evalena ecstatically asks. Ezio places a hand on his sister's shoulder, bringing her back to reality. "Let's not bombard her. She's pregnant, for God's sake."

Evalena rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Shut up, Ezio."

Ezio stuck his tongue at her. "Not if you shut up first."

The bickering between the siblings continued as if they were five years old. Vera admired their relationship, once yearned for a relationship like that if she wasn't an only child.

"For God's sake!" Their mother interrupted. "You two are grown and married adults." She added.

Ezio and Evalena distastefully looked at each other before their attention was back on Vera. Their mother was eyeing her from behind their physiques. Vera bit her lip anxiously, not enjoying Mrs. Valentino's green eyes observing her with judgment. "I'm Vera." Vera introduced herself to their mother. She smiled, but it didn't seem like a genuine one.

"Beck!" Evalena cheered. Her husband neared her, placing a small peck on her lips before they turned to Vera once again. "This is my husband, Beckham." She introduces excitedly. He offers his hand to Vera which she accepts politely.

Leone neared Vera, noticing she was surrounded by the Valentino crowd. He decided to be with his girlfriend. He loved saying that she was his. The first glimpse he took of her, she had him wrapped around her finger and he had no complaints. He was grateful to have her.

"This is my boyfriend, Leone." Vera introduces. He grinned, greeting the rest. Ezio wasn't fond of Leone, but Beckham was. "You're Leone Williams, right? You're that famous boxer?"

Leone nodded, grinning. "The one and only." He responded.

Vera noticed Ezio's uncomfortableness. She wondered why he felt that way. Before she could investigate further, he excused himself. She felt her baby stir, responding to her father's reaction. She cupped her belly.

Before they all departed from the conversation, Vera invited Evalena and Beckham to her gender-reveal party. They were ecstatic for the invitation, gladly accepting.

As Vera and Leone walked off to a secluded area, they held each other in their arms. Leone was desperate to know who the father of Vera's baby was, but he knew it was too personal to ask of right now. With time, he would find out soon.

• • •

merry christmas and happy holidays everyone! one thing i'm thankful for is break from school haha.

hope you enjoyed this chapter, and i have another surpriseeee! i'm posting another chapter today! now the next chapter is the one where things go down if you know what i mean ;) you all deserve it because you all have been so patient xx

thank you for all the love and support! you guys really made my 2019! i won't let you guys down!

next update will be later today, 12/25! also, if you didn't see the announcement post i made last night, i suggest you check it out!

Don't forget to Vote, Comment, and Share!

- alli