Chapter 221
Desperate Moment

Matteo couldn’t bear to listen as she belittled herself in this way. His hand shot out, grabbing her elbow with a firm yet gentle touch, and he swiftly turned her to face him. The intensity in his eyes made her breath catch, and for a moment, it felt like the world had fallen silent.

“Emily, you are not incomplete,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You are perfect. And I swear, there isn’t a man alive who deserves you. To me, you are more than just a woman-you’re like a goddess. If I could, I’d put you on a pedestal and worship you.” Emily tried to push the overwhelming feelings away, shaking her head with a weak smile, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “Matteo, you don’t have to say that. You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

“No.” His voice was low but commanding as if daring her to doubt his words. He gripped her shoulders gently, holding her gaze with a fierce intensity. “This is the truth, Emily. I’ve never met someone like you -brave, selfless, so kindhearted, yet fearless. You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you’ve never broken, not once. Do you think being a mother is just about having a child?” His eyes darkened, recalling how his own mother had left him with nannies while he longed for her love as a child. “It’s not. It’s about loving, nurturing, and protecting, even if those children aren’t yours by blood. You’ve done that for Gia and Maximo, and they love you just as much as they love their own mother. You and Aria are both their mothers, Emily. They know it, just as I do.”

Her lip quivered as she fought to hold back the tears, but the dam broke. The tears came anyway, spilling

over as she choked back a sob.

Six years ago, when she lost her baby, she lost everything-and she didn’t even get the chance to grieve. She had to keep going, had to keep fighting for her parents, who were murdered by the same monster who caused her miscarriage: her husband. There was no time to cry, no time to feel. The pain of losing her baby still lingered in her heart, and she hadn’t had a moment to mourn it, as she had far too many things to manage than to dwell on her own suffering.