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Cecily

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Almost a month later

“Why isn’t everyone screaming? Am I the only one who didn’t know they were together?” Madison—who became a mother just a week ago—asks in that direct way of hers, and everyone smiles.

We’re having lunch at the older Kostanidou’s house, everyone gathered around the table, except for Madison’s sister, Brooklyn, who’s dating the doctor who brought her back from the coma.

Just like with Elina and Zoe, I adore Zeus’s wife. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t make you guess what she’s thinking. It’s written on her face whether she likes you or not.

Even though I know that I have the support of the three wives of my future husband’s relatives, I don’t know what the reaction of the male family members will be.

“If it’s any consolation, we knew they were dating, not that Cici is expecting a baby,” Elina says.

I know she isn’t upset that I hid my romance with her husband’s cousin. Because, as she just said, everyone already knew, with the exception of Zeus’s wife.

“Regarding the baby, it was a surprise even for the father,” Hades says, and I feel my face heat up.

I pretend I don’t care, stroking Joseph’s hair as he sleeps on my lap, when in reality I’m dying of embarrassment.

Dionysus intends to announce our relationship and pregnancy to the world soon, and I have made a promise that I intend to keep that I will not let too much time pass, after everyone knows about us, to reveal the truth about Joseph.

I will be his wife, the mother of his child, not another passing fling. He will listen to me. He will understand my reasons, and when he reads the letter I have from Keith, he will realize once and for all who Sue was.

But what about the rest, Cici? Will you have the courage to tell him everything?

One thing at a time. If I start thinking about all the secrets between us, I’m going to freak out.

“Don’t get involved,” Dionysus growls at his younger brother, who doesn’t even seem to be shaken but is looking at me suspiciously.

“So I assume we’re having a wedding soon,” Zoe says, smiling.

“My friend, you’re not just Greek because of a mistake of fate,” Elina jokes. “I’ve never seen you enjoy a celebration so much.”

“I love parties, especially weddings. When parents are already expecting a baby, even better.”

“Maybe two,” Ares mocks, nodding at his sister-in-law since Madison gave birth to twins.

The day she went into labor, it was crazy. I had to stay with Joseph and the Brooklyn twins because they all went to the hospital at the same time.

Until then, no one knew about us, and Dionysus and I argued once again about opening up about our relationship, each one thinking they were right, even after the public display of affection he showed at his company’s headquarters.

I knew I was at a dead end, but at that moment, in addition to the concern that the press would cause a scandal when they found out he was marrying his son’s nanny, there was also the worry that when Jodelle and Peyton found out, they would try to get closer as the fake people they are.

After he came back from the hospital, we made up, and I promised that today would be the day we would talk to the family.

“It’s just one,” my fiancé says.

Yes, fiancé . Yesterday he put a huge diamond ring on my finger and he, Joseph, and I celebrated at home.

Our boy, of course, didn’t understand anything, but he clapped his hands during dinner and seemed happy.

“Have you been to the doctor, then?” Zoe asks, confused.

“Yes. I had an ultrasound a little less than a week ago. I’m almost four months in.”

Everyone stays silent, and I die of shame.

It was childish of me to hide it from them, but mainly from the father.

“Well, the date doesn’t matter, only that another of our Greeks has been shot down,” Madison says. “Be careful, Ares and Hades. Only you are left.”

“If you’re going to cast a curse, do it on William and LJ, Athanasios’s partners. I’m out,” Ares jokes.

They continue talking, and after answering some questions from the women in the family, I look at Dionysus, who is silent, while the cousins and brothers interact.

I feel embarrassed when I realize that he is watching me, and even more so when he speaks low enough for no one else to hear.

“What are you afraid of, Cecily?”

“What?”

“You’re still afraid of something. What?”

“I’m afraid of everything, but I’ve gotten used to it because I grew up that way. Unlike what happens to most people, fear does not paralyze me. There’s only one thing that really scares me.”

“What?”

“Losing your trust and respect.”

“And why would that happen?”

“Have you decided whether the dress will be cream or white?” Zoe asks, getting up from the table.

With the excuse of not speaking loudly so as not to wake Joseph, I also get up. “I’ll be right back,” I say, but Dionysus doesn’t say anything. He just keeps staring at me.

From afar, as I talk to Christos’s wife, I see Odin handing papers to Dionysus, and I feel my blood run cold when he takes the folder and looks in my direction.

Jesus, what could that be?

I don’t have time to delve into the anxiety crisis that begins because then Madison talks about the decorator they hired to do their twin daughters’ room and invites me to see it.

Almost a month later

“Why isn’t everyone screaming? Am I the only one who didn’t know they were together?” Madison—who became a mother just a week ago—asks in that direct way of hers, and everyone smiles.

We’re having lunch at the older Kostanidou’s house, everyone gathered around the table, except for Madison’s sister, Brooklyn, who’s dating the doctor who brought her back from the coma.

Just like with Elina and Zoe, I adore Zeus’s wife. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t make you guess what she’s thinking. It’s written on her face whether she likes you or not.

Even though I know that I have the support of the three wives of my future husband’s relatives, I don’t know what the reaction of the male family members will be.

“If it’s any consolation, we knew they were dating, not that Cici is expecting a baby,” Elina says.

I know she isn’t upset that I hid my romance with her husband’s cousin. Because, as she just said, everyone already knew, with the exception of Zeus’s wife.

“Regarding the baby, it was a surprise even for the father,” Hades says, and I feel my face heat up.

I pretend I don’t care, stroking Joseph’s hair as he sleeps on my lap, when in reality I’m dying of embarrassment.

Dionysus intends to announce our relationship and pregnancy to the world soon, and I have made a promise that I intend to keep that I will not let too much time pass, after everyone knows about us, to reveal the truth about Joseph.

I will be his wife, the mother of his child, not another passing fling. He will listen to me. He will understand my reasons, and when he reads the letter I have from Keith, he will realize once and for all who Sue was.

But what about the rest, Cici? Will you have the courage to tell him everything?

One thing at a time. If I start thinking about all the secrets between us, I’m going to freak out.

“Don’t get involved,” Dionysus growls at his younger brother, who doesn’t even seem to be shaken but is looking at me suspiciously.

“So I assume we’re having a wedding soon,” Zoe says, smiling.

“My friend, you’re not just Greek because of a mistake of fate,” Elina jokes. “I’ve never seen you enjoy a celebration so much.”

“I love parties, especially weddings. When parents are already expecting a baby, even better.”

“Maybe two,” Ares mocks, nodding at his sister-in-law since Madison gave birth to twins.

The day she went into labor, it was crazy. I had to stay with Joseph and the Brooklyn twins because they all went to the hospital at the same time.

Until then, no one knew about us, and Dionysus and I argued once again about opening up about our relationship, each one thinking they were right, even after the public display of affection he showed at his company’s headquarters.

I knew I was at a dead end, but at that moment, in addition to the concern that the press would cause a scandal when they found out he was marrying his son’s nanny, there was also the worry that when Jodelle and Peyton found out, they would try to get closer as the fake people they are.

After he came back from the hospital, we made up, and I promised that today would be the day we would talk to the family.

“It’s just one,” my fiancé says.

Yes, fiancé . Yesterday he put a huge diamond ring on my finger and he, Joseph, and I celebrated at home.

Our boy, of course, didn’t understand anything, but he clapped his hands during dinner and seemed happy.

“Have you been to the doctor, then?” Zoe asks, confused.

“Yes. I had an ultrasound a little less than a week ago. I’m almost four months in.”

Everyone stays silent, and I die of shame.

It was childish of me to hide it from them, but mainly from the father.

“Well, the date doesn’t matter, only that another of our Greeks has been shot down,” Madison says. “Be careful, Ares and Hades. Only you are left.”

“If you’re going to cast a curse, do it on William and LJ, Athanasios’s partners. I’m out,” Ares jokes.

They continue talking, and after answering some questions from the women in the family, I look at Dionysus, who is silent, while the cousins and brothers interact.

I feel embarrassed when I realize that he is watching me, and even more so when he speaks low enough for no one else to hear.

“What are you afraid of, Cecily?”

“What?”

“You’re still afraid of something. What?”

“I’m afraid of everything, but I’ve gotten used to it because I grew up that way. Unlike what happens to most people, fear does not paralyze me. There’s only one thing that really scares me.”

“What?”

“Losing your trust and respect.”

“And why would that happen?”

“Have you decided whether the dress will be cream or white?” Zoe asks, getting up from the table.

With the excuse of not speaking loudly so as not to wake Joseph, I also get up. “I’ll be right back,” I say, but Dionysus doesn’t say anything. He just keeps staring at me.

From afar, as I talk to Christos’s wife, I see Odin handing papers to Dionysus, and I feel my blood run cold when he takes the folder and looks in my direction.

Jesus, what could that be?

I don’t have time to delve into the anxiety crisis that begins because then Madison talks about the decorator they hired to do their twin daughters’ room and invites me to see it.

Days later

“Is she your new chosen one, then, Mr. Kostanidis?”

“Are we going to have a wedding soon? You never appeared in public more than once with a woman other than your ex-wife, and this is the third event you have attended together.”

“Miss Bradley is being identified as the owner of your heart. Is that statement correct?”

“Miss Bradley, can you talk a little about what it’s like to live a fairy tale in real life?”

The questions are endless and repetitive.

It’s not the first time we’ve had to go through a paparazzi tunnel at an event, and this is all part of an exposure plan by the Kostanidis press officers so that reporters get used to our relationship and don’t chase us every time we go out for dinner.

It’s almost like saturating them with appearances of the two of us together so that, in the end, they lose interest.

The only time Dionysus categorically refused was when one of the advisors wanted photos of the two of us with Joseph. I’m also against exposing children, of course, but I asked him why there was never a photo of his son in the newspaper.

It was then that he told me that, despite believing that Keith had no relatives, he didn’t want to run the risk of someone emerging who would notice his resemblance to his biological father and thus ask for custody.

I went to the bathroom and cried, knowing that the clock of life is ticking, shortening my deadline more and more, to tell the truth.

I hide my face in his chest, feeling overwhelmed by the excess attention on our lives.

“Today is the last day, gape mou . We will soon release a press release about the engagement, and then we will no longer need to go out in public.”

“I don’t know why they’re so interested in our lives,” I say once we’re inside. “What concern is it of theirs?”

We finally settle down at the table in the party room. We’ve come to a charity event, and it’s the first time since Madison’s wedding that I’ve worn a long dress. I feel like a Hollywood actress on Oscar night. Both because of the luxury of the reception and because I’m actually playing a role.

Procrastinating revealing the truth is draining all my strength.

“I don’t understand either, but it’s been like this since I was a child. I’ve gotten used to it. However, I will protect you and Joseph as much as possible.”

I remember that at the time of Sue’s death, the newspapers unearthed the tragedy of her first marriage and “abusive relationship” with Keith. She was portrayed as a suffering young woman who, after having a second chance at happiness, lost her life tragically.

Jesus, they have no idea of the evil that was inside that woman.

I’m in a cold sweat, and for the first time, I’m nauseous, but I don’t even think it’s due to pregnancy but rather nervousness.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I tell him, after smiling at the people around us.

“I’ll follow you.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“I don’t do anything because I have to but because I want to, Cecily. I’ll take you there, anghele mou .? * ”

* ? "My angel."