Chapter 65: Taking a break.

"Dad, you won’t believe June is pregnant."

Amie expected her father’s energy to match hers, but he calmly responded.

"Does Rauf know?"

She shook her head. "I don’t know, Father. But both Rauf and Chris were there when she collapsed. They both rushed her to the room before the doctor arrived."

Her father sighed. "Can you give the phone back to Gerald?"

She didn’t want to, but she had no choice but to obey her father. When she gave it to him, she told him to put it on loudspeaker.

Gerald nodded, placing the phone before them.

Her father’s voice boomed through the phone.

"Gerald, I want you to abort the operation."

Gerald didn’t ask why. He only nodded.

Her father continued.

"With her being pregnant, the game is bigger than before. We may not be dealing with just one, but both of the most powerful mafia families."

Gerald nodded.

"Instead, I need you to find out everything you can about her pregnancy. How far along is she? And what is the gender of the baby?"

Amie sneered. "What does it matter finding all of that out? We can just kill her and everything will be resolved."

And that was what made her father raise his voice.

"Can you deal with the consequences of handling the Vassaris alone? Then add the Salvadores to that. You’re practically asking for a death sentence. The best thing for you to do is lay low while you listen to my instructions."

Even though she didn’t want to, handling them was what scared her the most.

"Fine. I guess I will wait."

Her father’s voice was steady and calculated as he continued giving Gerald more instructions.

Meanwhile, June rolled over with a start. Her eyes fluttered open, and she let out a yawn.

She had no idea if it was the drugs or the fact that she had bared some of the things in her mind to her brother, but she felt lighter.

During an unknown period in the middle of the night, she had eaten the food Chris had bought for her.

Yet, she woke up to a rumbling stomach.

June got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and got changed.

She stared at her stomach and could spot her bump, but she shrugged.

Thankfully, she didn’t need to hide it anymore. The people who needed to know that she was pregnant were already aware.

She decided to ditch the big shirt she had been wearing. This time, she wore one of the gowns Chris had sent her as a gift.

When she looked at herself in the mirror, the yellow gown hugged her frame while making her stomach stick out like someone who had eaten too much.

She smiled.

Then she went out for breakfast.

It was only Chris at the table, and June breathed out in relief, yet she still asked about the others.

"Mother went out early to handle some business, while Amie would prefer to have her meal in her room."

This was the first time she was hearing that Serena still handled business.

"How does she manage?"

Chris chuckled.

"Mother doesn’t go out alone. She never did. Even when she wasn’t blind, she went out with guards. It was the reason she easily accepted Amie having a personal guard. Being part of this family automatically makes one inherit generational enemies."

Chris was saying it with a smile on his face, but it didn’t seem funny to June in any way.

She pulled out a chair and sat down opposite him.

Chris stared at her.

"How’s my baby?"

June smiled, her hand instantly touching her stomach.

"I guess he’s fine. I’m beginning to feel his movement."

Ever since she got pregnant, she had been touching her stomach more than she cared to count.

"Great. Uncle can’t wait to meet her."

June chuckled.

"I bet she can’t wait to meet Uncle either."

Talking about her baby openly seemed to bring some sort of relief she never knew she needed.

That morning, June was able to eat in the usual way she did.

Occasionally, thoughts of Rauf surfaced, but she banished them to the back of her mind like they didn’t matter.

While eating, she engaged Chris in little talks, and they smiled.

Anyone who saw them would think they had been siblings for life.

After breakfast, June went back to her room to pick something up, then came out asking for Nate.

Chris frowned.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to go to work. It’s getting late."

Chris sighed.

He should have known this was going to happen.

Without wanting to sound offensive, he spoke calmly to her.

"June, the doctor said you need to rest. So, why don’t you take a break from work for a few days?"

June stared at him as if he had just asked her to kill herself.

"I mean, after the break, you can resume or something. I’m sure your boss will understand."

June shook her head.

"No. If I don’t go to work without informing my boss earlier, my pay will be deducted. And I need this month’s pay."

She wanted to say that she had spent most of her savings to buy the necklace for Serena, even though they were yet to give her the gift.

Chris frowned.

"He wouldn’t do that. This is a doctor’s order, and it’s important that you rest."

June nodded.

"Okay, fine. I promise to rest at work."

She wanted to pass beside him, but Chris held her back.

"June, this is not about you, but my nephew. You need to rest for her to grow healthy."

He didn’t want to tell her that the baby was at risk.

Her face softened.

"Then what am I supposed to be doing?"

"Resting." Chris insisted. "If you need something that would make your resting less boring, we have books at the library. There’s the gaming room, etc."

June frowned.

"I don’t mean that. I’m not used to being idle. I’ve always had something to do. So, asking me to be idle all of a sudden and play games..."

Chris had no idea what she could do to keep herself busy.

He shrugged.

"Maybe you can search for ideas on YouTube."

June lifted her phone for him. It was a small phone with no access to the internet, no camera, and almost nothing else.

She sighed.

"Chris, I am pregnant, not dying. As long as I don’t stress myself, I’m sure I’ll be fine."

Chris nodded. He could hear her, but he wasn’t ready to risk it.

"Is that what you call a cellphone?"

June stared at the phone in her hand.

"It’s doing everything I need it for. I don’t see the need to buy another one."

Chris shook his head.

"As a Vassari, you need to live up to the standard. We’re changing your phone today and some other things."

"Didn’t you have work to attend to?"

Chris nodded.

"I’m certain work can wait, but this can’t wait."

June wanted to interrupt, but he continued.

"Wait for me. I need to take a few things inside."

And he was gone.

June smiled at his back.

The only reason she wasn’t angry was because she knew Chris wasn’t trying to control her life. He only said what he did because he cared about her. It was the reason he had insisted she wait.

June sighed.

So, this was what it meant to have a family.

She wished she had already told Serena. She hated keeping secrets from them.

She sat on the chair while waiting for Chris.

Twice, Gerald passed in front of her. He was carrying trays of plates on both occasions.

June could tell he was going to give the food to Amie.

She sighed.

When Chris finally appeared, he had changed out of his clothes into something more casual.

She smiled at him.

"I guess taking me out is your job today."

Chris nodded.

"It’s a job I love so much."

They were about to leave the room when a voice said behind them,

"I also want to go out."

Amie was behind them with Gerald right beside her.

Anytime June saw him, it sent a shiver down her spine, and she had to tell herself he was human just like the rest of them. There was nothing to be afraid of.

For a brief moment, June saw Amie’s gaze stop at her stomach.

She didn’t touch it.

Amie couldn’t know.

Could she?

Chris also noticed that small gesture.

Instantly, he placed his hand on June’s shoulder, bringing her closer to him.

"Sorry, but this is between us."

"But I also want to go."

Chris looked at her with an unbothered expression.

"Well, if you want to go out so badly, look at Gerald beside you. Isn’t that what he’s been employed for?"

He then turned June around, leaving Amie behind them with an open mouth.

"That was cruel, Chris." June joked, smiling at him.

She loved the expression on his face.

Chris chuckled.

"I’m just getting started with her."