"Have you been attending regular prenatal appointments?"
Clara hesitated.
Alessandro noticed.
"Doctor?"
The physician turned toward him.
"Let's take things one step at a time."
He examined Clara carefully, checked her blood pressure, and listened to the baby's heartbeat.
A few minutes later, he smiled.
"The heartbeat sounds reassuring."
Alessandro immediately exhaled.
"Thank God."
Clara smiled.
"See? I'm fine."
The doctor looked at her.
"You need rest, proper nutrition, and regular medical supervision. I would also like to review your previous examinations and arrange a more complete assessment tomorrow."
Alessandro nodded.
"Whatever she needs."
The doctor packed his equipment.
Before leaving, he spoke privately with Alessandro.
"She's under considerable emotional stress."
"Can that affect the baby?"
"Stress is something we should try to reduce. I don't see an immediate emergency from this examination, but she needs consistent care."
Alessandro looked through the open door.
Clara was speaking with Isabella.
"I understand."
The doctor placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She needs her father more than anything right now."
Alessandro nodded.
"I'll be here."
...
At two in the morning, Alessandro was still awake.
He stood outside Clara's bedroom, listening to the quiet sounds inside.
He had instructed the staff to keep the hallway peaceful.
A security guard stood near the stairs.
Another monitored the garden.
Marco approached.
"Don Moretti."
Alessandro turned.
"Any news?"
"We found her previous apartment."
"And?"
"It had been searched."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
"By whom?"
"We are reviewing the security footage. Someone entered the building several times during the past month."
"Did they approach my daughter?"
"We don't know yet."
Alessandro looked toward Clara's bedroom.
"Find out."
"Yes, Don."
"And Marco?"
"Yes?"
"I want protection around her, but I don't want her to feel like a prisoner."
Marco nodded.
"Understood."
"Two guards outside the estate, two inside the grounds. Nobody enters without my permission."
"Understood."
Alessandro paused.
"Have you eaten?"
Marco looked surprised.
"Not yet."
"Then get something. I need you alert."
"Yes, Don."
Marco walked away.
Alessandro remained outside his daughter's room.
He had protected entire territories.
He had survived assassination attempts.
He had negotiated with men who would have happily watched him die.
But none of those experiences had prepared him for the fear of discovering that his daughter had been suffering alone.
He entered quietly.
Clara was awake.
"Father?"
He approached.
"Did I wake you?"
"No. I couldn't sleep."
He sat beside her.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"A little."
"Would you like another pillow?"
She smiled.
"No."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then he asked quietly:
"Clara, can you tell me why you disappeared?"
Her smile faded.
She looked down at her hands.
"I wanted to tell you."
"I know."
"But I didn't know how."
"Why?"
She swallowed.
"Because I was afraid."
Alessandro leaned forward.
"Afraid of what, sweetheart?"
"That you would blame me."
He looked confused.
"Blame you for what?"
"For everything."
He gently touched her cheek.
"Clara, I am your father. You don't need to be perfect for me to love you."
She started crying.
He moved closer.
"Talk to me."
Clara took a shaky breath.
"It started when I met Daniel."
Alessandro remained silent.
"He was different from the people I had known before. He didn't care about your money or your name. He didn't seem frightened when he learned who you were."
Alessandro listened.
"He made me feel normal."
"Who is Daniel?"
"Daniel Hayes."
"How long were you together?"
"Almost a year."
"Does he know about the baby?"
Clara nodded.
"Yes."
"Does he want the child?"
She looked away.
"That's complicated."
Alessandro's expression became concerned.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No!"
She answered immediately.
"No, Father. Daniel never hurt me."
"Then what happened?"
Clara wiped her cheeks.
"His family was involved in something dangerous."
Alessandro became still.
"What kind of something?"
"Business with people who wanted to get close to you."
His eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
Clara took another breath.
"Daniel's father, Richard Hayes, was connected to a rival organization. I didn't know that when we first met."
Alessandro said nothing.
"When Daniel discovered the truth about my family, he told me. He said his father wanted to use our relationship to get information about your business."
"And Daniel?"
"He refused."
Alessandro's expression remained serious.
"Did he know you were pregnant?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
Clara began crying.
"He wanted to marry me."
Alessandro looked surprised.
"Then why are you here alone?"
"Because his father found out."
Clara explained that Richard Hayes had threatened Daniel and ordered him to end the relationship.
When Daniel refused, the threats became more serious.
He was followed.
His apartment was searched.
His closest friend was attacked.
Then Clara received a message warning her that she would become a target if she continued seeing him.
She had tried to contact her father.
But before she could, someone broke into her apartment.
She escaped with only a small bag.
For several weeks, she moved between temporary locations.
She had been terrified that contacting Alessandro would expose his location and make the situation worse.
Finally, she decided to return.
Alessandro listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he took both her hands.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I thought I could handle it."
He shook his head gently.
"You don't have to handle everything alone."
"I didn't want to bring trouble to you."
Alessandro smiled sadly.
"Sweetheart, I have spent my entire life dealing with trouble. But nothing matters more than protecting you."
Clara looked at him.
"Are you angry?"
"No."
"Not even with Daniel's family?"
His expression became serious.
"I am concerned. Very concerned. But I'm not angry with you."
He kissed her forehead.
"You did the right thing by coming home."
She leaned against him.
"Thank you, Daddy."
Alessandro held her carefully.
"Get some sleep. We'll deal with everything tomorrow."
...
The next morning, Alessandro summoned Marco to his private office.
A large desk stood near the windows, overlooking the estate gardens.
On the wall hung photographs of important family events.