Chapter 3

Rose De Cruz's pregnancy was nothing like anyone had expected.

After everything she had already endured, the family had hoped that the successful procedure would allow her to enjoy a peaceful pregnancy.

They had been wrong.

The first few months were difficult enough, but then the sickness began.

And it refused to leave.

Morning sickness was something everyone had expected. The doctors had warned them that Rose might experience nausea and vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy.

Three months, perhaps.

That was what everyone had prepared themselves for.

But Rose's body seemed determined to challenge every expectation.

Three months passed.

Then four.

Then five.

And somehow, even as she entered her sixth month, the sickness continued.

"How is this even possible?" Diego asked one afternoon, staring at the doctor as though the man had personally offended him.

The doctor sighed.

"Pregnancies don't always follow the textbook, Mr. De Cruz."

"Then perhaps you should write a new textbook."

The doctor blinked.

Rose, despite feeling miserable, couldn't help but laugh weakly.

"Diego."

"What?"

"You can't threaten the doctor because I'm sick."

"I'm not threatening him."

"You absolutely are."

"I'm merely questioning his medical expertise."

The doctor wisely decided not to argue.

The truth was that Diego was terrified.

Rose had always been physically fragile. Now, with the pregnancy draining her strength and the constant vomiting preventing her from keeping food down, she seemed to become more delicate with every passing day.

She had lost weight instead of gaining it.

Her cheeks had become pale.

Even walking across the room sometimes left her exhausted.

To Diego, his wife looked like a glass doll.

Beautiful.

Precious.

And frighteningly fragile.

He was terrified that one wrong move would shatter her.

He couldn't bear watching her suffer.

So Diego did what Diego De Cruz did best whenever something threatened the people he loved.

He took control.

He began searching for solutions everywhere.

Doctors.

Specialists.

Dieticians.

Nutritionists.

Anyone who might have an answer.

He consulted doctors from different hospitals and spoke to specialists who had dealt with difficult pregnancies. He hired dieticians and demanded lists of foods that might be easier for Rose to tolerate.

And when even that wasn't enough, he began visiting restaurants and hotels.

He wanted to know what they served.

What ingredients they used.

What smells might trigger nausea.

What food Rose might possibly tolerate.

At one point, Diablo found his brother sitting in the back of a car with a notebook filled with food names.

"Are you seriously researching restaurants?"

Diego didn't even look up.

"Yes."

"You're the head of one of Italy's most powerful families."

"I know."

"And you're spending your afternoon researching food."

"Yes."

"For your pregnant wife."

Diego finally looked at him.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

Diablo immediately shook his head.

"Absolutely not."

"Good."

Because Diego would have happily continued doing it for the rest of his life if it meant finding something Rose could eat.

Then, one evening, they found it.

Or rather, Rose found it.

It was a dish that looked absolutely terrifying to everyone else.

Rice noodles.

Pork broth.

Pork meat.

A generous amount of mayonnaise.

Peanut sauce.

Mustard.

Chilli oil.

And soy sauce.

The combination produced a pungent smell that filled the room almost immediately.

Diego stared at the bowl.

Then at Rose.

Then back at the bowl.

"You're going to eat that?"

Rose looked at him suspiciously.

"Why?"

"Nothing."

"You made a face."

"I didn't."

"You did."

"I was simply... surprised."

Rose shrugged.

"I want it."

That was all it took.

The bowl was placed in front of her.

Everyone waited.

Diego looked as though he was watching a bomb being defused.

Rose picked up her fork.

She took one bite.

Everyone froze.

She took another.

Then another.

And suddenly—

She began eating.

Not slowly.

Not cautiously.

She devoured it.

Diego stared in disbelief.

Rose finished the entire dish.

For several seconds, nobody said anything.

Then Erica broke the silence.

"She kept it down."

Diego's eyes widened.

"She actually kept it down."

Diablo immediately looked at the empty bowl.

"Should we order another?"

Rose looked up.

"Yes."

Everyone nearly celebrated.

The dish was particularly amusing because Rose normally hated two of its main ingredients.

Pork had never been her favorite.

And she absolutely despised mayonnaise.

Yet somehow, during pregnancy, the combination she would ordinarily refuse had become one of the few things her stomach willingly accepted.

Nobody questioned it.

Nobody cared.

If Rose could eat it, they would have happily served it to her every day.

Unfortunately, that strange craving was only the beginning.

Soon, Rose's appetite became a mystery even the entire De Cruz family couldn't solve.

One day, she wanted chips.

Simple enough.

Diego was relieved.

"Finally. Something normal."

Rose looked at him.

"With salsa."

"Fine."

Then she described the salsa.

Tomatoes.

Cucumber.

Chocolate sauce.

Lime.

Diego stared at her.

"Chocolate sauce?"

Rose nodded.

"With the tomatoes?"

Another nod.

"And lime?"

"Yes."

Diego slowly turned toward Diablo.

"Did you hear that?"

"I did."

"Are you sure?"

"Unfortunately."

Rose rolled her eyes.

"You two are acting like I'm asking for poison."

Erica tried the combination.

She took one bite.

Everyone watched her carefully.

Erica swallowed.

"It's..."

She paused.

"Different."

Nobody dared ask whether that was a compliment.

Rose, meanwhile, happily finished her plate.

And just when everyone thought they had finally adjusted to her strange cravings, she surprised them again.

One afternoon, she suddenly announced that she wanted strawberries.

Diego practically smiled with relief.

"Strawberries. Good."

"And chocolate fudge."

"Also good."

"And lime soda."

Diego's smile disappeared.

"Together?"

Rose nodded.

"And I want the strawberries dipped in the chocolate fudge first."

"All right."

"And then dipped in the lime soda."

Silence.

Diablo slowly put down his phone.

"Did she just say—"

"Yes," Charles interrupted.

"But—"

"Don't question it."

Rose looked around the room.

"Why is everyone staring at me?"

Erica smiled.

"Nobody is staring, darling."

"We're just making sure you're comfortable," Diego added immediately.

Rose narrowed her eyes.

"You all think I'm weird."

"No," Diego said quickly.

"Absolutely not," Diablo added.

"Not at all," Charles said.

Arden and Ardian exchanged a glance.

"Definitely not," Arden said.

"Not even a little," Ardian added.

Rose smiled.

"Good."

The moment she turned away, the men exchanged bewildered looks.

Erica simply shook her head.

But despite the bizarre combinations, nobody complained.

They didn't care whether Rose wanted chocolate with tomatoes, strawberries soaked in lime soda, or some dish containing ingredients she had hated her entire life.

They only cared that she was eating.

That she was keeping food down.

That she and the baby were safe.

For months, the De Cruz household revolved around Rose's appetite.

If Rose wanted something, someone found it.

If she disliked something, it disappeared.

If she woke up craving something in the middle of the night, Diego was already reaching for his phone.

There was no question of whether the request was reasonable.

There was only one question.

Could they get it?

And if the answer was yes, it would be there.

Because Rose's pregnancy was difficult.

Every day was a battle.

Every meal was a victory.

And every time Rose managed to eat without getting sick, the entire family felt as though they had won another small war.

They had fought to keep the pregnancy.

They had fought to protect Rose.

And now they would fight for every single day that brought them closer to meeting the little life growing inside her.

None of them knew what the future held.

None of them knew that the little girl they were all waiting for would one day become the most protected woman in the De Cruz family.

For now, she was simply their unborn miracle.

And Rose's strange cravings?

Those were merely the beginning of the stories they would tell about her one day.

Provided, of course, Rose didn't demand chocolate-covered pickles next.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***