The Fruit of Immorality - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Epilogue (Part 1)

Beatrice, unsure of how to comfort him, bit her lip. She wanted to console him, but Alessandro’s large hand gripped hers tightly, making it impossible for her to move.

Beatrice gently wiggled her fingers, softly tickling his palm in an attempt to reassure him.

Perhaps her intention reached him, for Alessandro slowly lifted his head, his eyes shining with intensity.

“I thought I’d lost you.”

“Aless.”

“If I had lost you, if you had disappeared from this world, I… I…”

“I’m really okay.”

Despite her reassurance, Alessandro couldn’t be consoled.

That day, something changed within him.

From that moment on, Alessandro was even more protective of Beatrice. He stationed several doctors by her side, and if she so much as coughed, he would demand immediate treatment.

Beatrice, seeing four doctors scurrying around nervously under Alessandro’s constant supervision, sighed and closed her eyes.

While she appreciated his concern, it was too much.

Still, she tried to understand.

Childbirth hadn’t been difficult only for her—it must have been hard for Alessandro, who had been waiting outside, helpless.

Hearing the love of his life scream in agony, powerless to do anything but listen, must have been a terrible experience for him.

Then, when he finally entered the room, seeing her pale and drained from blood and sweat—it must have broken his heart.

Recalling the words Alessandro had said and the expressions he had shown, Beatrice tried to understand his overprotectiveness.

He’ll calm down soon enough, she thought.

But it seemed the memory of that day had left a much deeper scar on Alessandro than she had anticipated.

“Aless, you don’t have to do this.”

“No, I must.”

“I’m really fine now. I can move on my own.”

“Not until you’ve fully recovered. What if your wound reopens?”

Unable to argue against Alessandro’s firm stance, Beatrice eventually gave in and wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her.

This wasn’t a one-time occurrence.

Since the birth, Alessandro refused to let Beatrice move on her own.

Wherever she went, he carried her, never allowing her feet to touch the ground.

Even when it came to drinking water or eating food, Alessandro insisted on assisting her.

That alone was enough to be called overprotective, but Alessandro didn’t stop there.

“Bea.”

At night, he would enter her bedroom and place his hands on her chest.

“Mmph…”

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

Even though her breasts, swollen with milk, were tender and painful to the touch, Beatrice lied, shaking her head. If she told the truth, Alessandro would immediately call for a doctor.

Alessandro watched her closely, his gaze unwavering as he carefully massaged her chest.

Her chemise, soaked with milk, clung to her body, outlining her swollen breasts.

Alessandro slowly removed her chemise, breathing in the rich, sweet scent that always lingered on her body since she had given birth to his child.

When the sharp bridge of his nose brushed against her breast, Beatrice shivered.

Alessandro pressed his lips against her trembling skin. The soft kiss made Beatrice close her eyes. She sighed softly, her face flushed with contentment.

Alessandro’s lips slid down the center of her chest, and the milk that had collected at her nipple moistened his lips.

Her once modestly-sized pink nipples had changed during her pregnancy, becoming twice as large and a deeper shade of red.

Alessandro tapped her plump, ripened nipple with his finger, watching as more milk gathered at the tip.

With a mischievous smile, he gently pinched her nipple.

“Aah!”

A spray of white milk shot out. Alessandro wiped the milk from his face with his hand and licked his palm, tasting the sweet liquid.

“It’s delicious, Bea. Too good for only Theo to drink.”

At the mention of their son, Theodore, Beatrice’s body tensed.

Grinning, Alessandro squeezed her breast again, causing more milk to spray out.

“Haaah!”

Beatrice’s body trembled, her head falling back as her milk-filled breasts released their contents.

Alessandro lowered his head and took her nipple into his mouth. As he sucked, his mouth filled with the sweet liquid.

“Aah, aah! Oh!”

The sensation of his wet mouth on her sensitive nipple sent waves of pleasure through Beatrice’s body.

Alessandro eagerly swallowed the milk, savoring its sweetness. Everything that came from her body was sweet, but her milk was especially so.

Perhaps it was the scent of her skin that made it taste even better, he thought as he buried his face in her breast, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

“Oh, Aless… ah, Aless…”

Beatrice moaned, holding his head tightly against her chest as if he were a baby nursing from her breast.

It felt so different from feeding her child. When her baby sucked on her breast, it felt natural, but when this man did it, it sent shivers down her spine and made her toes curl.

“Mmm…”

Her soft moans only heightened Alessandro’s arousal.

He reached out with his hand to squeeze her other breast, causing more milk to spill out and wet his hand. The milk dripped down his wrist, staining the once-clean sheets.

The room was soon filled with the scent of milk. It wasn’t the same scent as when she fed Theodore. That scent had been warm and comforting, but this was something more sensual, something that made Beatrice’s lower body throb.

“Hng!”

Beatrice gasped as Alessandro’s fingers slid into her, the lewd squelching sound filling the room as he moved them in and out.

His fingers circled her most sensitive spot, rubbing it in slow, deliberate motions.

“Aaah!”

Beatrice’s body twisted with pleasure. Her back arched as milk burst from her full breasts, the pressure overwhelming. Alessandro drank the milk eagerly, his lips full as he swallowed it down.

The movement of his throat gradually slowed, and finally, he drained the last drop from her nipple before pulling away.

He then removed his fingers from her core, slick with her arousal. Even though he had already quenched his thirst, the sight of her sticky red flesh clinging to him sparked a renewed desire within him.

But Alessandro resisted the temptation.

“Huh?”

Beatrice, breathing heavily, half-opened her eyes. Alessandro wiped his sticky fingers on a clean cloth and then began wiping his own body, making it clear that he intended to stop here.

Beatrice bit her lip. Her body still burned, aching for more. She desperately longed for something to fill the emptiness between her thighs.

Gripping Alessandro’s shoulder as he wiped the trail of her fluids from her legs, she whispered, “Aless, aren’t we going to continue?”

Her voice was soft, soaked in desire, her long lashes fluttering. Her obvious attempt to seduce him made Alessandro tense.

Letting out a long breath, Alessandro finally spoke, “We’re not continuing.”

“Why?” Beatrice asked urgently. Her heated body was desperate to receive him.

“Aless, hug me. Please?”

She leaned forward, her hand exploring his firm chest, the warmth of her touch rekindling the lust that still flickered inside him. Her hand, tracing over his chest, almost ignited his restraint, making his heart pound.

However, Alessandro clenched his fist so tightly that his veins stood out and abruptly turned his head away. He briefly winced, taking a deep breath, before finally replying in a subdued voice, “No, Bea.”

“Why? Why not?” Beatrice asked, her face on the verge of tears.

Alessandro, who deeply cherished her, rarely refused her when she asked like this.

But this time was different. Alessandro resolutely denied Beatrice’s request. Ignoring her whining, he gently cleaned her up and, with hesitant steps, disappeared into the bathroom as if fleeing.

Left alone, Beatrice stared blankly at the door Alessandro had firmly closed behind him.

“Aless…?”

Her voice was hollow as she murmured, her face twisting with sorrow. She couldn’t understand why Alessandro had rejected her.

She knew he desired her—his bulging trousers had made that clear enough. He had been just as aroused as she was, yearning to bury himself in her, to lose himself in the frenzy of their bodies intertwined. His lust-filled eyes betrayed his true feelings.

So why? Why had he resisted?

***

It had been quite some time since Alessandro had last held her. Before she became pregnant, he would catch her gaze, grab her wrist, and kiss her passionately, always ready to embrace her. Even when she was pregnant, he had only been cautious during the early stages. By the time she was heavily pregnant, he would slide his heated member between her tightly closed thighs, teasing the sensitive area near her entrance without causing any pain.

She often found his stamina and libido overwhelming, as it seemed like he never tired of seeking her out, day after day, night after night. There were moments when she had worried she might fall ill from such constant attention.

But after their son Theodore was born, Alessandro no longer pursued her as he had before.

Though he still looked at Beatrice with loving eyes, kissed her with fervor, and massaged her swollen breasts tenderly, making sure not to hurt her, there was no further escalation.

He would sometimes slide his fingers into her trembling entrance, making her whimper with pleasure, but that was where it ended.

He never moved beyond that. He didn’t caress her body as thoroughly as before, nor did he remove his erect member to enter her as he used to.

Just last night, Beatrice had even mustered the courage to seduce him, but even then, Alessandro hadn’t embraced her.

Remembering the events of the previous night, Beatrice’s face darkened.

Alessandro had left her in the bedroom, only to return much later after heading to the bathroom. When he saw her upset and turned away from him, he had apologized softly. He spent the rest of the night comforting her, whispering soothing words until they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.

That was proof enough that Alessandro hadn’t fallen out of love with her.

Then why?

Beatrice wracked her brain, trying to come up with a reason. Could it be… a possibility she didn’t want to consider?

‘Had I lost my sexual appeal after giving birth?’

Beatrice bit her lip in anxiety. Since Charles’s death, her heart had been at peace, but now it felt as though her mind was in turmoil, like a stormy sea.

She was plagued by worries, lowly suspicions, and terrifying visions of what the future might hold.

It wasn’t impossible. After all, Charles had acted similarly. Early in their marriage, even when she cried that she didn’t want him, he would pin her down wherever they were, only to grow tired of her after a few months and seek out other women.

Alessandro was a man, after all. And he was Charles’s brother.

This wasn’t about mistrusting Alessandro or jumping to conclusions that his love had changed.

But…

Beatrice shook her head vigorously.