My thanks to PamZ. Her transcripts contribute significantly to the creation of this story.

Every word you recognize from te series isn't mine.

Chapter 28

Diego's eyes filled with tears as he gazed upon Victoria's serene face. With a trembling voice, he whispered, "I love you, Victoria. You are so beautiful, with a strength and gentleness that enchants me every time."

Diego felt a knot in his stomach, and his heart thumped in his chest as he tenderly held her hand. He wondered what would happen if she ever discovered his deepest secret. The secret he had kept hidden out of concern for her safety. But the greatest fear tormenting him the most was the possibility of rejection if she were to uncover his identity as Zorro. He couldn't bear the thought of her condemning and rejecting him because of his double life.

"I can't live without you," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion as a lump formed in his throat. "I love you. The thought of losing you tears my soul apart. Every day, I fervently pray you can love not just don Diego but also the man I truly am, with all my fears and flaws. My heart belongs completely to you, and I'm terrified that when you discover my secret, your love for me will vanish."

Leaning forward, Diego placed a gentle kiss on Victoria's forehead. "I love you and our child," he whispered. He held onto a glimmer of hope that one day she would understand the truth behind his fear. And that until then, his love would be strong enough for both.

The room was filled with silence, only broken by Diego's soft sobs. In these moments of indescribable pain and vulnerability, he bared his heart, hoping that Victoria, even in her unconscious state, could feel the depth of his love and that he wasn't losing her.

.

Exhausted from the physical pain, fatigue, and emotional whirlwind he had been in, Diego had eventually fallen asleep in the chair. The doctor had been right. Diego hadn't been physically capable of fulfilling his role as Zorro. He had demanded too much of himself.

Diego slowly became aware of his surroundings again when he felt someone tenderly stroking his hair. The touch felt affectionate, and his heart constricted at the thought of what the touch meant. Victoria was awake. Afraid of the answer to the question he didn't want to but had to ask, he opened his eyes.

"Victoria," Diego whispered, his voice filled with relief that she was awake and fear of what was to come. "You're awake."

Victoria avoided his gaze and seemed nervous, her voice stuttering as she spoke. "Y-yes."

Diego felt a pang of pain at the sight of Victoria's behaviour. She was keeping something from him, something he had thought would bring them both joy. He grabbed her hand and looked at her intently. "Why didn't you tell me you're pregnant? Doctor Hernandez told me, and he was surprised that I had no idea."

Victoria swallowed hard, her eyes filled with fear. Feeling the pressure of Diego's gaze, she knew it was futile to deny it. Diego knew. She mustered a brave smile. "It doesn't matter anymore. It wasn't anything important. It was foolish of me to do. I'm sorry."

He felt a mixture of disappointment, confusion, and hurt. Victoria had shut him out of something significant. "Still, I'd like to know the reason," Diego said, his voice tinged with restrained pain.

Victoria's gaze drifted away as she struggled with her words. Her voice trembled as she uttered a lie. "I already told you. It was for a foolish reason. Forget that it happened. You know it now."

Diego felt a knot in his stomach upon hearing Victoria's evasive words. He was hurt and felt excluded. He looked her straight in the eyes, his voice sounding piercing, filled with disappointment. "How can you think this is 'nothing important'? It's about our child. Why wasn't I allowed to know? I thought I was your husband."

Tears welled up in Victoria's eyes. She had hurt Diego. That was never her intention. Yes, the reason for not saying anything had been selfish. But she hadn't done it to hurt him or exclude him. She could no longer ignore the pain and disappointment in Diego's voice and gaze. Biting her lip, she broke under his intense gaze. She had to say something. "Diego, I... I didn't tell you about my pregnancy because I thought you might forbid me from working at the tavern any longer," she said, having a trembling voice. Yes, that sounded believable. She couldn't tell him the truth. What would he think of her?

Diego felt his heart tear apart.

Victoria was lying, blatantly and knowingly. His hurt turned into a mixture of sadness and anger. So, that's how she wanted to play it? "Why would you think that? Have I ever restricted your choices? Have I ever tried to keep you away from the tavern? You know very well that I try to support you and give you freedom in everything you do," he said, his voice trembling.

Victoria's eyes grew even more watery, and she averted her gaze, unable to meet his intense eyes. "I already said I was sorry," she whispered, her voice broken.

He let go of her hand and stood up from the chair, his body weary but his mind determined. He walked to the window and stared outside, his back turned to Victoria.

"Don't lie to me. What's the real reason? Because we both know the tavern has nothing to do with it." Diego felt like he was on the verge of losing his composure. He had to restrain himself from grabbing and shaking the truth out of her. "Why wasn't I allowed to know we're having a child? Are you afraid it will turn out as weak as I am? That the whole pueblo will laugh at you because it proves you share your bed with the local idiot?"

"No, of course not."

"Then why don't you tell me the truth?" Diego struck the window frame with his fist. He no longer had control over his emotions.

An uneasy silence filled the room, and Diego waited for her response, hoping she would tell him the truth. At the same time, he feared that his suspicions might be true. That she didn't truly love him. Not like he loved her. How could she love him when he hid a part of himself? But above all, he wondered if she had heard the words he had spoken to her at her bedside and if she understood how much he needed her. How much he loved her. And if his love was enough to save their marriage.

"I am telling you the truth," Victoria snapped, her voice saturated with frustration and pain. She sat up in bed, her face contorted with anger. "And what about you? Can you swear, cross your heart that you're honest with me?

No, you can't! You lie and keep things hidden from me. Do you take me for a fool!? Did you think I didn't notice you sneaking out of your room in the dead of night and only coming back in the morning?" Victoria jumped out of bed and pointed at the wall adjoining his room. "Do you think I don't realize that you tell your father you've been somewhere else than what you tell me? If you've ever been to any of those places at all."

Her words felt like a punch to the gut. He couldn't find the right words to defend himself without revealing the secret. He knew his silence only made her angrier, but his secret was too heavy to share just like that. He stared at her, his eyes filled with incomprehension and weariness. "Let's just forget about it."

Victoria was aflame with rage and wouldn't be restrained. "You dare accuse me of not being honest while you lie through your teeth every day! Why do you keep silent?" Victoria continued, her voice sharp and venomous. "Is it because you know I'm right?"

"Victoria, please calm down. Think about our child," Diego tried to distract her and urge her to calm down.

Victoria refused to calm down. She started shouting even louder. "Is your secret more important than what I mean to you!? Diego, talk to me! Do you think you can get away by avoiding me?"

Diego felt himself growing more passive. He no longer wanted to fight, no longer wanted to try explaining something he couldn't explain. A sigh escaped his lips as he let his hands fall helplessly.

"You don't understand, Victoria," he whispered, his voice dull with suppressed emotion. "I can't just tell you. It's not as simple as you think."

Victoria's eyes blazed, her frustration reaching its boiling point. "Not simple? What a ridiculous excuse! Diego, you're keeping something from me, hiding the truth! What more is there to understand?"

Diego felt the distance between them grow wider. It seemed as if they lived in different worlds, unable to reach each other. He remained silent, his mind filled with a mixture of helplessness and resignation.

"Is this it?" Victoria snapped, her voice dripping with disappointment. "All you can do is stay silent? You don't even try to explain. Is that precious secret of yours more important to you than me, then our child?!"

"No!" he exclaimed, startled by his abrupt reaction. Victoria had struck a painful chord. She was the most important thing. More important than Zorro. More important than anything else. "Victoria, you need to calm down, there is noth..,"

Victoria turned around, her back facing him. "Calm down! Diego, I was under the impression you loved me. But apparently, I was wrong, and I don't matter," She muttered with a broken voice.

Diego's heart broke at her words, but he couldn't find the right words to calm her, to convince her of his love. He stood there, powerless and defeated.

Suddenly, Victoria burst into tears, her body shaking with intense emotions overwhelming her.

Diego stared at her, his heart breaking at the sight of her sorrow. Suddenly, the doctor's voice echoed in his mind. The words he had just heard.

Don Diego, I am very worried, the doctor had said. Unless she starts taking better care of herself, I fear doña Victoria will lose the baby.

The realization of the impact their argument could have on Victoria's well-being hit Diego like a sledgehammer. A wave of fear rushed through his body. He didn't want her to loose their baby. Diego knew about it for four hours and had imagined how it would be seeing Victoria holding their child. He couldn't bear to see her so distraught any longer.

Without hesitation, he rushed to Victoria, his arms outstretched to embrace her. "Victoria, please stop. You're right. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he whispered, trying to hold her in his arms and calm her down. "I don't want to hurt you. I want to make you happy."

For a brief moment, it seemed as if she welcomed his touch. Then she pushed him away. "Don't touch me! As long as you value your beloved secret more than me and our child, I don't want to see you anymore. Go away!"

Diego was taken aback when he realized how fragile Victoria looked. She stood barefoot, her hair dishevelled, wearing the same clothes she had worn to the church. The doctor had only removed her shoes and overskirt. She was dressed complettly in white, appearing vulnerable, strong, and determined. Her face was almost as pale as her blouse, except for her cheeks flushed with fiery anger. Her arm extended, pointing to the door. Her eyes flashed in anger, and her mouth tightened into a firm line. All her accusations were valid. Only in one thing was she mistaken.

A profound fear engulfed Diego. He had no choice but to tell her the truth, even if it meant losing everything. Victoria was more important than anything else. Their child was more important. With trembling hands and a pounding heart, he looked Victoria directly in the eyes.

"I am Zorro," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Victoria's arm trembled in the air. Slowly it fell limp at her side. "What?" Her voice sounded like a fragile reed about to snap. Confusion and disbelief blurred her usual determination. "No, that's impossible."

Than it hit her what was going on.

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I think cutting the chapter in half is only a bit cruel. I promise it will be worth the wait. And the wait won't be a long one.

I got a what I think is a unexpected idea for how Victoria first reacts to his reveal. I wonder if anyone has read about a reaction like this before. So please let me know when you do.