The evening had settled in, casting a warm golden hue over the apartment. Rachel was on the living room floor, playing with her dolls, while Bella sat on the couch, rubbing her stomach absentmindedly. She had been feeling strange since late afternoon—an uncomfortable stretching sensation in her lower abdomen.
At first, she ignored it, thinking it was normal. But as time passed, the discomfort grew, turning into a dull, persistent ache.
A sharp pang shot through her belly, making her flinch. She instinctively placed a hand on her stomach. A sense of unease crept in, and without overthinking, she reached for her phone and called Lucas.
Lucas was in his office at home, his mind tangled in the complexities of Renato's situation. He had barely sat down after dealing with the attack earlier in the day, and now, he was calculating their next move against the Russian don.
His phone rang. Seeing Bella's name on the screen, he immediately answered.
"Bella?" His voice was alert.
She hesitated for a second before speaking, "Lucas… I don't feel so good." His heart clenched. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know. My stomach feels… weird. It's like a dull ache, and it's not going away," she said, her voice laced with concern.
Lucas was already on his feet, grabbing his car keys. "I'm coming. We're going to the hospital."
Within minutes, Lucas was at Bella's apartment. He didn't waste a second, rushing to her side. Rachel, sensing the urgency, was already holding Bella's hand, looking up at Lucas with worried eyes.
"Mommy's stomach hurts," Rachel whispered, her voice small. Lucas bent down to her level, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's okay, princess. We'll go see the doctor and make sure everything is fine."
Bella let him help her up, leaning slightly into him as they made their way to the car. Rachel climbed in beside her, clutching her mother's hand the entire time.
The drive was silent except for Rachel's occasional glances at Bella, her small fingers tracing patterns on her palm in a soothing motion. Lucas, gripping the wheel tightly, kept glancing at Bella through the rearview mirror, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
From saving Renato to dealing with the Russian don's growing threat, he had been handling everything with calculated precision. But this—Bella's health—was different. It wasn't something he could fight off with a gun or a strategy. The helplessness of not knowing what was happening to her made his pulse hammer.
As soon as they arrived, Lucas helped Bella inside, his hand firm around hers. Rachel followed closely, her small face etched with concern.
The familiar female doctor—whom they had visited for all of Bella's check-ups, greeted them with a calm smile. "Bella, what's wrong?"
Bella explained the discomfort while Lucas stood beside her, his expression unreadable, but his grip on her hand never loosening.
The doctor ran a few basic checks, her hands gentle yet efficient. "It sounds like round ligament pain. It's common during pregnancy, especially as the baby grows. Your muscles are stretching to accommodate the baby, and that can cause sharp or dull aches. It's a bit early in your case but don't worry it's normal. No risk found for both mother and child."
Lucas exhaled, tension slipping from his shoulders. "So, it's nothing serious?"
The doctor shook her head. "No, but she needs rest. No heavy lifting, no unnecessary strain. Stay hydrated and take things slow. No stress."
Bella nodded, relief washing over her. Lucas, however, wasn't fully convinced. "Are you sure there's no risk? Nothing we need to do?"
The doctor smiled, sensing his worry. "She and the baby are perfectly fine. Just make sure she's comfortable and doesn't overexert herself."
After the doctor finished explaining Bella's condition she left. Lucas let out a deep breath, feeling slightly relieved. Bella had been in pain, but it wasn't anything serious—just ligament stretching, something common in pregnancy. Still, seeing her uncomfortable had put him on edge.
Rachel, who had been sitting quietly, clueless about the adults talk, suddenly tugged on Lucas's sleeve. She looked up at him with big, determined eyes.
"Maybe mumma just needs candy!" Rachel announced confidently. "Mommy always gives me candy when I don't feel good."
Lucas raised an eyebrow while Bella let out a soft chuckle despite the discomfort.
"Is that so?" Lucas asked, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Rachel nodded seriously. "Yes! Candy makes everything better. And hugs too!" She turned to Bella, stretching her small arms. "Mommy, do you need a hug?"
Bella smiled, reaching out to ruffle Rachel's hair. "I think a hug would help."
Rachel climbed onto the chair beside Bella, giving her a careful but tight hug. But just as she pulled back, her small brows furrowed, her lips pursing in thought.
"Wait a minute…"Rachel placed her hands on her hips, looking at Bella accusingly. "Mommy, did you eat something yucky? You always tell me not to eat bad food!"
Lucas smirked while Bella gave Rachel a mock-offended look. "Excuse me, young lady, are you saying I don't listen to my own advice?"
Rachel nodded, her little pout deepening. "Mhm! That's what happens when I eat something bad. My tummy hurts. But you said it's important to eat healthy, so you should too!"
Lucas bit back a laugh at how serious Rachel sounded. He crouched down beside her, nodding along as if they were co-conspirators. "You know, Rachel, I think you might be onto something. Maybe your mommy should listen to her own rules."
Bella rolled her eyes at both of them. "Alright, alright. No yucky food for me. Now, can we go home?" Lucas straightened up. "Not yet. I want to make sure you have everything you need first."
Rachel huffed dramatically. "Fine. But only if we stop for candy after!" Bella and Lucas shared a look, amusement dancing in their eyes. Lucas smirked. "We'll see."
Rachel pouted, but as Lucas helped Bella up, she clung to his side, watching her mother closely. She didn't fully understand what was going on, but one thing was clear—she was going to make sure Mommy listened to her own rules from now on.