Lucas returned home shortly after dropping Rachel off at school. The drive had been smooth, but his mind was preoccupied—not just with the day ahead, but also with the image of Bella in that dress still fresh in his mind.
He stepped inside, loosening the top button of his shirt as he walked towards the bedroom. He needed to change into something more fitting for work.
A few minutes later, he emerged from the walk-in closet dressed in a crisp white shirt, the fabric stretching slightly over his toned chest and shoulders. The black pants fit him perfectly, accentuating his strong legs. As he rolled up his sleeves, his forearms flexed, the veins becoming more prominent.
Bella had just finished tidying up the kitchen when she turned around and her breath hitched. For a second, she just stared.
Lucas was adjusting his watch, his fingers moving with practiced ease. The way his shirt clung to his muscles, the defined ridges of his arms, and the veins running down to his hands—it was almost unfair.
She swallowed, feeling a sudden warmth creep up her neck. Lucas, completely unaware of the effect he was having on her, finally glanced up. His brows furrowed slightly when he noticed her staring.
"What? Do you want to say something?" he asked, voice deep and smooth. Bella quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be busy with the kitchen counter. "N-Nothing."
A smirk tugged at his lips. "You sure?"
"Yes." She turned away, trying to calm the ridiculous flutter in her chest.
Lucas didn't press further, but as he walked past her, he leaned in just slightly, lowering his voice.
"You were checking me out, weren't you?" Bella stiffened. "I was not."
He let out a low chuckle, clearly amused. "If you say so, Mrs. Costanzo."
She turned sharply at that, her cheeks burning. "Go to work already."
"Take care of yourself." His voice softened. Still smirking, Lucas grabbed his suit jacket from the chair and walked towards the door, satisfied with the effect he had on her.
After Lucas left for work, the house felt strangely quiet. Bella occupied herself with small chores—folding the laundry, tidying up Rachel's room, and wiping down the kitchen counters. Yet, as she moved through the house, her mind kept drifting back to Lucas.
The way he looked in that white shirt. The way his smirk made her stomach twist. The way he effortlessly teased her, knowing exactly how to fluster her. Bella paused mid-task, frowning at herself. Why am I even thinking about him?
She shook her head, trying to focus on the dishes instead. But it didn't work. Lucas had always been attractive, she couldn't deny that. But lately, something felt… different. Maybe it was the way he cared for her, the way he had been so gentle and patient with her pregnancy, or maybe it was just the fact that they were now married.
Bella sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. I need to get a grip. Just as she finished washing the last plate, she realised it was already the time to prepare lunch. But a ding of incoming message, stopped her midway.
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Lucas leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. The morning had been nothing but back-to-back meetings, and while he had managed to stay focused, part of his mind was elsewhere. His wife and unborn child.
With a brief glance at the clock, he pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message. 'Eat your food and take your medicine on time. And don't do any work.'
A moment later, Bella's reply came in. 'You eat on time too.'
His lips twitched into a smirk. He could almost imagine her saying it with that serious expression of hers.
Bella put her phone away, rolling her eyes at Lucas's overprotectiveness. Still, a small smile lingered on her lips as she prepared lunch for herself and Rachel.
By the time she finished, it was already time to pick Rachel up from school. She grabbed her purse and headed out.
At the school gate, Rachel came running toward her, a bright smile on her face. "Mommy!"
"Hey, sweetheart." Bella crouched down, smoothing Rachel's hair as she hugged her. As she stood up, she noticed a woman approaching them. It was the mother of one of Rachel's friends.
"Hello," the woman greeted warmly. "You must be Rachel's mother. My daughter talks about her all the time." Bella smiled. "Yes, Rachel loves spending time with her too."
The woman chuckled before glancing at Bella curiously. "I don't think I've ever seen Rachel's father around before but now I found out he comes to drop Rachel. Is he—" Bella's grip on Rachel's hand tightened slightly. She had expected this question at some point.
"He's a good man," Bella answered simply, her voice firm yet soft. The woman nodded, sensing there was more to the story but choosing not to pry. "That's good to hear."
After chatting for a few more minutes, Bella and Rachel said their goodbyes and headed home.
As soon as they stepped inside, Rachel excitedly began recounting her day. "Mommy, guess what? I told everyone at school that my dad buys me chocolates."
Bella smiled, gently stroking Rachel's hair. "Oh? And what did they say?"
"They asked what he looks like and if he plays with me! I told them he's really tall and strong and that he makes yummy breakfast," Rachel giggled. "I think my teacher was shocked."
Bella chuckled. "I'm sure she was." They sat down for lunch, and as Rachel ate, she looked around the house. "Where's Dada?" she asked, poking at her food.
"He's busy at work," Bella answered, placing a small portion of vegetables on Rachel's plate. Rachel pouted. "I wanted to tell him about my day."
Bella reached over and cupped Rachel's cheek, smiling softly. "You can tell him when he comes home, okay?" Rachel nodded, taking a bite of her food. As Bella ate, she glanced at her phone again. He better be eating too.