She was already pregnant with his child. She had let him into her home, her life. And yet, there was still a wall between them. A wall built from secrets and bloodstained truths he wasn't sure she was ready to hear.
Lucas exhaled, rubbing his temple. For now, he would continue to protect her from the shadows. But deep down, he knew the day would come when she would have to know everything.
Lucas was lost in thought, staring at the distant skyline. The weight of his secrets, the looming threats, and the undeniable shift in his feelings for Bella pressed heavily on his chest. He hadn't even noticed when she walked up behind him.
"Lucas?"
Her soft voice broke through his trance, making him tense. He turned sharply, only to find Bella standing too close
Damn it. His pulse spiked. How did she always manage to catch him off guard?
"You're lost in thought," she said, crossing her arms. "What's wrong?" Lucas exhaled, forcing himself to look away. He couldn't tell her the truth—not yet.
"It's nothing." Bella frowned. "You always say that. You know, you can talk to me too. It's not fair that I get to dump my worries on you, but you keep yours locked inside."
He smirked, leaning against the railing. "So now you're worried about me?" She rolled her eyes. "Obviously." That one word did something to him—the way she said it, like caring for him was something she had been doing for years.
Lucas swallowed, deciding to switch the subject before she got too deep. "Actually, I do have a serious concern." Her expression turned alert. "What is it?"
He stared at her for a beat, then sighed dramatically. "The doctor said your cravings should have started by now. But they haven't. Should I be worried?"
Bella blinked. "Wait… what?" Lucas crossed his arms, tilting his head with mock seriousness. "Yeah. Should I call the doctor? Or should I go buy everything sweet, sour, and spicy in the city? Maybe you just haven't found the right temptation yet."
Bella's cheeks turned pink. "That's ridiculous! It's not like I can control it."
He hummed thoughtfully, then smirked. "Maybe you're just picky," he said, his tone light and teasing. "Or maybe you're secretly craving something weird but don't want to admit it." He tapped his chin remembering about the weird cravings mentioned in the book he bought. "Pickles dipped in chocolate? Ice cream with soy sauce?"
Bella made a disgusted face. "Ew, no!" Lucas chuckled. "You never know. I've heard pregnancy cravings can be… surprising." His smirk deepened. "But if you don't tell me, how am I supposed to run around the city and satisfy all your strange demands?"
Bella rolled her eyes. "I think I'd survive without you hunting down the world's weirdest snacks, thanks." Lucas almost whinned at her words. "Oh? So you're saying you won't wake me up in the middle of the night asking for some impossible-to-find dessert?"
Bella opened her mouth to argue but hesitated seeing this grown up man throwing tantrums. Lucas grinned. "That pause says everything." Bella groaned, covering her face with her hands. "You're impossible."
Lucas chuckled, pleased with himself. Before Bella could throw another retort at him, the sudden chime of her phone alarm made them both pause. She blinked at the screen, then gasped.
"Oh! It's already time to pick up Rachel!" she said, hurriedly pushing back her hair. Lucas glanced at his watch and sighed. "Time flies when I'm busy teasing you," he muttered, grabbing his car keys. "I'll go get her."
Bella nodded. "Alright. I'll take a quick shower in the meantime." Lucas gave her a brief glance, his gaze lingering a second too long before he looked away. "Don't take too long, I'm not taking the keys." he said, his voice oddly gruff.
Bella, oblivious to the fact, simply rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, now go." With a shake of his head, Lucas left, closing the door behind him.
As the sound of the car engine faded, Bella exhaled deeply. She hadn't even realized how warm her face had gotten from their teasing exchange. Shaking off the lingering sensation, she made her way to the bathroom.
By the time Lucas returned with Rachel, her giggles filling the house as she excitedly talked about her friends. Bella was fresh out of the shower, a delicate scent of floral soap lingered around her, like a spring morning, as she stepped into the living room. Rachel rushed toward Bella, who crouch down to her level.
"Mommy! Are you feeling better now?" Rachel asked, her tiny hands reaching up to touch Bella's face with concern.
Bella smiled warmly, pulling her into a hug. "Yes, sweetheart, I'm much better now. Don't worry."
Rachel pouted, as if still unsure, but then nodded. "Okay! I'll go change my clothes." With that, she dashed off to her room.
Just as Bella turned her attention back to Lucas, the doorbell rang. Lucas frowned slightly but went to open it. The moment he did, he was met with an unexpected sight—Mark stood there, holding a bag of food and grinning.
"Good afternoon, buddy," Mark greeted casually before walking past Lucas as if he owned the place.
Lucas blinked. Buddy? He had never heard Mark address him like that in front of Bella before. His eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to watch Mark enter the living room.
"Bella," Mark greeted with an easy smile, setting the bag down on the table. "I brought some good food. Thought you might be getting those pregnancy cravings by now."
Bella chuckled, shaking her head. "That's really thoughtful, Mark. But I actually haven't had any cravings yet." Lucas, arms crossed, leaned against the doorframe and spoke before Mark could respond. "Exactly. My wife isn't getting cravings right now. But whenever she will get it, I will bring it for her." He intentionally emphasized 'my wife'.
Mark shot him a look, amused. "Well, just because she hasn't yet doesn't mean she won't. I figured I'd come prepared." He turned back to Bella. "Besides, you never say no to good food, right? It's already time for lunch."
Bella laughed. "You do have a point." Lucas's jaw clenched slightly at the sound of her giggles. Since when did they get so comfortable with each other?
Mark and Bella continued their light conversation, with Mark throwing in a few playful remarks that made her laugh again, while Lucas stood there, silently observing, feeling something unfamiliar coil in his chest.
Rachel soon returned, dressed in fresh clothes, just in time for lunch. Together, they all gathered at the table, enjoying the delicious meal Mark had brought.
As they finished lunch, Lucas leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Mark. He knew Mark wasn't the type to drop by just for food.
"So," Lucas said, arching a brow, "what's the real reason you're here?" Mark, wiping his mouth with a napkin, gave him a lazy smirk. "Nothing major. Just some documents that needed your signature today, but since you took a leave, I figured I'd handle it later." He leaned back, stretching his arms. "Oh, and your wedding album is ready."
At that, Bella's face lit up. "Already?" Mark nodded, pulling out a neatly wrapped package from his bag. "Thought you'd want to see it together."
Bella eagerly unwrapped it, flipping open the first page. Rachel, sitting beside her, leaned in with curiosity.
"Oh, look at this one," Bella pointed to a picture of her walking down the aisle. "I didn't even know I looked this nervous."
Rachel giggled. "You were, Mommy!" Lucas smirked slightly but kept his eyes on the album as Bella continued turning the pages. The pictures were beautiful—capturing each moment in perfect clarity.