Mark closed the album with a satisfied nod. "Well, I'd say the photographer did a great job capturing the moments."
Bella smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, these are beautiful. Thank you for handling everything so well at the wedding, Mark. You were constantly making sure I was comfortable."
Mark waved it off. "Of course! What kind of best man would I be if I didn't take care of the bride?"
Lucas's fingers curled slightly into his palm. Take care of the bride? His gaze flickered to a picture. It was a candid moment from the reception—Mark standing beside Bella, both of them smiling at each other, lost in conversation, their expressions warm and comfortable. He didn't remember when that happened. It wasn't anything inappropriate, just friendly, but the sight of it made something inside Lucas coil unpleasantly.
Mark turned to him with a knowing smirk. "You good, boss?" Lucas's jaw tightened. "Perfectly."
Mark chuckled. "Jealous?"
Bella, who had been sipping water, choked slightly. "Jealous? Why would he be?"
Lucas gave her a flat look, then turned to Mark with a glare. "Don't you have work to do?"
Mark laughed, standing up. "Alright, alright, I'll get going. Bella, if you need anything, just call me."
"She won't need to. I'm here for her," Lucas interrupted smoothly. Her cheeks flushed hearing his reply.
Mark winked at her and shot Lucas an amused glance before walking out. As soon as the door shut, Lucas exhaled, shaking his head at himself. Why was Mark's presence annoying him so much?
Rachel climbed onto Bella's lap, gently poking her arm. "Mommy, you look sleepy." Bella hummed, brushing her daughter's hair back. "A little, sweetheart."
Lucas, still standing near the door, folded his arms. "Then go sleep." Bella scoffed. "I just woke up Lucas."
"You need more rest, and I don't want to hear you complaining later when you're exhausted," he said, voice firm but not unkind.
Bella sighed but knew he wouldn't let it go. "Fine. Just for a bit."
Rachel grinned. "I'll wake you up when it's playtime!"
Lucas arched a brow. "Or you could let her rest princess? How about I play with you?"
Rachel giggled, and Bella chuckled softly, ruffling her daughter's hair before settling on the couch. She didn't even realize how tired she was until her eyelids grew heavy. Within minutes, she drifted off, her features soft and peaceful.
Lucas, now sitting across from her, stared for a moment. She looked... delicate. Vulnerable in a way that made something stir inside him. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. This is just care. That's all.
When Bella finally woke up, she stretched lazily, blinking at the dimming sky. "How long did I sleep?"
"A couple of hours."
She groaned. "Ugh, that's too long. We need groceries. Let's go."
Lucas frowned. "I'll go. You stay here."
Bella scoffed. "Lucas, I'm pregnant, not injured."
"That doesn't mean you should overexert yourself."
Rachel perked up. "Can we all go? I wanna pick snacks!"
Bella smirked at Lucas, folding her arms. "See? Majority rules."
Lucas sighed. He was hopeless against these two. "Fine. But you're not carrying anything."
They walked to the store together, with Rachel skipping ahead. Bella, as usual, was effortlessly charming, chatting with the store owner about fresh produce.
Lucas, however, was barely listening. His eyes flickered between Bella's bright expressions and the people around them.
A young man at the counter smiled at Bella, handing her the change. "You always pick the best veggies. Guess you've got good instincts."
Bella laughed. "Or maybe I just get lucky."
Lucas shifted slightly behind her, his presence towering. The cashier's smile faltered slightly under his stare. Bella turned, eyeing him suspiciously. "Why do you look like you're planning a crime?"
Lucas tensed and quickly grabbed the grocery bag from her. "Just... making sure everything's fine."
Bella frowned. "It's a grocery store. What could possibly go wrong?"
Lucas didn't answer. Instead, he exhaled, telling himself he was just being protective. Not jealous. Never jealous.
By the time they returned home, Rachel was full of energy, insisting on helping put away the groceries. Lucas, ever the overprotective one, kept a close eye on both her and Bella.
"Be careful with that, little one," he reminded Rachel as she carried a small bag of vegetables to the kitchen. Bella chuckled at his seriousness. "She's just carrying carrots, Lucas, not explosives."
Lucas gave her a look, but instead of responding, he turned to Bella. "You sit. I'll handle the rest."
Bella rolled her eyes but let him usher her to the dining chair. She leaned back, watching him move around the kitchen, organizing things while Rachel proudly set some items on the counter.
It was a domestic moment—simple, yet something special. Something both of them dreamt of but no one dared to admit.
Lucas, as expected, didn't let Bella do much while preparing dinner. Every time she reached for something, he'd take it from her hands with a small frown.
"Lucas," Bella sighed. "You're acting like I'm completely incapable."
"You're pregnant," he stated like it was the ultimate argument.
Bella shook her head, stirring the soup while he hovered beside her. "I've been pregnant for three months already, you know. I didn't suddenly become fragile overnight."
Lucas didn't reply. He just grabbed the ladle from her and took over. Bella crossed her arms, pretending to glare at him. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you just like to trouble me."
Lucas smirked. "That's a secret." She rolled her eyes but smiled, secretly enjoying the way he was taking care of her.
Dinner was warm and filled with laughter, especially with Rachel excitedly talking about her school day. Bella watched Lucas, who was listening to Rachel attentively, occasionally giving her little nods of encouragement. It was... nice. Too nice.
Bella quickly looked away, focusing on her food. She wasn't sure why watching Lucas interact with Rachel so naturally made something tighten in her chest.
After putting Rachel to bed, Bella found Lucas in the living room, scrolling through his phone. She sat beside him with a tired sigh, reaching up to rub her sore shoulders.
Lucas noticed instantly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just a little sore," she admitted.
Without hesitation, he set his phone aside and shifted closer. "Turn around."
Bella blinked at him. "What?"
"I'll help," he said, already reaching for her shoulders.
Bella hesitated but turned her back to him. The moment his hands made contact, she felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through her skin.
Lucas, too, went still for half a second before forcing himself to continue. He kept his touch firm but careful, kneading the tension out of her muscles.
Bella closed her eyes, sighing softly. "That feels nice..."
Lucas swallowed hard. He had only meant to help, but the feeling of her warm skin beneath his fingers, the soft sound of her relief—it was messing with his head. And then Bella shifted slightly, her back pressing closer to him, and Lucas felt every ounce of his self-control snap into place.
He quickly pulled back, clearing his throat. "That should be enough." Bella blinked at the sudden loss of warmth. She turned to look at him, puzzled. "Thanks..."
Lucas nodded, already standing up. "You should sleep." Bella tilted her head. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he replied too quickly, running a hand through his hair. "Just... tired." Bella watched him for a second longer but didn't question it. "Alright. Goodnight, Lucas."
"Goodnight," he muttered, waiting until she disappeared into her room. And only then did he let out a breath, rubbing his face in frustration. What the hell was that?
Lately, every small touch, every glance, every damn moment with her was making him feel something he wasn't ready to acknowledge. But it wasn't love. It couldn't be. Could it?