Bella stirred awake, feeling unusually well-rested. The warmth of Rachel beside her was familiar, but something felt different—the absence of the other presence she had unconsciously grown used to. Her hand brushed over the empty space on the bed. Lucas was gone.
Frowning, she sat up, stretching lazily. The faint scent of fresh flowers and something delicious filled the air. Curious, she slipped out of bed, quietly making her way out of the bedroom.
As she stepped into the living room, a soft gasp left her lips. The house wasn't extravagantly decorated, but there was a noticeable effort—a small vase of fresh lilies on the dining table, a warm breakfast already set, and the gentle glow of morning light filtering through the curtains.
Lucas stood by the kitchen counter, pouring a cup of coffee as if this was the most normal thing in the world. He looked up at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Morning, Mrs. Costanzo."
Bella blinked. Mrs. Costanzo. The name still felt new, unfamiliar yet oddly intimate coming from him. She crossed her arms, trying to mask her amusement. "What is all this?"
Lucas set the coffee down and leaned against the counter. "Our one-week milestone. Thought I'd make it special."
Bella arched a brow. "One week of what? Putting up with you?" Lucas chuckled, stepping closer. "You're not exactly a saint to live with either, sweetheart."
Before she could retort, small footsteps pattered across the floor. "Dada!" Rachel's sleepy voice rang as she ran straight to Lucas, who effortlessly lifted her into his arms. "Did you make breakfast?"
Lucas ruffled her hair. "Of course. We have a little celebration today."
Rachel turned to Bella, her eyes shining with excitement. "What are we celebrating?"
Bella shook her head, suppressing a smile. "Apparently, we survived one week with your dada."
Lucas scoffed. "I should be the one saying that."
Rachel giggled, settling onto her chair as Lucas pulled out a chair for Bella. She hesitated for a second before sitting down. Despite their unconventional start, the effort he put into small moments like this didn't go unnoticed.
As they began their breakfast, Lucas slid something across the table toward her. "For you."
Bella looked down to see a delicate charm bracelet, simple yet elegant. It wasn't flashy, but there was a small charm—a tiny engraved 'R'—clearly for Rachel.
She picked it up, her fingers brushing over the charms. "You got this for me?"
Lucas shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, but the way he watched her reaction gave him away. "Just thought you'd like it."
Bella didn't say anything for a moment. Anyone could tell this bracelet was not something he can pick up from somewhere, given that this bracelet costs tens of thousands. She wanted to refuse to such a luxury gift but looking at all his effort to make this morning more beautiful, she truly felt grateful. Then, quietly, she fastened the bracelet around her wrist.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, her voice softer than she intended. Lucas smirked. "I have good taste."
Bella rolled her eyes, but there was no denying the warmth spreading through her chest. Lucas's gaze lingered on Bella for a second longer than necessary, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before he spoke. "You slept longer than usual. Are you fine?"
She rolled her eyes, but still her cheeks flushed at the thought of him keeping a tab of her wake-up time. "It's Saturday. And I was tired."
"Hmm." He pushed a cup of coffee toward her. "So, let's go out today."
Bella blinked at him, caught off guard. "Go out?"
"You've been cooped up all week," he pointed out casually, sipping his coffee. "And Rachel wants to go shopping."
Rachel who just got betrayed by her trusted dada, looked up from her dish and gasped dramatically. "No, Dada wants to go shopping! He said he needs grocery!"
Bella hid a smile behind her cup, looking at Lucas knowingly. "Grocery?"
Lucas exhaled, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "She's making me sound like I enjoy shopping."
Rachel giggled. "But you dooo. You buy Mama things all the time."
Bella froze, fingers tightening around the cup. A flush crept up her neck, but before she could say anything, Lucas's voice cut in smoothly.
"I like spoiling my family." His tone was casual, but the weight behind the words wasn't lost on her.
Bella exhaled slowly, looking away. He made it sound so natural—like they had always been a family, like this was how it was meant to be.
Rachel, oblivious to the shift in tension, clapped her hands. "So, we're going?"
Bella glanced at Lucas, who was watching her, waiting for her response.
"…Yeah," she murmured finally, breaking eye contact. "Let's go."
After finishing breakfast, Bella went to the bedroom to get ready, leaving Lucas and Rachel to clean up. Well she had already dressed Rachel. She had just wore a casual yet comfortable outfit—a soft beige jumpsuit—when she heard footsteps behind her.
"You're taking too long." Bella turned to find Lucas leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on his lips.
She huffed, slipping her sweater over her head. "Excuse me for wanting to look presentable."
Lucas pushed off the door, stepping closer. "You look good in anything, tesoruccia."
She shot him a look." What does that mean?"
He chuckled, but his gaze didn't waver as he reached for a loose strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. "It means little treasure." His voice was lower now, smooth and teasing, but there was something else beneath it—something that made her heart stutter.
Bella swallowed, pretending to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck. Instead, she turned away, reaching for her earrings. "If you have time to stand there and distract me, you have time to pick what you're wearing."
Lucas hummed as if considering her words. Then, casually, he said, "I could just wear the same shirt I wore yesterday. That's my favourite shirt."
Bella paused. Slowly, she turned back, narrowing her eyes. "You wouldn't." His smirk deepened. "Try me."
"Lucas."
"Hmm?"
Bella's mouth opened, then closed. Heat flared up her neck when she made eye contact with him, and she quickly turned back to the mirror, muttering under her breath, "You're impossible."
Lucas chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. "Fine, I'll change. But only because my wife asked me to."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, how kind of you." He winked, stepping back. "I know."
Just as he left the room, she exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest. One week into marriage, and he was already too comfortable teasing her.
The department store was bright and bustling, the soft hum of conversations and the occasional beeping of cash registers filling the air. Bella pushed the shopping cart with Rachel walking beside her, eyes wide as she took in the endless aisles. Lucas, ever the silent observer, walked just a step behind them, his presence as solid as ever.
They started with general necessities—some groceries, toiletries, and a few household items. Bella picked up things they needed, while Lucas, ever so subtly, slipped in a few extras.
A softer pillow, a plush throw blanket. A set of comfortable slip-on shoes she would appreciate when her feet started swelling. Nothing obvious, nothing that would raise suspicion. Just little things that ensured her comfort. And then, of course, the doormat.
Bella raised a brow as he placed it in the cart. "Really?" Lucas gave her a look, one that left no room for argument. "No discussion. We're getting this."
Rachel giggled at their silent battle before her attention drifted elsewhere. In the next aisle, a display of tiny baby items caught her eye.
"Mommy, look at this!" She gasped, running over to grab a pair of ridiculously tiny shoes. She held them up, her face full of wonder. "Aren't these so cute?"
Bella's breath caught for half a second before she forced herself to relax. Rachel didn't know. This was just her being excited over something small and adorable.
Lucas, however, was watching her. Amusement flickered in his gaze before he reached past Rachel and plucked a onesie from the rack. "This one's cute," he mused, holding it up. "Maybe we should get two—one for a boy, and one for a girl?" Bella shot him a glare, her cheeks warming. "Put that back."
He smirked but obeyed, slipping the onesie back into its place. But he didn't put down the tiny socks he had taken along with it, casually tossing them into the cart before Bella could stop him. She sighed, shaking her head. There was no winning against this man.
After finishing their shopping, Lucas placed a protective hand on Bella's back, steering her toward the exit. He felt like someone was staring at him. His usual easy demeanor hadn't changed, but Bella could sense the subtle tension in him. She nudged his arm lightly. "Something wrong?"
He looked down at her, his face unreadable for a moment before he gave a small, dismissive shake of his head. "Nothing. Just thinking about what's next."
Bella frowned slightly but let it go. As they stepped outside, Rachel grabbed Bella's hand, looking up with excitement. "Can we eat outside today?"
Bella smiled at her enthusiasm, but before she could answer, Lucas cut in smoothly. "No." Rachel pouted. "Why not?"
Lucas didn't hesitate. "Because your mom needs to eat healthy." Bella turned to him with a mock-scolding look. "I do eat healthy."
Lucas scoffed. "Tell that to the chips you put in the cart." Bella crossed her arms. "That was for Rachel." Rachel gasped in betrayal. "Mommy!"
Lucas smirked, but his decision was firm. "We're going home." Rachel, never one to give up, turned to the strategy. Big, pleading eyes. "Please?"
Bella, catching on, leaned in, resting her head against Lucas's arm as she mirrored Rachel's look. "Pretty please?"
Lucas exhaled slowly, closing his eyes as if gathering patience. When he opened them again, they landed on Bella—who was still looking up at him with that soft, silent plea. Damn it. He ran a hand down his face before muttering, "Fine."
Rachel cheered. Bella grinned. And Lucas? Lucas sighed, already regretting his weakness.