The restaurant was warm and inviting, its soft lighting casting a cozy glow over the neatly arranged tables. Lucas had chosen the place carefully—not too crowded, not too loud, and most importantly, clean. He had already mentally scanned the place the moment they stepped inside, ensuring it met his standards before letting Bella and Rachel settle in.
Rachel swung her legs under the chair, her eyes bright with excitement as she looked around. "This place is so pretty!" she chirped. "Dada, do they have pancakes here?"
Lucas arched a brow. "For dinner? We had them on breakfast, sweetheart." Rachel pouted. "Why not?"
Bella chuckled as she picked up the menu. "Lucas, just let her have whatever she wants. It's the weekend."
Lucas exhaled through his nose, muttering something about how this wasn't real dinner, but he gave in, flipping through the menu while keeping an eye on his surroundings. Rachel beamed as she turned to Bella. "What are you getting, Mama?"
Before Bella could answer, Lucas smoothly took the menu from her hands, replacing it with his own selection. "Something healthy," he said casually. Bella blinked at the choice in front of her. "Lucas, I can order for myself, you know."
"You can," he agreed. "But I know you won't. You need to take care of your health, right?"
Bella gave him a look, but his expression remained unreadable—until she noticed the slight twitch of his lips, barely suppressing a smirk.
"You're impossible," she huffed, but there was no real annoyance in her voice. Lucas leaned back, his smirk deepening. "And yet, you married me."
Rachel giggled, clearly enjoying the exchange, while Bella rolled her eyes before giving in to the meal Lucas had picked. It was a light yet nutritious dish, and though she wouldn't admit it out loud, she secretly appreciated his thoughtfulness. Atleast the food didn't make her throw up.
Dinner continued with easy conversation. Rachel, with her usual endless energy, chattered away about a cartoon she had recently watched, and how her friend Emma wanted a pet rabbit. Bella had told her countless of times to stay quiet during a meal or else she will choke herself but she never listens.
Bella focused on her talks with a soft smile, occasionally sneaking amused glances at Lucas, who pretended to be uninterested but still responded at the right moments. It was a simple, peaceful moment. Too peaceful.
Lucas's grip on his fork tightened ever so slightly. He couldn't pinpoint it yet, but something felt...off. It wasn't anything obvious. No sudden movements, no immediate threats. But his instincts—those sharp, well-honed instincts that had kept him alive for years—prickled with unease. Someone is watching him.
His gaze flickered subtly across the room. Most people were busy with their meals, engaged in conversations or focused on their food. But then— A man at the far end of the restaurant.
He wasn't doing anything outwardly suspicious, just eating like everyone else. But he had lingered too long on them. Watched them too carefully. Lucas's jaw tightened. He kept his expression neutral, not giving away that he had noticed. Instead, he casually reached for his phone under the table, tapping out a brief, coded message to one of Bella's assigned bodyguards, who were undercover and followed them as ordered by Lucas.
"Check the man in the gray jacket. Table near the window." The reply came seconds later. "On it." Lucas placed the phone down, resuming his meal as if nothing had happened.
"Lucas?" Bella's voice pulled him from his thoughts. She was watching him, her brows slightly furrowed. "What's wrong?"
Lucas met her gaze, his expression calm. "Nothing." She didn't look convinced. "You went quiet all of a sudden."
Lucas exhaled slowly, reaching for his glass. "Just thinking." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. No need to worry her.
Still, Bella's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned back to Rachel, who was completely unaware of the shift in atmosphere. Lucas's focus subtly drifted back to the man in the gray jacket.
The stranger was no longer looking at them. In fact, he seemed perfectly normal now, casually finishing his meal. Lucas wasn't sure if he had imagined the tension or if the man had realized he was being watched and backed off. Either way, Lucas wasn't taking any chances.
By the time they finished their meal and stepped outside, Lucas had already instructed the bodyguards to stay close but unseen. His arm rested naturally around Bella's waist, making her blush at the sudden contact, his other hand holding Rachel's as they walked toward the car.
The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of the city. Bella stretched her arms. "That was nice," she said, sounding content. Rachel nodded eagerly. "Dada, can we come again?"
Lucas hummed, but his attention remained sharp. He glanced subtly over his shoulder—nothing out of the ordinary. No sign of the man from before. Maybe it had been nothing. Maybe he was just being paranoid. Or maybe... it was a warning. Whatever it was, he would be ready.
He looked down at Bella, who was completely unaware of the thoughts running through his mind. His hold on her waist tightened ever so slightly. "You okay?" Bella asked, noticing the subtle shift.
Lucas's gaze softened. "Yeah," he murmured. "Let's go home."
By the time they returned home, the apartment was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft rustling of shopping bags and Rachel's occasional giggles as she skipped inside. Bella sighed, stretching her arms as she kicked off her shoes, exhaustion creeping into her limbs.
Lucas, always the observer, took note of it immediately. His gaze flickered to her hand as she pressed her palm against her lower back, rolling her shoulders in relief.
"Tired?" His voice was low, casual, but there was an edge of concern laced within. Bella let out a small laugh. "We did walk around a lot today."
Before Lucas could respond, Rachel tugged at Bella's hand, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Mama, can I show Mr. Teddy my new toy?" Bella chuckled at her enthusiasm, brushing a hand through Rachel's curls. "Of course, sweetie."
As Rachel scurried off to her room, Bella went to her room to change into something more comfortable. When she returned, she found Lucas crouched near the common bathroom's doorway, pressing the new doormat into place. She raised a brow, amused. "You're really serious about this doormat, huh?"
Lucas didn't look up, smoothing his palm over the material before sitting back on his heels. "Mm. Slippery floors aren't safe. But I still need to fix one in our room's bathroom. That's the most important place." His tone was nonchalant, but Bella knew him well enough to catch the underlying protectiveness in his words.
Shaking her head fondly, she moved to the couch and plopped down with a relieved sigh, sinking into the cushions. "You know, at this rate, our entire apartment is going to be hazard-proof."
Lucas stood up, dusting off his hands, and walked over to where she sat. "And?" Bella glanced up, lips twitching. "And I guess I should be thanking you."
A smirk played at his lips as he settled beside her. "You should." She rolled her eyes but leaned her head against his shoulder nonetheless. The warmth of his presence, the steady rise and fall of his breathing—it all felt grounding. Safe.
Lucas shifted slightly, lifting his arm so she could rest against him more comfortably. Then, without a word, he reached for her legs, gently pulling them onto his lap. Bella blinked. "What are you—"
"Relax." His voice was low, as his fingers pressed against her calves, kneading slow, deliberate circles. "You looked like you needed it."
Bella wanted to argue, maybe even make a teasing remark about how he become a perfect candidate to be a househusband, but the way his hands moved—firm, warm, and careful—made her eyes flutter shut instead. A quiet hum of approval escaped her lips.
Lucas's smirk widened, though he didn't say anything. For a while, they sat in silence. Bella could hear the soft rustling from Rachel's room and the distant hum of the city beyond their windows. But here, in this moment, it was just the two of them.
As Bella slowly melted into relaxation, Lucas's gaze flickered toward his phone. A single message notification glowed on the screen. Bodyguard: The man left. No further movements.
Lucas's jaw tensed slightly. He had expected as much, but he wasn't the type to lower his guard easily. Still, he wouldn't let it ruin the night. Sliding his phone into his pocket, he shifted his focus back to Bella. Her breathing had slowed, her body heavier against his. She wasn't fully asleep, but she was close.
"Bella." His voice was softer now. She hummed in response but didn't open her eyes. Lucas chuckled. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
"I'm fine right here," she mumbled sleepily. Lucas didn't bother arguing. Instead, he leaned forward and, with effortless ease, scooped her up into his arms.
Bella gasped, her arms instinctively looping around his neck. "Lucas!" He arched a brow, entirely unfazed. "You were saying?"
A huff left her lips, but she didn't fight it as he carried her toward the bedroom. Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his shirt, and in the dim lighting of their home, she let herself relax against him.
Lucas nudged the bedroom door open with his foot and carefully placed her on the bed. As he pulled the blanket over her, Bella peeked up at him, eyes half-lidded with sleep.
"You're too good at this," she murmured. Lucas smirked. "At what?"
"Taking care of me."
His smirk softened into something quieter, something more sincere. He reached forward, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Get some rest, Bella."
Her eyes drifted shut, and with one last lingering glance, Lucas stood, making his way toward the door. But not before he checked the locks, his protective nature never wavering. Only when everything was secure did he finally went to Rachel's room and returned with her to their bed.
After tucking her to sleep, he looked at both of their faces. They both look so cute when they are sleeping. Well they look cute when they are awake too. He sighed remembering about how he gave in to their request of eating outside earlier, just because they acted cute infront of him. No, he can't let this become his weakness.