An hour or so had passed since Mark left, but the echo of Lucas's words — Who will protect you from me? — still lingered in Bella's mind. She shook her head, telling herself to focus on something productive. So she decided to make lunch.
The late-morning light poured into the kitchen as she tied her apron, pulling out vegetables for the meal. The sound of the knife against the cutting board filled the space, rhythmic and almost calming.
It struck her — how much her life had shifted in what felt like the blink of an eye.
Just months ago, she'd been balancing work shifts, overdue bills, and Rachel's homework. Now, she was standing in a house that somehow felt safer than anywhere she'd ever been. There was Rachel's laughter echoing in the halls, Lucas's steady presence in the next room… and the quiet, undeniable truth that her life would never go back to what it was before she met him.
She caught herself smiling — and immediately muttered, "Don't read too much into it, Bella," before sliding the vegetables into the pan.
From the living room, Lucas's voice carried — smoother than usual, tinged with a rare softness.
"Yes, Mama… there's something I need to tell you and Dad."
He was talking to his parents, but he'd never let her listen to his phone conversations before. Maybe now he wanted her to hear. Bella slowed her chopping, ears unintentionally straining toward the sound.
"Bella's pregnant," Lucas said plainly.
There was a beat of silence, and then Alessandra's joyful gasp came through so clearly Bella could almost see her face lighting up.
Matteo's voice followed, warm and teasing. "We were wondering when you'd finally admit it."
Lucas huffed out a quiet laugh. "So you knew?"
Alessandra chuckled. "Your behaviour spoke louder than your words, caro. And your father… well, let's just say his old friends have a way of knowing things before they're said."
Bella could imagine Lucas rolling his eyes, but his voice softened again. "I should have told you sooner. I… may have let you believe we were already lovers before this happened."
On the other end, both his parents laughed. Matteo spoke, a smile audible in his tone. "Oh, we already guessed that part wasn't entirely true. But it doesn't matter, Lucas. We can hear in your voice how much you care for her — and that's more important than anything."
Lucas went quiet for a moment, and Bella pictured his jaw tightening — the way it always did when emotions crept up on him. Then his voice dropped, steadier. "I'll take care of her. And the baby."
From the kitchen, Bella's heart gave a strange little tug. She stirred the vegetables, but her mind was no longer on lunch.
The aroma of sizzling vegetables filled the air when the sound of the front door opening caught Bella's attention. A moment later, Rachel's bright little voice rang through the hallway.
"Mamaaa!"
Bella quickly untied her apron and stepped toward the doorway, just in time to see Rachel run in — her backpack bouncing with each step, Lucas following behind with one hand casually in his pocket, the other holding her water bottle.
"Good afternoon, baby," Bella said, bending down. Rachel instantly pressed a kiss to Bella's belly, just as she had that morning.
"Hello, baby brother or sister," Rachel said solemnly, as if addressing someone who could already hear her perfectly.
Lucas's lips curved faintly at the scene. He crouched slightly, brushing his palm over Rachel's hair. "And hello to you too, piccola," he said, his voice low and fond.
Rachel looked up at him, grinning. "Dada picked me up today!" she announced proudly, glancing at Bella as though she'd just brought home the biggest news of the week.
"Did he?" Bella said, glancing at Lucas with a little smile.
Lucas's gaze held hers for a second longer than it needed to before he said, "Let's have lunch first, shall we?"
They gathered at the dining table, Bella bringing the serving dishes over while Lucas poured water into three glasses. Rachel chattered happily about her morning at school — how her art teacher said she had imagination like a princess and how her best friend brought cupcakes but wouldn't share the pink one because pink was her favourite colour.
Lucas listened without interrupting, his eyes soft, occasionally asking just enough questions to make Rachel feel like the most important storyteller in the world. Bella caught herself watching him — the way his large hand cupped the glass, the faint lines at the corner of his eyes when he smiled at something Rachel said, the quiet patience that contrasted so sharply with the man she'd seen at other times.
At one point, Rachel reached for a piece of bread, and Lucas leaned over to butter it for her without a word. Bella felt an unexpected warmth bloom in her chest at the simple gesture.
"Dada?" Rachel asked mid-bite.
"Yes?"
"When the baby comes, will you still pick me up from school?"
Lucas's hand stilled briefly before he answered, voice gentle but sure. "Of course. You'll always be my first princess."
Rachel beamed, satisfied with the answer, and Bella felt her throat tighten. She busied herself with pouring water into her glass, telling herself it was just the warm food and not something else that made her chest ache like that.
After lunch, Rachel excused herself to her room, clutching her favourite stuffed bunny and announcing she had to take her beauty nap. Bella smiled at her retreating figure before starting to clear the table.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, watching her with that unreadable expression that often made her feel like she was being studied under a microscope. "Just a few more weeks," he said suddenly.
Bella glanced over her shoulder. "Hmm?"
"The next routine after that," he clarified, a faint glint in his eyes. "That's when we'll know if it's a boy or a girl."
"And where did you get that information?" she asked, raising her brows.
"You might have forgotten, but I bought a book for soon-to-be fathers," he replied, almost proudly. "I'm very excited for the reveal."
She set a plate onto the counter and shook her head lightly. "But… I don't want to know."
Lucas's brows lifted. "You don't?"
"I want to wait until the birth," Bella said, smiling faintly. "Let it be a surprise."
For a split second, disappointment flickered across his face — subtle, but enough for her to catch it. "I was… looking forward to it," he admitted.
Her tone softened, almost unconsciously. "You'll survive."
Lucas leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth twitching as if debating whether to say something more. Then his gaze held hers, steady and unreadable.
"Well…" His voice dropped a fraction. "My family's produced males for several generations."
She arched a brow, about to respond, but the words stalled when he let a faint, knowing smile tug at his lips. His eyes dipped — just for a heartbeat — before meeting hers again, and there was something in them now, a glint that made the air between them feel heavier.
"And I believe I'm good at making them," he said finally, the words slow, deliberate.
Bella froze, the implication landing in a warm rush she hadn't been prepared for. Her fingers tightened slightly on the plate she was holding, heat blooming along her cheeks. She looked away quickly, pretending to fuss with the dishes.
"Confident, aren't you?" she managed, her voice lower than before. "And… what if it's a girl?"
"I'd be happy," he said without hesitation, his gaze never leaving her. "Another princess."
Her smile softened at that, the shyness still tugging at her features. "Hmm… well, I really want a prince."
Lucas's mouth curved faintly. "Then let's hope he takes after you… and not me."
Bella let out a soft laugh, shaking her head as she picked up the last plate — but she could still feel the weight of his gaze, that strange flutter in her chest refusing to settle even after she turned away.