The large conference hall hadn't fully emptied. Allison stood by the frosted glass window, her fingers curled around the edge of the table. The lights from the chandelier above shimmered faintly, but it couldn't chase the chill that remained in the air after her confrontation with the board. She should have felt triumphant. Instead, she just felt tired. Behind her, the doors clicked shut.
"They were like wolves," she whispered, barely audible. Lucian wrapped his arms around her from behind, drawing her slowly into his warmth.
"They're irrelevant" he said. His voice was deep, low, but not cold when he spoke to her.
"They forget whose company this is." Allison leaned back into him, resting her head against his shoulder. "I didn't even say that much. Just told the truth about Li Anya and me. Why are people always waiting to pull a woman down?"
Lucian didn't answer immediately. Instead, his hand moved gently over her stomach, resting there with a protective touch.
His lips brushed her ear. "You would have let me do the talking."
Allison chuckled despite herself. "You? You would've broken their phones and walked out before I could even say a word." He kissed her temple. "Hmmm."
The door opened again, this time more cautiously. Alexa peeked in with her signature smirk. "Oh relax. I knocked this time." She walked in with a coffee in hand and leaned on the nearest chair, looking between the couple. "You do realize you're trending, right?"
Allison stiffened. "Trending?"
Alexa flipped her phone around and showed the screen. Social media was already ablaze with blurry screenshots from a footage leaked by someone in the company. Allison on Lucian's lap. The angle was enough to fuel imaginations, and the captions were demeaning
" Second woman? Lucian's mistress exposed."
"Using pregnancy to trap the CEO? Unbelievable."
" She's totally going to bring the Lu corporation down. This should be working hours but here she is, seducing the CEO."
Lucian jaw tightened while Allison eyes stayed on the screen. Aaron's name was mentioned in the thread. Comments claimed that Aaron had seen it happen, that he confirmed it to others. The rest of the team had spread it like wildfire.
"How can they say this...?" Allison whispered.
Alexa expression shifted. "I already know who leaked it. Want me to take care of it?" Allison shook her head. "No. Let me."
That afternoon, Yevana walked into the company unannounced. The moment her heels hit the marble lobby, silence fell. She didn't need an introduction. The powerful aura, the long navy coat that flowed like a storm cloud, the crescent brooch pinned to her chest all made it clear to the workers that weren't in the meeting. She was Lucian's mother.
"Where's the HR director?" she asked crisply. Her voice devoid of all emotions. The receptionist stammered. "Sh-she's upstairs, madam—"
Yevana didn't wait. She walked past the stares, the whispers, the judgmental glances. She knew what had happened. She had read every article.
Upstairs, in the main staff hall, several employees stood frozen as Yevana entered. Director Evans voice had just finished saying: "If she wasn't trying to seduce the CEO, then why do that here? She thinks she's special just because she's pregnant—" A paper plane pinned against the wall beside him.
" How can a paper have so much force and tip sharp that it pinned on a wall" some whispered. Every head turned. Yevana stood at the doorway, hand still raised from the throw. Her eyes were burning. "You," she said calmly. "If I ever hear you talk about my daughter-in-law like that again, I will personally see to it you're shoveling cement on some roadside where your voice won't echo."
Director Evans swallowed hard. She turned her gaze to the others. "You dare call her shameless?" Silence. "None of you were ever qualified to speak her name" Yevana continued. "She is the one carrying the next Lu heir. She is the one my son chose, not once, not by mistake, but every single night and day. What you saw was a moment of intimacy between two engaged adults. If that offends you, go wash your eyes out with salt."
The room was dead quiet. "Now," she added, smoothing her coat. "Apologize to her." Director Evans stared.
"Now."
He bowed his head. "I'm… sorry."
Allison just gave him a nod. Yevana looked around one last time before turning. "Any other questions?" None. She walked out without another word alongside Allison that planed on confronting them . And just like that, the atmosphere changed.
Back in Lucian's office, Allison had curled on the sofa, blanket across her knees, still shaken. Lucian crouched beside her, brushing her hair away. "You don't need to hear what they say."
"I didn't ask to be strong today." Her voice cracked. "I just wanted a normal day."
He leaned forward, gently kissing her stomach. "I know. Let me give it to you tomorrow." She smiled faintly.
"Mom did more than I expected" Allison said. "She likes you more than you think" Lucian murmured. Allison traced the pendant around her neck. That subtle warmth again.
The morning sun spilled across the Lu Villa like warm honey. In the dining room, the usual calm of breakfast was broken by the bang of a bowl caused by Tianlei as he stared at the adults across the table, one brow lifted with all the authority of a eight year old on sugar high.
"You're not hiding it well, you know" he announced smugly.
Beatrice froze mid-sip, she looked at her son. Allison blinked from across the table. Lucian didn't even look up from the newspaper.
"What exactly are we hiding?" Beatrice asked cautiously, trying to steer the conversation away from the landmine she suspected her son was about to throw.
Tianlei leaned back in his chair, grinning like he had just won a game of chess. "You're pregnant." His eyes fixed on Allison.
Silence.
Allison choked on her favourite grape juice. Beatrice spoon clattered into her bowl.
Even Lucian paused, eyes flicking over the paper.
"Excuse me?" Allison finally managed, wiping her mouth.
"I knew it" Tianlei said triumphantly. "You've been sleepy. You don't yell as much. You touched your stomach during the movie last night and many other times. That's what moms do."
Beatrice buried her face in her hands. "He's impossible."
"I like little sisters" Tianlei added, grinning. "But it's fine. I'll marry her when we grow up."
Allison burst into laughter, and even Lucian's mouth twitched.
"Nice try" Lucian's said dryly, folding the newspaper. "But no daughter of mine is marrying anyone without my consent."
"Huh?" Tianlei's voice cracked in betrayal.
Beatrice was laughing too, eyes misty. She reached across and ruffled Tianlei's hair, murmuring, "You're going to be a great big brother."
And Allison gave him a smile. Not the guarded kind she used to wear at the orphanage or her adopted home. Not the polite kind she gave to clients. But the soft, real one. The kind that looked like sunlight and felt like home