Chapter 5 - “My Wife Is Pregnant”
Three weeks later, Norah attended a charity dinner at the Bellmont Hotel.
She almost canceled.
Lucian didn't pressure her.
“If you don't want to go, we don't.”
Norah adjusted her pale rose dress.
“I want to go.”
“You sure?”
“No.”
Lucian smiled faintly.
“That's different.”
She looked at him through the mirror.
“I'm tired of Ethan deciding where I feel safe.”
Lucian approached.
“Then we go.”
His hand hovered near her back.
Norah smiled.
“You can touch me.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you asking without asking?”
“Because I'm learning.”
She took his hand and placed it on her waist.
“So am I.”
The ballroom was crowded.
Crystal chandeliers.
White flowers.
Music.
People pretending not to stare at Lucian Moretti.
For nearly an hour, everything was normal.
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Norah heard the disturbance before she saw him.
Ethan.
Out on bail pending the assault case.
He wasn't supposed to approach her.
Security moved immediately.
But Ethan shouted across the ballroom.
“Norah!”
She froze.
Lucian turned.
Ethan pushed past one guard.
“You think you can ruin my life and hide behind him?”
Lucian stepped forward.
Norah caught his wrist.
“No.”
He looked at her.
She stepped around him.
Ethan laughed.
“There she is.”
Norah walked toward him.
Lucian stayed three steps behind.
Close enough.
But letting her lead.
“You're violating the protection order,” Norah said.
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
“You told everyone I attacked you.”
“You did.”
“You always twist everything!”
Ethan moved toward her.
Lucian moved too.
This time Ethan noticed.
He stopped.
Then his eyes dropped toward Norah's stomach.
At twelve weeks, the pregnancy still barely showed.
But Ethan knew.
His expression twisted.
“You're really keeping it?”
The ballroom went silent.
Norah's hand covered her stomach.
Lucian's voice came from behind her.
“My wife is pregnant.”
Every face turned toward him.
Lucian walked beside Norah.
His hand settled gently at her back.
“And you will never speak about her or our child again.”
Ethan sneered.
“Or what?”
Lucian looked toward the security officers.
“Or the prosecutor adds tonight's violation to the existing case.”
Ethan blinked.
No threats.
No violence.
Nothing he could use.
Lucian leaned slightly closer.
“You wanted me to become the monster you could blame.”
His voice dropped.
“I won't.”
Ethan's confidence finally cracked.
Police officers entered through the ballroom doors.
Norah looked at him.
“You spent years telling me nobody else would want me.”
Ethan said nothing.
“You were wrong.”
She looked at Lucian.
Then back at Ethan.
“But you were wrong about something bigger.”
“What?”
Norah's voice was steady.
“I wanted myself back.”
The officers took Ethan away.
The ballroom remained silent.
Norah turned toward Lucian.
“Can we leave?”
“Immediately.”
“Can we get cheeseburgers?”
Lucian stared at her expensive dress.
“At midnight?”
“Your child wants one.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“My child?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting how quickly you're weaponizing pregnancy.”
“Cheeseburger.”
Lucian offered his arm.
“Two cheeseburgers.”
Norah smiled.
May you like
“Now you're learning.”
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