Chapter 74: Morning at Lennox Estate

Sunlight poured gently through the tall arched windows of the breakfast room, casting soft golden patterns across the long polished table. The scent of freshly baked bread and honey drifted through the air.

Giana sat at one end of the table, feeling both grateful and out of place in the same breath. A delicate porcelain teacup trembled faintly in her hands as she tried to steady herself.

Across from her, Gloriana was pure sunshine — a tangle of curls, laughter, and endless chatter. “Gigi, look!” she giggled, holding up a strawberry like it was a prize. “This one looks like a heart!”

Giana laughed softly, her chest warming. “You’re right, it does. Maybe it’s a good luck strawberry.”

Gloriana gasped, eyes wide. “Then you have to eat it! You need good luck!”

Giana smiled, letting the little girl press the berry into her palm. “If my luck is half as good as having you as my breakfast buddy, I think I’ll be okay.”

That earned her a squeal of delight and a shower of crumbs as Gloriana clapped her hands together.

From the far end of the room, Alexander watched quietly, coffee cup poised just below his chin. His expression was unreadable — cool, assessing. Every now and then, his eyes flicked between Giana and the door, as though he expected trouble to walk in at any moment.

But Giana was oblivious to his scrutiny. She was too focused on keeping Gloriana’s milk from spilling and on remembering which fork went where.

When Pablo entered, the air shifted — lighter, somehow. He paused at the doorway for a moment, just watching. The sight of Giana sitting at his table, laughter mixing with his daughter’s, made something deep in his chest ache.

He took his seat beside her, unable to stop the smile tugging at his lips. “You look like you belong here,” he said softly.

Her cheeks warmed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that,” she murmured.

Joseph entered next, adjusting his cuffs as he greeted them politely. “Good morning,” he said with a faint smile. “I see the princess is in good spirits.”

Gloriana beamed. “I’m not a princess yet! Daddy says I’m still little.”

Joseph chuckled, nodding toward Giana. “And you have your favorite teacher to thank for keeping that spirit bright.”

Before Giana could respond, the sound of firm footsteps filled the hall. Nick was last to arrive, carrying a sleek black envelope tucked under his arm. He moved with his usual calm precision, but his eyes were sharp and alert.

“Morning,” Nick said simply, nodding to each of them.

He placed the envelope down in front of Pablo. “This is everything you requested for our guest.”

He was careful — measured — not to say too much with Gloriana sitting right there, happily munching on her fruit.

Pablo’s gaze darkened slightly as he opened the envelope, scanning the contents quickly before nodding. “Thank you,” he said, sliding it discreetly aside.

No one spoke for several moments. The only sounds were the soft clink of dishes and Gloriana humming under her breath.

But the tension was unmistakable — it stretched like fine glass between the men, each of them aware that one wrong word could shatter the delicate calm.

When breakfast finally came to an end, Giana smiled gently. “Thank you for having me,” she said, rising. “This was wonderful.”

Gloriana hopped off her chair. “I’m coming too! I want to show Gigi my butterfly drawings!”

“Of course you can,” Giana said, brushing a crumb from the girl’s cheek. “Let’s go before your butterflies fly away.”

Their laughter trailed softly down the hall as they disappeared toward the stairs.

The door closed behind them — and the moment it did, the warmth drained from the room.

Alexander let out a low growl, setting his cup down with a dull thud. “Are we really going to pretend everything is normal and fine?”

Joseph stood, his tone even but firm. “Yes. We are. The last thing she needs right now is stress. That baby is no ordinary child — it’s a direct heir to everything. Just as Gloriana will be if she chooses when the time comes.”

Pablo’s jaw clenched, his expression softening only slightly as his gaze fell to the untouched tea Giana had left behind.

“Alex,” he said quietly, “we all know your heart’s too cold to ever truly let love in. But there’s something about her… I can’t let her go. When I’m not with her, my mind is running wild with thoughts of her.”

Alexander’s expression wavered, his hard stare softening just for a heartbeat. He exhaled slowly, running a hand over his mouth. “I get it, brother,” he said at last. “I really do. But she has no idea what she’s in for. Once word gets out — that you’re with her, that she’s pregnant — the nobles will tear her apart. Her family, her past, all of it will be dragged into the light. Have you even talked to her about that?”

Pablo looked away. “Not yet.”

Alexander leaned forward slightly, voice calm but edged with warning. “You know just as well as I do that in three weeks your parents are throwing a formal ball in your honor. And we both know what that means. They’re setting you up.”

Pablo’s eyes flashed. “Let them try,” he said quietly. “There’s only one woman I’ll marry — and right now she’s upstairs in the west wing where she belongs”

He fell silent as Gloriana’s laughter echoed faintly down the hall — light, musical, innocent. “Gigi, look!” her voice rang out. “It’s flying!”

Pablo smiled faintly at the sound. “She’s perfect,” he said softly. “Exactly what this house needs. Exactly what Glori and I need. Please, my brothers… give her a chance. See what I see.”

The room stayed quiet for a long moment.

Finally, Alexander sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Fine,” he said at last, his voice low but sincere. “I won’t stand in your way. But I also won’t let Gloriana get hurt either. I’ll send my best men over to help protect both Glori and Giana. I’ll give my mother a call and gage how the king and queen feel and what their opinions are. Until then lay low brother.”

Pablo nodded once, a flicker of relief in his eyes.

Outside the door, Gloriana’s laughter drifted back again — the sound of pure joy echoing through the halls of a house that had long forgotten warmth.