Chapter 55

Chapter 55
Chapter 55
LUCAS
"There's something else," I said slowly. "Something I've been thinking about."
Jose waited, and I took a breath before continuing.
"We've been having unprotected sex. A lot. Since Barcelona."
"Okay...?"
"She hasn't said anything about birth control. Hasn't asked me to pull out or use condoms. And I..." I stopped, feeling like an asshole even thinking it. "I haven't been trying to prevent anything either."
Jose's eyes widened as he caught on. "Lucas. Are you trying to get your wife pregnant?"
"Not exactly trying. But also not preventing." I met his gaze. "If she got pregnant, she'd have to stay. We'd have to make this real. She couldn't just walk away when the contract expires."
"That's... Jesus, Lucas. That's baby-trapping. You realize that, right?"
"I know how it sounds—"
"It sounds manipulative as hell." Jose's voice had gone sharp. "You can't trap someone into loving you by getting them pregnant. That's not how this works."
"I'm not trying to trap her," I protested, even though that's exactly what I was doing. "I'm just... not preventing it. There's a difference."
"Is there? Because from where I'm sitting, you're making a major life decision for both of you without her knowledge or consent. What if she doesn't want kids right now? What if she's not ready? What if she finds out you were hoping for this to happen and feels betrayed?"
The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. Because Jose was right. What I was doing—or rather, what I was deliberately not doing—was manipulative. I was making unilateral decisions about our future based on my own desperate need to keep her.
But I also couldn't bring myself to regret it.
"Adam calls me Papa," I said quietly. "He looks at me like I'm his father. And Sophia... when I told him he'd have a grandmama and an uncle, she cried. Happy tears. Like I'd given her something precious." I looked at Jose. "I want this to be real. I want to be Adam's father and Sophia's husband and eventually have more kids with her. I want the family we're building to be permanent, not temporary."
"Then tell her that," Jose said, exasperated. "Use your words like a grown-up. Tell her you've fallen in love with her and want to make this marriage real. Don't manipulate her into it with a surprise pregnancy."
"What if she says no? What if she's only staying because of the contract and the money for Adam's care? What if she doesn't actually want me, just what I can provide?"
"Then at least you'll know the truth instead of building your entire future on a lie." Jose leaned forward. "Lucas, I get it. You're scared. You've fallen for someone who might not feel the same way. But that doesn't justify what you're doing. You need to either start using protection or have an honest conversation with Sophia about family planning. Because what you're doing right now? It's not fair to her."
I knew he was right. Knew that my plan—if I could even call it that—was ethically questionable at best and downright manipulative at worst.
But I also couldn't bring myself to change course. Not yet. Not when the possibility of Sophia getting pregnant felt like my best chance at keeping her forever.
"I'll think about it," I said finally.
Jose sighed. "You're not going to think about it. You're going to keep doing what you're doing and hope it works out in your favor."
I didn't confirm or deny it. We both knew he was right.
My phone rang, interrupting the tension. My brother Louis's name flashed on the screen.
"I need to take this," I told Jose, who nodded and stood to leave.
"Think about what I said," he called over his shoulder. "And congratulations on the office sex. You're welcome for the marriage advice that clearly led to that."
I flipped him off as he left, then answered the phone.
"Louis. What's up?"
"What's up?" My twin's voice came through with exaggerated disbelief. "What's up is I leave you alone for six months and you get married without inviting me. Your twin. Your literal other half."
"I told you I was getting married—"
"Two days before the wedding! Two days, Lucas. I couldn't even book a flight in time. Do you know how betrayed I feel?"
I smiled despite myself. Louis and I had always been close, even when our lives took drastically different paths. He'd moved to Singapore five years ago to build his tech company, but we still talked weekly.
"I'm sorry. It all happened very fast. Mom was sick, and—"
"I know, I know. Jose filled me in." Louis's tone softened. "How is she, by the way? Mom?"
"Much better. Almost fully recovered. She's home now and already planning family dinners."
"Good. That's good." A pause. "So. Your wife. Sophia. I've seen the tabloid photos. You two look... intense."
That was an understatement. The paparazzi had been relentless, capturing every public moment of affection. There were dozens of photos of us—kissing at restaurants, walking hand-in-hand through Barcelona, that infamous shot of me pressing Sophia against an alley wall with my hand clearly under her dress.
"We're happy," I said carefully.
"Happy like 'this is a good arrangement' or happy like 'I'm actually in love with this woman'?"
I should have known Louis would see through me. He always could.
"The second one," I admitted.
"Holy shit. You're actually in love. Lucas Davenport, confirmed bachelor and workaholic, is in love with his wife."
"When you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous."
"It sounds amazing." Louis's voice was warm. "I'm happy for you, brother. You deserve this. You deserve to have what Mom and Dad had."
The mention of our father made my chest tight. He'd been dead for almost fifteen years, but I still missed him. Still wished he could meet Sophia, meet Adam, see the family I was building.
"When are you coming home?" I asked. "You said three weeks, but that was a week ago."