Chapter 271 "Handle Matters"

Chapter 271 "Handle Matters"
Amelia's POV:
Luke chuckled, shaking his head. "Convenient interpretation. Fine, I'll have Daniel look into it."
"You're the best," I smiled sweetly. "Oh, and maybe ask Olivia to postpone that meeting with the event planners? Tell her I'm following a strict nutrition regimen or something."
"I'll handle it," he said, checking his watch. "I've got a board meeting, but I'll be home early. Any dinner preferences?"
"Something with protein and iron," I replied. "Doctor's orders."
I walked Luke to the door, but instead of our usual quick goodbye kiss, I wrapped my arms around his neck and clung to him, showering his face with little kisses.
"Mmm, what's gotten into you?" he laughed, arms around my waist but still glancing at his watch. "I'm going to be late."
"Just five more minutes," I murmured against his neck, inhaling his cologne.
Luke pulled back slightly, eyebrows raised in amusement. "Who are you and what have you done with my independent wife? Since when did you become so... clingy?"
"I'm just following doctor's orders," I teased. "Increased affection is vital for conception preparation."
"Pretty sure that wasn't in the medical advice," he chuckled, giving me one final, lingering kiss. "Be good, I really need to go to this meeting."
I reluctantly released him with an exaggerated pout. "Fine, abandon me to my boring day of rest and nutrition."
Luke checked his watch again, then suddenly cupped my face with both hands. "How could I possibly neglect my beautiful wife? Tell you what—I'll call and have them push the meeting back an hour."
My eyes widened as I realized what he was suggesting. "Oh! No, no—you should definitely go to your meeting!" I backed away quickly, suddenly remembering how exhausted I'd been after last night. "I was just... joking! Besides, I have yoga and... social media stuff to do!"
Luke's expression of surprise quickly turned to amusement. "I thought you wanted me to stay?"
"Changed my mind," I called over my shoulder, already halfway down the hall. "Love you, bye!"
I could hear his laughter as the front door closed.
After he left, I changed into yoga pants and spent forty minutes going through a gentle prenatal routine. Feeling more energized, I settled on the balcony with my laptop to engage with followers on my social media accounts. Being semi-retired from acting had actually boosted my online presence—fans were intrigued by my new bakery venture and lifestyle shift.
[Post more selfies!] read one comment.
[We miss seeing your face, Amelia!]
[Less bakery, more YOU,] demanded another follower.
[Can we get a house tour? Your home looks AMAZING in the backgrounds!] someone else begged.
I smiled at the screen, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. "It's so nice having fans like these," I murmured to myself. "Being loved by so many people... it feels good."
I've seen some two-faced actors in this business who plaster on fake smiles for fans but then mock them behind closed doors, calling them obsessed or crazy. But I could see the genuine connection behind these messages—people who had followed my journey, supported my career changes, and truly cared about my happiness.
I snapped a quick selfie with the garden barely visible in the background, then posted it with "enjoying some quiet time" as the caption. That would keep the fans satisfied without revealing too much of my private life.
I was responding to comments about Sweet Amber's seasonal menu when I heard excited footsteps racing down the hallway.
"Mom! Mom!" Lucas burst in waving a sheet of paper. "Look what I drew in art class today!"
I immediately set aside my laptop, giving my son my full attention. "Let me see that masterpiece!"
Lucas proudly displayed a colorful drawing of four stick figures of varying heights standing in front of a house, with what appeared to be a fifth, smaller figure beside them.
"This is beautiful, honey," I said, examining it carefully. "But who's this little person here?"
Lucas beamed. "That's the baby! My teacher asked us to draw our families in the future, and I want a little brother or sister!"
My heart melted. "That's very sweet of you."
"When is the baby coming, Mom?" he asked with wide, expectant eyes.
"Well," I explained gently, "Dad and I are trying, but these things take time. We can't just order a baby like we order pizza delivery."
Lucas nodded solemnly. "I know. Dad said we have to be patient because you're getting your body ready. He said you need to be strong to grow a healthy baby."
Hearing how thoughtfully Luke had explained this to our child made me smile. "That's right. You know what would help me get stronger? If we played that racing game you've been wanting to show me."
His face lit up instantly. "Really? You want to play Mario Kart?"
"Absolutely," I closed my laptop. "I bet I can beat you too."
"No way!" he giggled, racing toward the game room.
That evening after the kids were asleep, I stepped on the bathroom scale and was pleasantly surprised. "Luke! Come look at this!"
He appeared in the doorway, reading glasses perched on his nose, looking so sexy it made my heart race. "What is it?"
"I've gained six pounds!" I announced triumphantly.
Luke raised an eyebrow, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. "I don't think I've ever seen someone so happy about gaining weight."
"It means the nutrition plan is working," I explained, my eyes lingering involuntarily on his broad chest. "I'm getting closer to the doctor's target weight."
When the doctor visited that weekend, he confirmed both our health metrics were optimal. Most importantly, our genetic carrier screening showed no risks for hereditary diseases—a precaution Luke had insisted on.
After the doctor left, Luke pulled me into an eager embrace, his strong arms wrapping tightly around me. "So your fertile window starts soon, right?"
"Not quite yet," I smiled, gently pushing him away, feeling the firmness of his muscles. "According to my tracking app, ovulation begins in about three days."
"Three days?" His face comically fell. "That's an eternity."
"Scientifically speaking, anything we do now would be inefficient," I said firmly. "We'd be wasting resources. We should wait until the ovulation period."
Later that night, I caught him trying to "handle matters" himself.
"Luke Carter," I said with a raised eyebrow and a half-smile. "What do you think you're doing?"