Chapter 282 Back Home

Chapter 282 Back Home
Amelia's POV:
After Luke left with Catherine, I was led back to that dimly lit room. The gun was gone from my temple, but I remained a prisoner. To my surprise, the atmosphere changed dramatically once Luke was no longer present. The guards who had roughly handled me earlier now approached with almost deferential attitudes.
"Mrs. Carter, please let us know if you need anything," one of them said, his tone unexpectedly polite.
Another brought in a tray with food that looked like it came from a high-end restaurant—roasted chicken, steamed vegetables, and a glass of what appeared to be expensive wine. I stared at it suspiciously, not touching anything.
"It's not poisoned," the guard assured me. "Ms. Catherine was very clear that you should be treated well."
"Just not well enough to let me go," I said dryly.
He looked away, uncomfortable. "Those aren't my orders."
I sat on the edge of the bed, my mind racing with thoughts of Luke. What was happening now? Was he really being forced to father another child with that woman? The mere thought made my stomach clench painfully.
As night fell, I paced the room, unable to sleep. I knew Luke would never willingly sleep with Catherine, but what other options did he have? Even if they used IVF, the reality of Luke having children with another woman—children who would be siblings to Lucas and our unborn baby—felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
"I'm being selfish," I whispered to myself, rubbing my stomach gently. "If there's a sick child who needs help, of course Luke should do whatever he can."
But my heart wouldn't listen to my rational thoughts. I sank onto the bed and let tears slide down my cheeks.
"Your father isn't abandoning us," I murmured to my unborn child. "He's just doing what he has to do. He loves us, but sometimes life is complicated."
The words felt hollow even as I spoke them. I curled up on the bed, hugging my stomach protectively, and finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.
I woke to the sound of commotion outside my door. Voices were raised, and there was the sound of running footsteps. I sat up quickly, heart pounding.
The door opened, and there he was—Luke, his eyes immediately finding mine, filled with concern.
"Amelia," he said softly, crossing the room and gently taking my hands. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
I wanted to melt into his embrace, to feel nothing but relief, but something held me back. I turned my face away slightly.
"Is it over?" I asked, my voice small. "Did you... help her?"
Luke tilted my chin up gently, making me meet his eyes. His expression was calm and reassuring.
"I didn't need to," he said. "The child isn't mine, Amelia. It never was."
I blinked, not sure I'd heard correctly. "What?"
"It's a long story, and I'll tell you everything once we're home. But you don't need to worry—I'm not fathering any children with Catherine or anyone else." He brushed his thumb across my cheek, wiping away tears I hadn't realized I'd shed. "You and our children are the only family I want or need."
The relief that flooded through me was so intense I nearly collapsed against him. Luke scooped me up in his arms, carrying me as if I weighed nothing.
"Let's go home," he murmured against my hair.
Back at our apartment, Luke ran a warm bath and helped me undress. His touch was gentle as he washed away the dirt and fear of the past twenty-four hours. I leaned back against his chest in the tub, finally feeling safe enough to ask.
"What happened after you left with Catherine?"
Luke's arms tightened around me. "She took me to the hospital to meet the child—a little girl, about five years old. She wanted me to agree to IVF to create a sibling who could be a cord blood donor." His voice was steady, clinical almost. "I insisted on a paternity test first. It came back negative—zero percent chance I was the father."
"But how? She seemed so certain..."
"It turns out Matthew drugged her too, back at that hotel five years ago. He's the girl's father."
I turned to face him, water sloshing around us. "Matthew? Your cousin?"
Luke nodded, his expression darkening. "He confessed everything when we confronted him at the prison. He drugged both of us that night, then Catherine, then had his men place some unconscious woman in my room to complete the setup." His eyes met mine, something unreadable in their depths. "Catherine's going to arrange IVF with Matthew's samples. Once her daughter recovers, she'll face charges for what she did to us."
The next morning, Luke insisted we visit the hospital. The doctor examined me thoroughly, paying special attention to my growing baby bump.

"The baby looks perfectly healthy," she said, smiling as she showed us the ultrasound. "But you've been through a significant trauma, Amelia. I want you to rest completely for the next week. Minimal stress, plenty of sleep, and good nutrition."
Luke nodded seriously, making mental notes. I knew he'd ensure every instruction was followed to the letter.
As we drove home, I noticed Luke seemed distracted, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Just thinking about something," he replied cryptically. "I'll tell you soon."
Several days passed in peaceful recovery. Luke worked from home, barely letting me lift a finger. Lucas and Sophia were extra gentle with me, bringing me drawings and sitting quietly beside me while I rested.
One evening, Luke came home practically vibrating with excitement. He found me reading in our bedroom and sat beside me, taking my book and setting it aside.
"I have something to tell you," he said, his eyes bright.
"What is it?"
He took both my hands in his. "I had a DNA test done with Lucas."
My heart skipped a beat. "Why would you—"
"Because of what Matthew said about that night at the hotel. About putting an unconscious woman in my room." His voice grew tender. "Amelia, the timing matches perfectly with when Lucas was conceived."
I stared at him, not daring to hope. "And?"
Luke's eyes softened as he explained, "Diana drugged you that night. She wanted to ruin you and make Adam break up with you. Matthew told his guys to find any unconscious girl they could. His men were just a bunch of thugs, and Diana was probably thrilled to have them take you. She just didn't expect they'd put you in my room instead of somewhere else."