Chapter 282

Chapter 282
Stella's POV

When Sam's car pulled up to Lancaster Manor in the early evening, Adam was already waiting outside. His tall figure stood silhouetted against the manor's lights, hands in his pockets, looking like something out of a luxury watch advertisement.

His eyes narrowed slightly when he noticed Sam in the driver's seat, but he gave her a polite nod as I stepped out of the car.

"Thanks for bringing Stella home," he said to Sam, his tone cordial but not particularly warm.

"No problem," Sam replied with equal restraint. "See you later, Stella."

It wasn't until I was inside that I realized I hadn't invited Sam in. "I should have asked her to stay for dinner or something."

"Victor is waiting for her," Adam replied casually, helping me out of my coat.

I blinked in surprise. "How do you even know that?"

Adam merely shrugged, but I couldn't help wondering about his relationship with Victor. For someone he claimed to be just "an acquaintance," they seemed awfully well-informed about each other's lives.

---

Later that night, I sat on our bed, my mind racing with thoughts of how to tell Adam about the baby. I'd changed into a silk nightgown, but my usual bedtime routine felt mechanical, my hands operating on autopilot while my brain buzzed with scenarios.

Adam emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets still clinging to his chest. Under normal circumstances, the sight would have immediately captured my full attention, but tonight I barely registered his presence.

"You're distracted," he observed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "And you came home late."

I blinked, finally focusing on him. "Sorry, I had some unexpected... errands."

He frowned, sensing my evasiveness. Then, with a deliberate movement, he knelt beside the bed and took my face in his hands, tilting it up for a kiss that started soft but quickly deepened.

His hand slid beneath my nightgown, and I suddenly panicked, pushing him away. "Wait! Not tonight. Tonight's not... convenient."

Adam's hand stilled against my thigh. "You're not on your period," he stated with absolute certainty.

Damn him and his intimate knowledge of my cycle.

"I'm pregnant," I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could craft a more elegant announcement.

Adam froze, his expression shifting from confusion to shock. "You're... what?"

I took his hand and guided it to my stomach. "Mr. Lancaster, you're getting an upgrade to father status."

He immediately pulled back as if afraid of hurting me, moving away so quickly it was almost comical. The look of absolute bewilderment on his typically composed face was priceless.

"I'm pregnant," I repeated, more gently this time. "You're going to be a dad."

Adam remained silent, his green eyes wide and unblinking.

My heart sank. "Adam? Are you... not happy about this?"

That seemed to snap him out of his trance. He carefully gathered me into his arms, his touch feather-light as if I might break. "Of course I'm happy," he said softly, his voice slightly rough. "Very happy."

"You don't look very happy," I muttered against his chest.

"Sam went with you to the hospital?" he asked abruptly, and I nodded.

I pulled back to look at him, suddenly understanding. "Are you actually jealous that Sam went with me instead of you? Seriously, Adam? You're jealous of my best friend?"

"Why didn't you call me?" he asked, his tone carefully neutral but his eyes betraying his hurt.

"It was just this afternoon when I started suspecting," I explained. "I didn't want to bother you with what might have been a false alarm. What if I wasn't actually pregnant?"

"So if it was a false alarm, I wouldn't deserve to know?"

I sighed, reaching up to cup his face. "I promise you can come to all the prenatal checkups from now on, okay?"

---

"How far along are you?" Adam asked later that night, his hand hovering protectively over my stomach as we lay in bed.

"Seven weeks," I answered, watching as he did the mental math.

"So next spring," he concluded, a rare softness entering his expression. "We'll see our baby next spring."

"Have you been feeling unwell?" he continued, clearly concerned. "That day we left the old house, was that morning sickness?"

"Maybe?" I wasn't sure myself. "It could have been."

Adam's brow furrowed in thought. "I'll arrange for an obstetrician to visit the manor regularly. We should have a medical professional monitoring you closely."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm only two months pregnant, Adam. I don't need round-the-clock medical supervision. Regular hospital checkups will be fine. Don't waste resources."

He looked like he wanted to argue but ultimately nodded. "If that's what you prefer."

Adam tucked the blanket more securely around me. "Get some sleep. I'm going to take a shower."

I couldn't help but smile as I watched him walk toward the bathroom, his movements stiff and controlled. Mr. Perfect Control freak, exercising self-discipline even now.

"Mr. Lancaster," I called out teasingly, "you might want to get used to cold showers. You've got about eight months of them ahead."

He turned back, his eyes darkening. "You think I can't handle you, Mrs. Lancaster?"

Before I could respond, he was back at the bed, taking my hand. "You seem quite energetic. Perhaps you could help me instead?"

Thirty minutes later, I sat fuming on the bathroom counter while Adam meticulously washed my hands with soap, his expression deliberately neutral though I could see the amusement in his eyes.

"I hate you," I muttered, embarrassed by how easily he'd turned the tables on me.

He simply kissed my forehead and carried me back to bed, tucking me in carefully. "Sleep now."

I shot him one last glare before turning away, though a smile tugged at my lips despite my best efforts. When Adam emerged from his shower and slipped into bed beside me, I was already drifting off to sleep, exhausted from the day's emotional roller coaster.

Just before consciousness faded completely, I felt his arm slide around me, his large hand coming to rest protectively over my stomach where our child was growing.

"Be good for your mother," I heard him whisper, his voice so soft I almost thought I'd imagined it. "Listen to her, okay?"

The tender moment was the last thing I remembered before sleep claimed me, a smile still lingering on my lips.