Chapter 28

We walk into our home just as the thunder starts rumbling. Lily practically tackles me with a hug the second we’re in the door. “Oh my gosh, we were so scared!” she blurts out.

I hug her back, relishing how good it feels to be home and safe. “Thanks, Lily. It’s good to be back.”

“I didn’t know how else to help, so I’ve been cooking up a storm so you would have something hot and wholesome to eat when you got back because I knew you’d be back!” With that, she runs off to the kitchen.

As we make our way through the house, Luk can’t help but comment, “Seems like you’re now the staff’s favorite around here.” He shoots me a wry smile and adds, “Guess they see in you what I do.” His words warm me.

He guides me upstairs to our bedroom, where he flicks on the fireplace, instantly making the room feel cozy and warm. It’s then, in the safety and sanctity of our room, with the crackling fire in the background, that the weight of the night really hits me.

I came so close to not making it home.

The realization sends a shiver through me, rattling my entire body.

Luk notices right away. In two seconds flat, he’s by my side, wrapping me in his arms. It’s like flipping a switch—as soon as I’m enveloped in his embrace, I feel safer, warmer, and overall better. It’s his Luk magic.

“How did you even find me?” I ask, still wrapped up in his arms, the warmth from his body and the fire fighting off the last of the cold fear.

Luk chuckles, sounding a little bit proud. “Elena went full modern-day James Bond on us. Managed to hack into a GPS satellite and track the car’s path. We got lucky,” he admits, his eyes reflecting the flames.

Hearing that, I can’t help but feel a wave of guilt crash over me. My eyes start to sting with tears—not just from relief but also from remorse. “I’m so sorry for running off like that, for being so damn reckless,” I blurt out, the words come tumbling out in my haste to say them.

Luk’s response is a slow nod, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that says he hears me; he gets it. But then he shakes his head slightly as if brushing aside my apology. “None of that matters now,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “You’re here, safe, in my arms. That’s all I care about.”

Suddenly, he’s wiping away my tears, his touch gentle against my skin. He pulls me closer, and I allow myself to be held, to let his presence soothe away the last of my fears and regrets.

As we sit there, holding each other, the storm outside doesn’t seem so fierce anymore. It’s just the two of us in our own little sanctuary, safe from the rest of the world.

There’s a deep and serious look in Luk’s eyes, and it makes my heart leap. “There’s something Elena told me before we got to the warehouse. She felt I needed to know before we went into battle,” he says, and I know what’s coming next. My stomach ties itself into knots, not from fear but from the anticipation of finally telling him about the baby.

He pauses a moment before saying, “I want to hear it from you,” he says, his voice encouraging.

I take a deep breath, and feeling like I’m about to jump off a cliff, I finally spill the beans.

“I’m pregnant,” I say, the words rushing out in a flood of relief and nervousness. “I wanted to tell you, I really did, but the timing never seemed right with everything that was happening. And then, when Sharon kidnapped me…”

My words trail off, hanging there between us like a delicate thread. For a second, I’m terrified he might be upset and lecture me for not telling him sooner. “Are you angry with me?” I ask, barely a whisper, bracing myself for his reaction.

Luk shakes his head, a softness in his eyes that I’ve only seen a few times. “Angry? Darling, I’ve never been happier in my life,” he says, the sincerity in his voice and the tenderness in his eyes wrapping around me like a warm blanket.

All the worry and uncertainty just evaporate, leaving behind an incredible lightness. We’re going to be parents, and suddenly, despite the recent chaotic events, everything feels like it’s falling into place.

Luk pulls me closer, and I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

His voice drops, embarrassment coloring his tone. “I feel like a damn fool for not telling you sooner that I loved you. So, I suppose this makes us even.”

I can’t help but laugh, the joyful sound bubbling up from deep within me. It’s such a Luk thing to say, trying to balance the scales even in moments like this. We hold each other, wrapped up in warmth and love, as the world outside fades away.

Our eyes lock, and we share an unspoken conversation—a silent understanding that we’re on the brink of something new, something amazing. Luk kisses me softly, tenderly at first, but then we’re kissing deeply and passionately, trying to communicate all the love, fear, and relief of the past few hours in one moment.

I never want it to end.