Chapter 3 Six Weeks

That night was a bitter pill I had to swallow. And it hurt more than all the time he actually showed how he felt about me without pretence.

But I chugged it down and turned a blind eyes everytime Lisa came by the house.

Two weeks after that night with Lucas, everything turned upside down.

I woke up feeling very ill. I started vomiting every single thing I ate and my temperature started to rise.

As I washed my face, I stared at my pale reflection in the mirror and I knew something was wrong. It wasn't normal.

It continued the next day accompanied by morning sickness, dizziness and mild fever. By the third day I knew it wasn't normal.

At first, I'd thought it was food poisoning. Or stress—God knows I’ve been through enough stress to make anyone sick.

But now I was beginning to think it's something else. Something I wasn't ready for.

I drove myself to the hospital that morning, since Lucas was almost never home anymore. Not without Lisa on his arm.

Yes Lisa. After that night of passionate sex with Lucas, Lisa started stroughting into my matrimonial home like it was hers.

At first it was just a casual dinner, but the very next day they both spent the night in the guest room after sneaking in past midnight.

I didn't even bother to ask questions. I just turned a blind eye. Pretended I didn't see it.

Because that night? Something in me died. Something that I didn't know would waken soon.

The doctor ran tests while I sat in the examination room, my hands trembling anxiously.

When Dr. Martinez returned, her expression was gentle.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Ward," she said with a warm smile. "You're pregnant. Six weeks pregnant."

The world tilted sideways.

"What?" The word came out as a whisper.

"You're going to have a baby." Dr. Martinez said handing the results over to me. "Congratulations once again. It's a healthy baby."

I drove home in a daze, finding it hard to believe that there was a baby inside me. A tiny life growing inside me.

I tried to wrap my head around it. Six weeks ago was the week I was drugged at the gala. The week I had a one night stand with a stranger I didn't even know his name.

I didn't know what to do. If I should confess the infidelity to Lucas or tell him the child was his.

After thinking all through the long ride, I decided to just give him the news. I’d just tell him that I'm pregnant and watch his reaction.

Because Lucas has always wanted a child. A son to carry his legacy. But I didn't know if it was mine he wanted and I wasn't expecting anything.

I arrived home planning to surprise Lucas with the news over dinner. I’d make his favorite meal—steak with roasted potatoes and that garlic butter sauce he loved, light candles and announce it with a smile.

But as I was walking through the foyer toward the kitchen, I heard voices coming from Lucas's study.

The door was slightly opened and I stopped when I heard my name.

They were talking about me. I could feel it. And whatever they were saying? It couldn't have been good. It didn't sound right.

I pressed my ears to the door to hear clearly.

"You can't wait any longer," a woman's voice said sharply. That was Claire, my mother-in-law. "I want you to marry Lisa, Lucas. She's more befitting for you. More proper. And you can't keep her waiting while that pathetic girl plays house."

My heart stopped.

"I agree," Veronica chimed in. "We need to move faster. Besides, the plan is already in motion anyway."

"What about the shares?" Natasha asked. "Does she suspect anything?"

Lucas laughed. A cold, cruel laugh. Not the warm laugh he used at dinner two weeks ago.

"Lara? Suspect something? Please." I could hear the smirk in his voice. "She signed over almost everything already without reading a single document. I also took your advice on pretending to apologize, and she signed over the complete handover of Montgomery tech during the dinner two weeks ago. And the sex we had right after was just a celebratory sex nothing more. I've already explained things to Lisa. The lawyers needs two more weeks to process everything."

The words hit me like physical blows. Stealing my breath.

"I still can't believe the drug worked so well at the gala," Veronica said with a giggle. "She stumbled out of there like a drunk mess. It was perfect. I'm sure it bought you enough time to have fun with Lisa."

Realization dawned. So Veronica drugged me that night and now I was pregnant for it? Wow.

"That was brilliant," Claire agreed. "Now we just need a reason to get rid of her completely. Lisa is sophisticated, successful, from good breeding. She's everything we wanted for Lucas. Everything that common girl could never be."

"Mother's right," Lucas said, and I could hear the satisfaction in his tone. "Lara was never supposed to be my wife. I only married her because of my father's ridiculous promise to Richard Montgomery. But now that she's served her purpose—"

I couldn't listen anymore.

I barged into the room slamming the study door open so hard that it crashed against the wall, rage burning hotter than my pain. These people had been plotting against me all along. But I was done being quiet.

The four of them jumped, turning to stare at me, expressions of shock and annoyance written all over their faces.

"So you drugged me," I said, my voice shaking with fury. "You planned all of this."

Claire recovered first, her face twisting into a sneer. "How long have you been eavesdropping?"

"Long enough." I looked at each of them, the same people I had tried so hard to please. "Long enough to know exactly what you think of me. What you've always thought of me."

Lucas stood slowly, his expression cold as ice. "Then you know the truth. I never loved you, Lara. I only married you for your father's company. That's all you've ever been to me—a business transaction."

I nodded bitterly. “I know now. I do.”

The words should have destroyed me. Maybe they would have, a month ago.

But I was carrying a life inside me now. And that changed everything.

"You're pathetic," Veronica added with a cruel smile. "Clinging to a man who has never wanted you. It's embarrassing to watch."

"Lucas has someone who actually deserves him now," Natasha said, examining her manicured nails. "Someone beautiful and accomplished. Your time is almost up."

Claire stepped forward, her eyes glittering with malice. "Your days are numbered in this house, girl. We're bringing Lisa in to take her rightful place as Lucas's wife. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."

"Watch your back," Veronica added with a laugh that made my skin crawl. "You never know what might happen to people who overstay their welcome."

Was that a threat? Were they actually threatening me?

I looked at Lucas, the man I'd once thought I could build a life with. The man who was supposed to be a father to the child I was carrying. "You're going to regret this," I said quietly. My hand moved instinctively to cover my stomach. "All of you will regret this."

"Are you threatening us?" Claire's voice dripped with contempt. "You? What could you possibly do to hurt us?"

I didn't answer. I just turned and walked away, my head held high despite the tears burning behind my eyes.

I made it to my room before the sobs came. I collapsed on the bed, crying into my pillow until my throat was raw and my eyes were swollen.

They had drugged me, stolen my company. Plotted against me. And now I was pregnant.

But beneath the tears, beneath the heartbreak, something hardened inside my chest.

They wanted me gone? Fine.

But I wouldn't go quietly. I wouldn't let them destroy my father's legacy. And I would protect my unborn baby with my life, even if I had to fight the entire Ward family to do it.

I pressed my hand to my stomach, feeling nothing yet but knowing something precious was there.

"I promise you," I whispered to the tiny life inside me. "I won't let them hurt you. Whatever it takes, I'll keep you safe."

I fell asleep with tears still wet on my cheeks and my hand protectively covering my belly.

I didn't know then that keeping that promise would nearly cost me everything.