"Did Lucian call to tell you that I'm here?" Yara asked.Timothy wouldn't have known she was here unless someone tipped him off. Calista wouldn't sell her out, which left Lucian the only possible suspect."Yes," Timothy said. Yara could barely believe how quickly he resorted to betrayal."He was the one who tipped you off. Did he know that you would sell him out in return?""To each their own. I don't think I'm selling him out."One of them didn't want Yara sticking around as their third wheel, while the other wanted to whisk her away. They were so in sync that they were practically one person.Yara rolled her eyes. She sat motionless on the bed as the sky outside darkened. The room was barely lit by the glow of the street lamps that filtered in. The dim lighting made their expressions unreadable.Timothy raised a brow. "Do you want me to help you put on your pants?"His expression reminded Yara of how unabashed he was when he wheedled her into doing "that" last night. She grit
Calista participated in a show back in May. When it aired, Selena was meeting with her friends for afternoon tea at her home. Someone was flipping through the channels with the remote out of boredom when it coincidentally stopped on the program Calista was on."Look, Selena. Isn't that your daughter-in-law? She's on TV!"Selena was chatting with someone at the time. But upon hearing that, she turned her gaze to the television to see Calista focused on restoring cultural relics on screen. She beamed with pride."Callie is amazing. This program isn't just any old show that anyone can get featured on."Even though she had no idea what program it was given that Calista hadn't mentioned, it didn't stop her from raining praises on her daughter-in-law.Everyone was already accustomed to this, and someone even jokingly asked, "Calista and Lucian have been married for a while now. When are they planning to have a kid?"Selena was no less antsy about the matter. However, she kept her anx
Even though that was where the topic came to an end with neither of them furthering the conversation, Lucian's worries about his reproductive health did not abate. He would stare blankly at Calista's stomach from time to time.Calista seemed to have caught on after some time. "Do you want a child so badly?"Lucian nodded and then shook his head. For him, it wasn't about having a child, but rather whether or not he had any issues. The inherent inferiority complex embedded into his bones coupled with what happened in the past left him volatile when his "impotence" was brought up. He was afraid that Calista would resent him for it.Lucian's anxiety lasted for two months before he privately scheduled an appointment with the andrology department. He wore a duckbill cap and a mask and went to the hospital for an examination.Once the sample had been collected, he took it to the lab. The doctor, busy with work, didn't even bother to look up."Put the sample down on the counter. You can
"Dude, I'm also here for a checkup. I'm still waiting for the results. It's nerve-wracking." He motioned for Lucian to look at his trembling hands."It's better to gain some experience beforehand. I thought that if I read a few reports, I'd be less nervous when it's my turn. We're both men. You understand how it is."He reached out to pat Lucian on the shoulder as a friendly gesture, but Lucian avoided it. Rather than feel embarrassed, the man leaned close to whisper, "Women will just mock you about this kind of thing. Only men understand. We don't know each other. The moment we step out of this building, we'll be strangers. If anything goes wrong, I can be a punching bag for you to vent your anger."He calmly glanced at Calista. Her clothes, bag, and shoes weren't simply high-end goods. There were exclusive models that only VIPs of the highest rank could get their hands on. When his gaze finally landed on her face, his eyes lit up.If his wife had one-tenth of her looks and figu
Upon hearing the familiar name of the hospital, Lucian looked up at the brightly lit logo on the hospital's outpatient building and frowned."Yes, this is Lucian speaking. How can I help you?" he asked."I apologize, Mr. Northwood. The security guard noticed a suspicious person following you on the surveillance cameras. "After looking into the matter, we found out that your test sample from this morning had been swapped. Could you please come back again to have the tests redone when you're available?""My sample was swapped?""I'm sorry, Mr. Northwood. That was negligence on our part. We will refund you three times the fee you've paid for the test, and your next check-up will be free of charge. "If there's any further treatment needed, it'll be on the house. You're also free to request compensation. Fortunately, we noticed it in time before there were any serious consequences."Hearing their blatant attempt at shirking responsibility, Lucian could only sneer. "No need. A lawye
After Lucian left, Calista grabbed his phone from its spot on the pillow. She was going to watch some videos to pass the time. Instead, she was greeted by his chat history with Cade the moment she unlocked the phone."Are you familiar with any andrologists?""Just cut it off. It's one and done," Cade responded.Lucian had likely gotten pissed off at him. So, he never replied.Half an hour later, Lucian came upstairs to let Calista know that the food was ready. She was still lying in bed. So, he stood by it and looked down at her."Go freshen up. I'll get you some clothes."Half her face was buried beneath the covers. "Okay."Lucian ruffled her hair. Just as he was about to turn around, Calista suddenly sat up and wrapped her arms around his waist."Don't go for the check-up, Lucian. Can't we just let nature take its course?"Her soft and supple arms felt like hot iron clinging against his waist. He could feel the heat even through the layer of fabric. Lucian rested his hand ag
Lucian wasn't crying, but his eyes were red. His gaze on Calista's belly was both fervent and joyful. He seemed to want to reach out to touch it. His constant scrutiny made Calista uncomfortable. She pursed her lips."She's still just a fertilized egg that can't interact with you. Come on, let's go. The doctor is still waiting outside."She pushed Lucian out of the room. Selena was asking the doctor about the precautions that had to be taken during the pregnancy. She wanted to know every minute detail involving diets, clothing, housing, and transportation. It was as if she were completely inexperienced.Given the hefty monthly salary and generous year-end bonus, the doctor answered in great detail and patience."Madam Calista wasn't ill because of morning sickness. Her stomach was upset because she skipped breakfast and was suffering from motion sickness. "Morning sickness usually occurs around the six-week mark. Her period has only been delayed by nine days. There won't be any
It was in a dimly lit room where a man's rough palms caressed every inch of a woman's skin. He leaned in and rained kisses down on her. They started from her hairline, descending to her eyes, lips, and ears before he worked his way down her slender neck."Mm…"The woman tilted her head and pressed herself close to the man. But despite their intimacy, she still felt inexplicably empty. What she wanted was to get even closer.Cameron Yorksworth opened her eyes to be greeted by the sight of a ceiling clad in darkness. Her thoughts continued to linger on the less-than-satisfactory love affair. For a moment, she couldn't distinguish between what was a dream and what was reality.It was five in the morning. The silence was deafening. The white gauze curtain behind the floor-to-ceiling window fluttered slightly in the wind.She turned her head to look at Cade lying beside her before rolling over. Then, she began to undo the buttons on his pajamas.The ruckus woke Cade up. Before he co