Chapter 57 — The Surprise Pregnancy

The morning sunlight poured through the curtains, warm and golden, brushing my skin as I stretched in bed. Lucian was still asleep beside me, the steady rise and fall of his chest a comforting rhythm I had grown to love. Everything about this morning felt ordinary—quiet, calm, perfect—but life has a way of surprising you when you least expect it.

I had been feeling… different. Not ill, not unwell, but a subtle shift in my body, a flutter, a sensitivity I couldn’t ignore. At first, I chalked it up to honeymoon indulgence, late nights, and too much tropical fruit. But the sensation persisted, growing in intensity and in the quiet certainty it whispered to me.

I slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Lucian, and went to the small kitchenette in our villa. My hands trembled slightly as I opened the small pregnancy test I had brought along—an impulsive decision, yes, but one I couldn’t resist.

Minutes passed like hours. My heart pounded so loudly I was certain Lucian would hear it even if he were deep in sleep. And then… the result. Positive.

Triplets.

I stared at the little symbol in disbelief, my breath catching in my throat. Triplets. Three tiny lives growing inside me. My mind spun with a mix of awe, excitement, and terror. I had always imagined motherhood in abstract terms, but this… this was immediate, overwhelming, and exhilarating.

I sank into the chair, hands pressed to my face, my heart racing. I laughed quietly, a sound of pure disbelief, before tears pricked my eyes. Lucian deserved to know immediately. He needed to know that our love had manifested into the most miraculous, challenging, joyful gift we could ever imagine.

I woke him gently, shaking his shoulder. “Lucian… wake up,” I whispered, voice trembling with excitement.

His eyes fluttered open, groggy, then focused on me. “Sophie? What’s wrong?”

“Wrong? No… not wrong. Right. Perfect. Amazing,” I said, fumbling for words. “We’re… I’m… we’re having… triplets.”

The fog of sleep cleared from his eyes in an instant, replaced by disbelief and awe. “Triplets?” he asked, his voice low and reverent.

I nodded, tears streaming freely now. “Three little girls. Aria, Arianna, and Arian. We… we did this, Lucian. All of it—our love, our life—it’s… it’s happening.”

Lucian pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms anchoring me to reality even as my mind floated in a whirlwind of joy and terror. “Three? That’s… that’s incredible,” he whispered into my hair. “We’re having three miracles. Three little pieces of us.”

“I know,” I said, my voice muffled against his chest. “I don’t even know where to start. It’s… overwhelming.”

Lucian held me tighter. “We’ll start together. Every step. I’ll be with you through every checkup, every craving, every sleepless night. We’ll do this as we do everything… together.”

The next few weeks were a mixture of joy and chaos. Every morning, I woke to new sensations—kicks, flutters, the gentle reminders that our lives were changing forever. Lucian was attentive, doting, endlessly patient, and impossibly romantic. He whispered to the girls even before they were born, telling them stories, promising love and protection.

We told our family during a small, intimate dinner. My mother, initially overwhelmed, broke down in tears of joy and pride. “Three? Three little girls?” she whispered, holding my hands tightly. “Sophie… I am so proud of you. And of Lucian. You’ve created something beautiful.”

Cassian and Adrian were equally thrilled, offering to help in every way they could, from nursery plans to advice and jokes that made the room erupt in laughter. “We’ve got this,” Adrian said, raising his glass. “We’re officially the world’s best uncles before the girls are even born.”

The baby shower was a dream—a riot of pastel pinks, soft flowers, and laughter echoing through the sunny terrace. Friends and family came together to celebrate, showering the girls with love, tiny clothes, toys, and heartfelt advice. I felt overwhelmed with gratitude, the kind that leaves your heart so full it aches.

Lucian never left my side. Every detail, every laugh, every tear, he shared it all with me. I caught him in quiet moments, kissing my forehead, whispering, “I can’t wait to meet them. Our girls. Our life. Our future.”

I placed my hand on my belly, feeling the subtle flutter of movement, imagining three little faces, three little hearts that would forever change us. “Soon,” I whispered softly. “Soon, we’ll meet you… Aria, Arianna, Arian. Soon.”

Finally, the day arrived. Labor was long, intense, and exhausting, but Lucian never left my side. His hand gripped mine, his whispers of encouragement a constant through the pain. And when the first cries filled the room, my heart shattered and rebuilt in the same instant.

Three beautiful, perfect girls.

Aria, the eldest, with a calm, observant gaze. Arianna, the middle, a spirited bundle of energy. And Arian, the youngest, with a quiet, sweet serenity that melted my heart instantly.

Lucian held each of them in turn, his face awash with love and awe. “They’re perfect,” he murmured, pressing his lips to each tiny head. “Our girls… our life.”

I held them close, marveling at their tiny fingers and toes, their delicate features, and the miracle of life we had created. Tears of pure joy streamed down my face. “Welcome to the world, my loves,” I whispered. “Welcome home.”

That night, as our daughters slept in the nursery, I rested my head against Lucian’s chest, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat and the echo of the day’s joy. “This… this is everything,” I said softly. “We’ve survived so much to get here… and now, we have everything we ever wanted.”

Lucian kissed the top of my head. “Everything we dreamed of… and more,” he murmured. “I love you, Sophie. I love our girls. I love this life.”

And as I closed my eyes, finally allowing myself to rest, I realized something profound: the chaos of the past, the pain, the struggles—they had all led to this. To love, to family, to joy beyond measure. Our story had reached a new chapter, and it was brighter, richer, and more beautiful than I had ever imagined.

We were home.