chapter 40

The Baby Shower...

If there was one thing Judith Lux had learned during her pregnancy, it was that wealthy families treated babies like national events.

Unfortunately, she was about to become the center of one.

"I said no."

Eleanor looked completely unmoved.

"That's wonderful, dear."

Judith stared.

"You heard me."

"I did."

"And?"

"And we're still having the baby shower."

Judith looked toward her father.

"Help me."

Richard immediately raised his hands.

"I value my marriage."

Traitor, he was an absolute traitor.

Three weeks later, despite her protests, the baby shower happened.

It wasn't small.

It wasn't simple.

It wasn't even remotely reasonable.

The Lux family had practically transformed one of their private gardens into an event venue.

Flowers lined every pathway.

Elegant decorations filled the space.

Guests moved between tables while live music played softly in the background.

Judith stood in the middle of it all wondering how she had lost control of her own life.

Again.

"You look beautiful."

She turned.

Liam had arrived.

For a second, her heart betrayed her.

The man looked unfairly good.

Dark suit.

Relaxed smile.

The kind of confidence that seemed effortless.

Months ago, she would've hated herself for noticing.

Now she was simply tired of pretending she didn't.

"You clean up nicely."

A grin appeared immediately.

"I've missed your compliments."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"It absolutely was."

Judith rolled her eyes.

Some things never changed.

Before she could respond, Ava appeared.

"You two are disgusting."

Liam looked offended.

"We're standing."

"The tension is standing too."

Judith nearly laughed.

Ava had become impossible lately.

Then again, pregnancy had somehow made everyone impossible.

The event gradually filled with guests.

Business leaders, family friends, relatives.

People Judith hadn't seen in years.

People who apparently remembered seeing her when she was five.

The usual nightmare.

Fortunately, she wasn't alone.

Her mother remained nearby.

Ava refused to leave her side.

And Liam seemed to have silently decided he was her personal bodyguard.

Not that he admitted it.

Of course.

About an hour into the celebration, Ethan arrived.

The atmosphere shifted slightly.

Not awkwardly.

Just enough for Judith to notice.

Ethan walked over carrying a gift box.

His smile was genuine.

Maybe a little sad.

But genuine.

"Congratulations."

Judith hugged him immediately.

"Thank you."

Ethan handed over the gift.

"I promise mine is more practical than whatever Liam bought."

Liam looked offended.

"I buy practical things."

"You bought a stuffed giraffe bigger than a toddler."

The surrounding guests laughed.

Even Liam couldn't argue.

Because it was true.

Very true.

For a while, things remained comfortable.

Then someone suggested games.

Judith immediately considered leaving her own baby shower.

Unfortunately, escape proved impossible.

Especially after Ava volunteered everyone.

Including Liam.

The next thirty minutes became one of the most embarrassing experiences of Judith's life.

Liam lost every game.

Every single one.

Spectacularly.

At one point he was asked to identify baby products while blindfolded.

He confused baby lotion with shampoo.

Then somehow identified a teething ring as kitchen equipment.

The entire garden erupted with laughter.

Judith laughed so hard she nearly cried.

"You are hopeless."

Liam removed the blindfold.

"I run multinational corporations."

"You just called a pacifier a bottle opener."

The laughter doubled.

For once, Liam looked completely defeated.

And somehow it made Judith love him a little more.

The realization startled her.

Because she didn't think it anymore.

She knew it.

She still loved him.

Not the memory of him.

Not the man she wished he had been.

The real Liam.

The flawed version.

The stubborn version.

The one who kept showing up.

The one who kept trying.

The one who made mistakes and owned them.

The realization stayed with her for the rest of the afternoon.

As the sun began to set, guests slowly started leaving.

The garden became quieter.

More intimate.

More peaceful.

Eventually only family and close friends remained.

Julian raised a glass.

"To the baby."

Everyone lifted theirs.

Smiles appeared around the table.

Richard spoke next.

"To healthy deliveries."

"To sleepless nights," Ava added.

"No," Judith immediately said.

"Especially to sleepless nights," Liam replied.

Laughter followed.

Then Eleanor smiled warmly.

"To second chances."

The table fell quiet.

Not awkwardly.

Just long enough for everyone to understand what she meant.

Judith looked down.

Liam looked at her.

Across the table, Julian pretended not to notice.

Ava absolutely noticed.

Ethan noticed too.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then glasses touched.

The conversation continued.

But the words lingered.

To second chances.

Later that evening, after the last guests left, Judith remained alone in the garden.

The decorations glowed softly beneath the lights.

The air was cool and peaceful.

She heard footsteps approaching.

Liam.

Of course.

"You should be resting."

She smiled.

"So should you."

He sat beside her.

Neither spoke immediately.

The silence felt comfortable.

Then Liam looked toward her.

"Did you have a good day?"

Judith thought about it.

The family.

The laughter.

The baby.

The future.

And him.

"Yeah."

A smile touched her lips.

"I did."

Liam looked relieved.

As though her happiness mattered more than the success of the event itself.

Maybe it did.

For several moments, they simply sat together.

Then the baby kicked.

Hard.

Judith laughed.

Instinctively grabbing Liam's hand and placing it against her stomach.

The movement happened so naturally neither thought about it.

Until Liam felt it.

His eyes widened instantly.

The baby kicked again.

And again.

For a moment, Liam couldn't speak.

Couldn't move.

Couldn't even breathe properly.

Because for the first time, it felt real.

Not appointments.

Not ultrasounds.

Not photographs.

Real.

Their child.

His expression changed.

Softened.

And Judith suddenly felt emotional watching him.

Liam looked up.

Their eyes met.

Neither looked away.

The moment stretched.

Quiet, meaningful and dangerous, because once again, the future no longer felt like a question.

It felt like something moving steadily toward them.

And for the first time, Judith found herself wondering not whether she could love Liam again.

But whether she had ever truly stopped.