chapter 7

A week after finding out she was pregnant, Judith finally felt like she could breathe again.

The panic that had consumed her during those first few days had settled into something more manageable. She still had moments when reality hit her unexpectedly, usually when she woke up in the morning and remembered there was a tiny life growing inside her.

But she wasn't scared anymore.

Not entirely scared she'd say.

Her family made sure of that.

On Saturday morning, Judith came downstairs expecting a quiet breakfast.

Instead, she walked into complete chaos.

"What is happening?"

The dining room looked like the aftermath of a corporate takeover.

Boxes of different shapes and types covered the table.

Shopping bags occupied half the chairs.

Someone had spread brochures across nearly every available surface.

Julian stood in the middle of it all, looking very pleased with himself.

"Perfect timing."

Judith narrowed her eyes.

"Why do I suddenly feel nervous?"

Ava, who was helping herself to pancakes, pointed at Julian.

"Because your brother has lost his mind."

"I have not."

"You absolutely have."

Julian ignored her and picked up a brochure.

"I've been researching."

That sentence alone was enough to make Judith suspicious.

"Researching what?"

"Baby stuff."

Judith froze.

Ava started laughing so hard she nearly choked.

"Julian, it's been one week you found out about your niece or nephew."

"So?"

"The baby isn't arriving tomorrow."

Julian looked offended.

"Preparation is important."

He handed Judith a brochure.

She looked down.

And what she saw wereuxury baby furniture.

When she says luxury she means luxury.

The price alone made her blink twice.

"Julian."

"Yes?"

"This crib costs more than my first car."

"It's a good crib."

Ava burst out laughing again.

The situation became even worse when Eleanor entered carrying another shopping bag.

"Oh good, you're awake."

Judith looked at her mother.

Then at the bag.

Then back at her mother.

"No."

"What?"

"No more baby shopping."

Eleanor looked genuinely confused.

"But I only bought a few things."

Judith peeked inside.

There were at least twelve items.

"A few?"

"Compared to what I wanted to buy, yes."

Richard entered at that exact moment.

One look at the room and he sighed.

"I leave for one meeting and suddenly everyone has lost control."

"Your wife bought three strollers."

Eleanor pointed a finger at him.

"Two."

Julian raised a hand.

"I bought one."

Richard closed his eyes.

For a few seconds he looked like a man questioning every decision that had brought him to this point.

Judith couldn't help laughing.

It felt good, really good.

For the first time in months, her laughter came naturally.

Not because she was pretending to be happy.

Because she actually was.

───

Later that afternoon, Judith escaped to the garden with a cup of tea.

The weather was beautiful.

Warm sunlight filtered through the trees.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of roses across the estate.

For a while she simply sat there enjoying the peace.

Then someone dropped into the chair opposite hers.

"You look better."

Judith smiled.

"Ethan."

Ethan Blackwood removed his sunglasses and studied her carefully.

He had always been handsome.

Tall, confident, and annoyingly charming.

The kind of man who could make people like him within five minutes of meeting him.

Judith had known him for most of her life.

Which meant she was completely immune to his charm.

Mostly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Your mother invited my mother."

"That explains Aunt Margaret."

Ethan nodded.

"And I got dragged along."

"Liar."

"A little."

He grinned.

Judith shook her head.

Some things never changed.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

It wasn't awkward.

It never was with Ethan.

Eventually he glanced toward the house.

"How are you really doing?"

The question was gentle, a hint of curiosity

But not intrusive.

Just genuine concern.

Judith looked down at her tea.

For a moment she considered giving the usual answer.

I'm fine.

Instead she told the truth.

"Better than I expected."

Ethan nodded.

As if that was exactly what he had hoped to hear.

"Good."

He didn't ask about Liam.

Didn't mention the divorce.

Didn't force her to revisit things she was trying to heal from.

And Judith appreciated that more than she could explain.

That evening, after the Blackwoods arrived, the Lux estate became louder than usual.

Margaret Blackwood immediately wrapped Judith in a hug.

"My poor girl."

Judith laughed.

"I'm fine."

"Of course you are."

Margaret pulled back and examined her.

"Still too thin, though."

Eleanor immediately agreed.

Richard wisely chose not to get involved.

The two women spent the next ten minutes discussing Judith's health as if she weren't standing right there.

Across the room, Ethan leaned toward Julian.

"They're doing it again."

Julian sighed.

"Every time."

Neither man looked surprised.

As the evening went on, Judith found herself smiling more than she had in weeks.

Maybe it was her family or maybe it was the feeling of being home.

Maybe it was finally accepting that her life hadn't ended with the divorce.

It had simply changed direction.

For the first time since leaving the Smith mansion, she allowed herself to imagine a future that didn't revolve around Liam.

A future that belonged entirely to her.

And somewhere across the city, Liam sat alone in a house that felt far too quiet, wondering why success suddenly seemed less satisfying than it used to.

Neither of them knew it yet.

But while Judith was slowly learning how to move forward, Liam was only beginning to understand what he had lost.