Chapter 4— A CHILD, A SECRET, AND A CHOICE

LUCAS’ POV

The nurse told me the doctor wanted to see me, and my heart dropped immediately. Ever since my wife collapsed, fear had been sitting heavily in my chest like a stone. I followed the nurse down the hallway, my palms damp with sweat, my mind preparing itself for bad news.

Inside the office, the doctor motioned for me to sit. His face was calm, professional, but serious.

“Your wife collapsed as a result of shock,” he said. Those words pierced my heart. Shock. I knew exactly where that shock came from—emotional pain, stress, and the weight of secrets I had buried too deep.

Then his tone softened.

“But she is stable now,” he continued. “And there’s something else you should know.” He paused briefly, then smiled. “Congratulations. Your wife is three months pregnant.”

Pregnant.

The word echoed in my head like a bell that wouldn’t stop ringing. My chest tightened. A child. My child. Growing inside a woman I married for selfish reasons.

The doctor warned me sternly that she needed complete rest and peace of mind.

“If she experiences stress again, it could be dangerous for both her and the baby,” he said.

“I promise,” I replied quickly. “I’ll do everything right.”

But deep inside, I knew my life was far from right.

When I stepped out of the doctor’s office, my legs felt weak. I stood at a quiet corner of the hospital, my thoughts scattered.

How do I tell her she’s pregnant?

How do I face her when another woman is also carrying my child?

Because yes—Vanessa was pregnant too.

The irony burned.

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice someone behind me until a hand touched my back. I flinched sharply and turned around.

Vanessa.

“What were you thinking about?” she asked angrily. “I’ve been calling you, Lucas. You didn’t answer until I touched you.”

“I just saw the doctor,” I said quietly.

Her eyes narrowed. “And?”

“My wife collapsed from shock,” I said. “But she’s okay now.” I hesitated. “She’s three months pregnant.”

Her face changed instantly—from shock to fury.

“So that’s it?” she snapped. “Now there are two pregnant women in your life.” Her voice dropped. “What about me, Lucas? What about my pregnancy?”

My chest tightened.

“What happens to me now?” she continued bitterly. “What happens to the plans we made? Don’t forget—you married her because I agreed. Because of her father’s properties. That inheritance was supposed to secure our future.”

Hearing it out loud felt disgusting.

“Vanessa,” I said slowly, “we’ve been together for a long time. I won’t deny that. But along the way, something changed.”

She laughed bitterly. “Changed because she’s pregnant?”

“No,” I replied firmly. “Changed because I finally saw the truth. My wife doesn’t deserve this betrayal. She is humble. She trusted me with everything she had. She is the kind of woman every man prays for.”

Vanessa’s eyes filled with rage.

“So now you’re choosing her?” she shouted. “Because she’s carrying your child?”

“I’m choosing to stop hurting her,” I said, my voice breaking. “She’s fragile. She’s pregnant. I can’t leave her in emotional pain again.”

“And what about me?” she screamed. “I’m pregnant too, Lucas! Am I not fragile?”

The words cut deep.

I closed my eyes briefly. “I will take responsibility,” I said. “I won’t abandon you or the child. I’ll support you financially. I’ll help you start something of your own.”

She stared at me in disbelief.

“So that’s all I am now?” she asked coldly. “A mistake you want to pay off?”

“That’s not what I mean—”

“If she is your wife,” Vanessa interrupted sharply, “then who am I to you? The woman you used? Or the woman you plan to silence with money?”

I had no answer.

“You better come back to your senses,” she warned, her voice shaking with anger and tears. “Because if you don’t, everyone will know the secret we’ve been hiding. They will know how you married her for her father’s property. They will know everything.”

She turned and walked away, her footsteps heavy with anger and pain.

I stood there, frozen.

Two pregnancies.

One built on deception.

One demanding responsibility.

Ahead of me was my wife—innocent, trusting, and carrying a child that deserved peace. Behind me was Vanessa—angry, pregnant, and holding the power to destroy everything.

For the first time in my life, I realized that greed doesn’t just steal wealth—it destroys lives.

And now, no matter what choice I made, someone was going to be broken.

Was redemption still possible… or had I already gone too far?