Semua Bab Ruthless Temptation: Bab 121 - Bab 130

Emma stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her heart racing as she stared at the small plastic stick in her hand. The words “Pregnant” blinked up at her, bold and undeniable. Her breath caught in her throat, and she leaned against the counter, unsure of how to react. This wasn’t in their plan. She had just started to feel like they were settling into a rhythm—Alina was getting ready to graduate college, their son was excelling in high school, and life had started to feel like it was slowing down. The idea of starting over, of becoming parents again, was terrifying, yet, in a way, it felt right. She took a deep breath and reached for her phone, texting Killian, her fingers trembling. We need to talk. I think it’s time for another surprise. She hit send, leaning back against the cool tile, waiting for the response. She had a thousand thoughts running through her head, but she couldn’t find the right words. A part of her was thrilled—she had always wanted mor

POV: Killian Killian stood at the stove, stirring the marinara sauce with a wooden spoon, but his mind wasn’t on dinner. It was on the two girls upstairs, entirely unaware that their world was about to shift. Again. He exhaled through his nose, glancing at the clock. Any minute now, the stampede of feet would thunder down the stairs. Alina would pretend she wasn’t hungry but end up taking seconds. Amelie would chatter non-stop about school, soccer practice, and the new kid in her class who had a pet snake. And then… they’d tell them. The baby. The news sat like a weight on his chest. Not a heavy one—just enough to make his heartbeat trip a little. He’d faced hostile boardrooms and million-dollar acquisitions with less anxiety than this moment. Emma stepped beside him, gently bumping her hip against his. She’d just finished setting the table, hair tucked into a loo

Emma The sun poured through the kitchen windows, warm and golden, as Emma tied the last ribbon around the box. It was just big enough to hold a few helium balloons, but it felt like it carried the weight of a thousand emotions. “Okay, I think we’re ready,” she said, glancing at the clock. “They should be home any second.” Killian stood across the room, pretending not to be nervous as he arranged cupcakes on a platter—half with pale pink frosting, the other half baby blue. His fingers were steady, but she could see it in the set of his jaw, the way he kept glancing at the box like it might give up its secret early. Emma moved closer, brushing her hand across his back as she passed. “You’re more anxious than I was before our wedding.” He shot her a look, amused and soft. “That’s because I already knew how perfect you’d look walking down the aisle.” She arched a brow. “Smooth.”

POV: Emma Pregnancy at this age was… different. Not in a bad way—just in a my-body-is-definitely-sending-me-signals-louder-than-ever kind of way. Emma stared at the empty jar of pickles in her hand, a faint frown tugging at her lips as she realized she’d demolished the entire thing. Again. It wasn’t even noon. “Babe?” she called into the house, her voice echoing faintly down the hallway. “We’re out of pickles!” Killian’s voice drifted back, tinged with amusement. “Again? I bought two jars yesterday.” “They betrayed me,” she replied dryly, waddling toward the kitchen in her oversized sweater and leggings, one hand resting protectively over her growing bump. “They were weak.” She caught sight of herself in the hallway mirror and paused. Her belly had popped more quickly this time, and though she adored every moment of it, she couldn’t help but marvel at how fast thi

POV: Emma The final stretch. That’s what they kept calling it. The last trimester of pregnancy, the home stretch, the point where everything began to feel even more real—and more overwhelming. Emma could feel the weight of the baby inside her now, her body tired but her heart full. She was tired—more so than before—but there was a sweetness in that exhaustion. She’d never truly appreciated how much her body was capable of until now. The baby was kicking more often, stronger now, and each movement sent a wave of excitement through her. It was a reminder that the tiny little person they had been dreaming of was nearly here. She lay in bed that morning, staring up at the ceiling, her hand resting on her round belly. She could hear the soft murmur of voices downstairs, Killian already up, making breakfast for the girls. She could picture him in the kitchen, taking care of everyone in his quiet, steady way. He’d been such a rock thr