Semua Bab His Private Chef: Bab 121 - Bab 130

The first words out of my mouth were the only ones that mattered.“How could you be this cruel, Kelvin?”My voice shook with fury, but I forced myself to remain seated, my fists pressed tight against my lap. Every nerve in me burned to lash out, to slap him, scream at him until the whole restaurant turned to look.But I held myself still. Losing control here would only draw attention, and the last thing I wanted was an audience for this kind of betrayal.Kelvin’s head dropped, shame clouding his face. “Emily, I’m sorry.”A bitter laugh escaped me. “Sorry? You're sorry, Kelvin? Do you think sorry will erase the nights I lay awake, crying because I thought I’d never give Liam a child? Do you think sorry will erase the weight of that pain? The fear? The emptiness?”His throat tightened, his eyes wet. “I’ve made mistakes before, but this… this is the one I can’t live with. I regret it every single day. It eats at me, Emily.”“You went too far.” My voice cracked, but I pushed on, shaking m

The moment I stepped into our room, I locked the door behind me. From the other side, Sophia’s voice rang out, equal parts threat and laughter.“You’d better stay in there, Emily! If I catch you, it’s over for you.”I placed a hand to my stomach, laughing softly as I leaned against the door. “You’re supposed to thank me, not hunt me down. I just did you the biggest favor of your life!”Her response was a scoff. “Open the door and say that to my face.”“Not a chance,” I shot back, grinning.The truth was, Sophia wouldn’t actually do anything to me if I stepped outside, but there was a thrill in hiding from her, like we were locked in a private game only we understood. I spent most of the day tucked away, reading, napping, and smiling to myself every time I heard her footsteps linger by my door.By evening, Liam’s knock pulled me from a call with my mom. I quickly said goodbye and walked to the door.“Are you alone?” I asked cautiously.His amused chuckle came through the wood. “Yes, Em

After two nights in the hospital, we were cleared to go home. Liam had arranged everything so our departure would remain private. He was determined that the world would meet our daughter on our terms, not theirs.The drive was quiet, filled with the soft sound of Sophia breathing in her carrier. My fingers brushed the edge of the blanket covering her, as if I needed to keep reminding myself she was real and not some dream I might wake from.At the estate gates, I caught sight of a massive banner stretched across the entrance: Welcome Home, Baby Sophia. My eyes flicked to Liam, who was already smiling.“You did this?” I whispered.His lips curved, pride unmistakable in his eyes. “Of course.”A smile surfaced on my face, born of pure instinct. Inside, the house had been transformed. Balloons floated overhead, ribbons curved along the staircase, and fresh flowers filled every corner with color. The house felt alive with celebration, every detail speaking of Liam’s hand in it.“How?” I as

Liam had begun a new ritual. Time set aside just for us. No matter how hectic the week grew, how many hours he stole away to stare at Sophia’s sleeping face, he always made sure I knew our relationship came first too.“Parenthood doesn’t erase us, Em,” he told me one evening, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I never want you to feel I’ve given all of myself away.”So whenever it was our time, my mom, Laura, or Big Sophia would take over baby duty, practically fighting for turns. Liam, meanwhile, kept his weekends sacred. No calls. No meetings. No interruptions.On one of our nights reserved just for us, I dragged him into the theater room and queued up a cheesy rom-com, waiting for the inevitable groan. Liam loved to mock them, and I loved watching him try not to laugh at the clichés.Halfway through, his phone vibrated. He muttered something, excused himself, and went out.At first, I waited. But when ten minutes became fifteen, I left the dim theater and walked into the

I woke up to the sense of someone standing over me at the edge of the bed.“Liam?” I mumbled, my eyes still shut. “Why are you hovering like a creep?”A familiar laugh answered. My eyes flew open.“Lisa?”I blinked, shut them again, then peeked, convinced I was dreaming. She was still there. By the third time, I gave up and screamed, throwing myself at her.She yelped as I hugged her tight. “You’re not dreaming, Emily.”I pulled back, still breathless. “How? You weren’t supposed to be back from camp for weeks!”“Please,” she said, flicking her hair. “Like I’d miss my best friend’s wedding. I told them I had a very important excuse. And I do.”“Thank goodness.” I grinned. “You’re coming with me for fittings today.”Lisa laughed, eyeing me dramatically. “I hope you picked a color that makes me pop.”“You’ve been gone too long to vote. You’ll wear what we chose.”She groaned, and I smacked her arm. Before she could fire back, a soft whimper floated from the baby monitor. We glanced at ea