All Chapters of His Open Marriage, My Forbidden Secret : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Isla survived.Second-degree burns on her arms and smoke inhalation, but she survived. The café was destroyed and burned to the ground in less than twenty minutes but Isla had been in the back office when the Molotov cocktail came through the window. She'd escaped through the rear exit.Lia visited her in the ICU the next morning. Caspian refused to let her go alone, so Dorian drove while Caspian sat in the back, one hand always on Lia's knee."I'm okay," Isla said, her voice hoarse. Bandages covered both forearms. "Looks worse than it is.""Your café—""Can be rebuilt. I'm alive. That's what matters." Isla looked at Caspian. "Did you find who did it?""Working on it.""It was the Bratva, wasn't it? Because of me being close to Lia?""We don't know yet—""Don't lie to me." Isla's voice was sharp. "I know what this is. I'm collateral damage in your war."Caspian didn't deny it."I'm sorry," Lia said, tears streaming down her face. "This is my fault—""Stop. This is not your fault. This

Lia woke to the sound of crying.Not her own. A baby's cry. Tiny, insistent, perfect.Her eyes opened. Hospital room. Bright lights. And Caspian, sitting in a chair beside her bed, holding a small bundle wrapped in pink."You're awake," he said, his voice rough with emotion."The baby..." Lia tried to sit up. Pain shot through her abdomen."Easy. You had a C-section. Major surgery." Caspian stood, brought the bundle closer. "But she's perfect. Seven pounds, four ounces. Healthy lungs, all ten fingers and toes."Lia's vision blurred with tears. "Can I hold her?""Of course." He carefully transferred their daughter into Lia's arms.She was beautiful. Tiny pink face, dark hair, eyes squeezed shut as she cried. Lia touched her cheek and the crying stopped. The baby's eyes opened, unfocused but searching."Hi," Lia whispered. "Hi, sweet girl. I'm your mama.""Elena," Caspian said. "If you still like that name.""Elena Rose Nero." Lia kissed her daughter's forehead. "It's perfect. She's per

The café was neutral territory. Not Julian's choice, not hers. Just a random coffee shop in downtown Chicago that neither of them had history with.Lia sat in the booth, five months pregnant, her belly finally showing in a way she couldn't hide. Elena was home with Nina. Caspian sat beside her, his hand on her thigh under the table. Not possessive. Just there. Grounding her."You don't have to do this," he said quietly."I know. But I need to. For me. So I can stop looking over my shoulder wondering when he'll show up next.""If he says anything that upsets you, we leave. I don't care if we're mid-sentence.""Okay."The door opened. Lia's stomach dropped.Julian walked in. But he wasn't alone.A woman was with him. Red hair, glasses, pretty in a girl-next-door way. She had her hand on Julian's arm, steadying him. Or maybe he was steadying her. Hard to tell.They approached the booth. Julian looked different from the photos. Thinner. Dark circles under his eyes. But cleaner somehow. Li

The medication worked.Sort of.The contractions slowed from every three minutes to every twenty. Then every hour. Then they stopped completely around 4 AM.Lia didn't sleep. She just lay there, hand on her belly, counting the baby's movements. Every kick was reassuring. Every flutter meant she was okay. They were both okay.Caspian didn't sleep either. He sat in the chair beside her bed, watching the monitors like they might reveal secrets if he stared hard enough."You should rest," Lia said."Can't.""Caspian...""Don't ask me to relax right now. Not when you were having contractions at five months." His voice was rough. Scared. "Do you know what happens to babies born that early?""I know.""They can't breathe on their own. Their lungs aren't developed. Their organs aren't ready. They..." He stopped, ran his hands through his hair. "I can't lose you. Either of you.""You're not going to.""You don't know that.""The contractions stopped. The baby's heart rate is perfect. Dr. Reeve

The first lawsuit arrived on Tuesday.Lia was eating breakfast when Dorian brought in the courier envelope. He set it on the table like it might explode."What is it?" she asked, though she already knew. Nothing good came in legal envelopes."Margaret's lawyers. From the return address."Caspian grabbed it, ripped it open. Read the first page. His expression went dark."What?" Lia set down her fork. "What is it?""She's suing you for emotional distress. Claims you've defamed her character with false accusations. Demanding two million in damages.""That's insane. I haven't said anything publicly about her...""She's using your conversation with Emma as evidence. Says you told Emma she was controlling and abusive to Julian.""I never... that was a private conversation!""Doesn't matter. She's twisting it. Making it sound like you're slandering her to ruin her reputation." Caspian flipped through more pages. "This is bullshit. Pure harassment. Patricia will get it dismissed."But Lia's h