A LADY FOR A DUKE のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 151 - チャプター 160

Justin Beck adjusted the rearview mirror, his eyes fixed on Susan’s car as it pulled out of the driveway. “You see that place?” he muttered to his partner, Collins. “Guy’s living like a damn king.”Collins Hallman smirked, his fingers drumming on the dashboard. “Bet the wallpaper in that place costs more than my house.”“Focus,” Justin snapped, watching as Susan’s car turned onto the main road. “This is it. She’s got to be making the drop.”“About time,” Collins said, sitting up straighter. “Vince better not be screwing us over.”“He knows what’s at stake,” Justin replied. “Let’s tail her. Keep it subtle.”They followed Susan’s car at a safe distance, their unmarked sedan blending into traffic. Justin’s grip on the wheel tightened as adrenaline coursed through him. Months of surveillance, countless hours piecing together this case—it all came down to this.“She’s heading downtown,” Collins said, checking the GPS. “Warehouse district, maybe?”“Looks like it,” Justin said, his eyes neve

Susan stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, staring at her reflection as if it belonged to someone else. Her usually vibrant complexion was pale, her eyes puffy and shadowed, and her hair hung in disarray, as if it had given up along with the rest of her. In her trembling hand was the pregnancy test kit that seemed heavier than anything she’d ever held.Behind her, Caroline perched on the edge of the bed, her expression a mix of concern and impatience. “Just take it to the bathroom and pee on it, Susan,” she said gently but firmly.Susan turned away from the mirror to glare at her best friend. “I know how it works, Care,” she snapped, though her voice was shaky. “I’m not stupid. I’m just… scared.” Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the test. “What if it’s positive?”Caroline met her gaze with calm resolve, crossing her arms. “Then you deal with it. One step at a time. But you’re not doing yourself any favors by dragging this out.” She tilted her head slightly. “You’re going t

Susan nodded, taking a sip of water to avoid further scrutiny. “Yeah, just a lot going on.”Samuel chimed in, changing the subject. “Mom, she's doing so well at work. With the way she's always busy, I bet she’s going to be running the place in no time.”Susan shot her brother a grateful look. “Hardly. But thanks for the vote of confidence, Sam.”The conversation shifted again, moving to Elizabeth's plans for the week and Samuel’s idea of signing up for a cooking class. Susan laughed along, grateful for the reprieve from any personal questions.Samuel left for the kitchen and reappeared with dessert, and the mood lightened even more. When dinner was over, he insisted on cleaning up, while Susan and their mother went up to the living room to talk. “You seem carried away by your thoughts,” Elizabeth told Susan when they were finally seated and alone in the living room.“I do?” Susan asked in astonishment. Clearly she'd not done a good job of hiding her feelings properly. “Yes, you do.

Dr. Patel sat down, flipping through Susan’s chart. “So, this is your first pregnancy?”Susan nodded. “Yes. I’m…new to all of this.”“That’s completely normal,” Dr. Patel reassured her. “We’ll take it one step at a time. Today we’ll start with some basic questions, do a quick exam, and, if you’re ready, we can do an ultrasound to confirm everything is progressing well.”Susan’s chest tightened at the mention of the ultrasound. “Okay,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.The doctor began with a series of questions: her last period, any medical history, allergies, or medications. Susan answered as best as she could, feeling a little less nervous as the conversation continued.“Great,” Dr. Patel said, closing the chart. “Let’s do a quick physical exam, and then we’ll move to the ultrasound. Are you okay with that?”Susan nodded, clutching the edges of the exam table.The physical exam was routine, but Susan’s mind raced the entire time. When Dr. Patel finally wheeled over the ultr

His expression was unreadable, but his dark eyes held a depth of emotion that made her throat tighten. She quickly looked away, focusing on Francesca.“There’s a family room just off the kitchen,” Susan continued, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest. “It has a fireplace and enough space for a large sectional or a play area for kids.”“Let’s see it,” Francesca said, already heading in that direction.Leo lingered behind, his steps slow and deliberate as he followed. He wasn’t interested in the house, not anymore—his thoughts were consumed by Susan. He watched her from a distance, taking in the way she moved, the way she avoided his eyes. The bump was small but unmistakable, and it stirred something in him he wasn’t ready to face.When they reached the family room, Francesca was already imagining where her furniture would go. “This is it,” she said decisively. “I love it.”“I thought you might,” Susan said, smiling.Francesca turned to Leo. “What do you think?”“It’s ni