Chapter 2

　　Jade's heartbeat immediately skyrocketed. She'd always adhered to his instructions to take contraceptives whenever they didn't use protection. She'd never skipped a day. Except for that day at the office.

　　"I-I…" she stuttered. Lucian's brows drew together as his gaze bore through her, his fingers gripping the stick.

　　She looked everywhere but him, struggling to hide the trembling of her legs.

　　"I asked you a question, Jade."

　　"I…"

　　His phone suddenly rang, cutting off her words.

　　Lucian walked to the bedside table and picked it up, lifting it to his ear.

　　"Mother," he answered.

　　"Where are you, Lucian?"

　　Although the call wasn't on loudspeaker, Jade could hear his mother's voice clearly. Mrs Ashford always had a loud voice.

　　Lucian looked at her for a second.

　　"I'm not with anyone."

　　The woman's breathing resounded from the phone. "Then who's the owner of those female clothes I found in your red car?"

　　He shot her a questioning glance.

　　Jade stiffened.

　　After their session three days ago, her clothes had been too messy and carried the scent of sex to wear out. She'd worn her spare dress and had forgotten to carry the messy ones.

　　When she nodded, he returned his attention to the call.

　　"They belong to a friend of mine."

　　"Are you seeing someone, son?"

　　"I'm not," he breathed.

　　"Better. Don't forget that Victoria had just returned. Your wedding will take place soon. Don't ruin your chance with her by having a girlfriend. Should I arrange a date for you two?"

　　At the mention of Victoria, Jade bunched her white blouse so tightly, the fabric ripped softly beneath her grip. Victoria Sterling, the governor's daughter and Lucian's close childhood friend.

　　Victoria had been abroad for years, and Jade had thought that the marriage talks had quietly died. It turned out she was wrong.

　　Very wrong.

　　With Victoria back, she knew her position would finally slip away fully.

　　Lucian pinched the ridges of his nose and replied. "Anything you want, Mother. I have something to attend to for now." He ended the call and slipped the phone back on the bedside table before his gaze again fell on the test stick in his hand.

　　Without a word, he walked past her to the trash can and threw it in.

　　Jade let out a long breath.

　　Looking at him now, she couldn't help but remember the boy he used to be.

　　When they were children, Jade loved playing house with Lucian. In her childish imagination, he was always the father, and she was always the one standing beside him.

　　She wasn't the only girl who wanted that role. Whenever Lucian played pretend family, every little girl wanted to be his partner.

　　Jade had believed in the simplest kind of happiness. Maybe one day, when they grew up, she could become his wife for real.

　　Back then, her father was still alive. He hadn't died saving Lucian's father, and her mother hadn't gone to prison.

　　She knew she shouldn't expect anything from him. But somewhere deep inside, a small part of her still hoped the boy she once knew wasn't completely gone.

　　Jade lifted her eyes to meet his blue ones. A fragile hint of hope flickered in her brown eyes as she searched his face.

　　Then, she finally asked the question that had been weighing on her heart.

　　"If-if I were truly pregnant… would you keep the baby?"

　　His fingers stilled on her shoulders.

　　Only a split second before he chuckled. "You're not pregnant."

　　"I'm simply asking if I were." Her voice shook terribly.

　　He fell silent. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They stood still, staring into each other's eyes.

　　She already knew the answer.

　　Lucian would never let her have his child.

　　Seconds after, Lucian's lips curled upwards as he crouched down to her height. "Planning to trap me with a baby and become Mrs Ashford?" His knuckle bumped against her forehead lightly. "That won't work. Continue taking the contraceptives."

　　Just like that, the tiny flicker of hope quietly went out.

　　Jade stepped backward from his hold, now avoiding his gaze as she blinked several times. "I only checked because I thought there was a time I forgot to take the contraceptive." She tried to sound confident. "I know my place in the Ashford family. I won't interfere with your engagement with Victoria." She was just the child that was taken in out of pity after her parents' tragedy seven years ago.

　　He expelled a low grunt. "You're overthinking too much. Come here."

　　He caught Jade's hand and guided her backward onto the bed.

　　"I'll make you forget." He smirked.

　　Then his lips descended on hers. He didn't kiss her gently. Lucian never kissed her gently. He kissed her as though he could erase her every thought. Like he possessed her every being.

　　Jade struggled instantly. She forcefully turned her head to the side, but his lips fell on her neck. She placed her hands on his chest and tried to push him, but her hands were too weak.

　　"Lucian." When he didn't budge, she held the sides of his head, stopping his lips from touching her skin.

　　"What is it?" He frowned. "You don't want this?"

　　"I'm not in the mood."

　　His brows drew together even tighter.

　　She tried to move away from him. It was the first time she was ever rejecting his advances. For the past months, he called, she came, they had sex. Even after arguments, he'd always ended them the same way.

　　But not today.

　　After all, he was going to have a wife soon.

　　Why did he still need her? Why did he still need to act like he cared one minute and the next, he didn't?

　　"Then I'll put you in the mood."

　　He caught her wrists long enough to keep her from pushing him away, and his lips crashed against hers again, holding her in place.

　　"Ouch. Fuck." Lucian grunted as her teeth sank against his bottom lip.

　　Jade used that as an opportunity and shoved him off her.

　　"The fuck is wrong with you today, Jade?"

　　"I told you I'm not in the mood."

　　"Jade."

　　"I'm going home," she announced, immediately stepping toward the door, her fingers smoothing the loose curls of her brunette hair. All she wanted was to leave.

　　But just as she opened the door of the room and took a step out, his next words caused her legs to freeze.

　　"Did you forget?" Lucian's voice came from behind her. "But our contract hasn't expired yet."