LOGINLarissa's heartbeat pounded against her ribs. The longer she stood there, the stronger Derby's warning echoed in her ears. "If you touch that Hunter phone... they'll arrest you." ‘Her eyes swept across the bar once more. The bartender was wiping down glasses. The woman who had spoken to her earlier had disappeared. A man in a leather jacket sat alone, sipping whiskey. Another customer laughed loudly with his friends. Everything looked normal. In fact too normal to the extent that it madechills crawled down her spine. "No..." She whispered to herself."I'm not staying here." Without another word, she pushed herself off the bar stool. The bartender looked up. "Ma'am? You still wanted to ask about…" "Another time." Larissa cut him off.She slipped her phone into her handbag, turned sharply, and headed straight for the exit without looking back. Inside a private surveillance room behind the bar... Alex, Thomas, Dan, and several plainclothes officers watche
Alex entered the room last. He looked around at everyone gathered. "No improvising. If she leads us somewhere else, we follow. Thomas smiled. "Tonight, Hunter has turned prey." Some people chortled, and the room fell silent again. Outside, music drifted through the bar as unsuspecting customers laughed and enjoyed their evening. None of them realized that beneath the ordinary atmosphere a carefully laid trap was waiting. All that remained was for Larissa to walk into it. The neon lights of Ladies Bar glowed against the dark evening sky as Larissa's sleek black sedan rolled into the parking lot. She switched off the engine but didn't move immediately. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "Zee..." She whispered the name to herself. "If you're the one with my phone, then tonight, I'm getting it back." She stepped out of the car, slammed the door shut, and strode confidently toward the entrance. Music spilled onto the street the moment she
By late afternoon, the Benson mansion was overflowing with emotion once again. The family doctor had returned with the second laboratory report.This time, there was no uncertainty.No possibility of a mix-up. He smiled as he handed the report to Lucas. "Congratulations. The second test confirms it. You are indeed pregnant." For a heartbeat… The room was completely silent. Then it erupted. Sally let out a joyful cry and immediately pulled Lucas into a careful hug. "Oh, my precious boy! I finally have a grandbaby coming!" Emily squealed loudly enough to make everyone laugh. Annie clapped excitedly before wrapping both Alex and Lucas in a hug. Jason shook his head with a grin."I've never seen this family this happy." Alex, however, didn't say a word.He simply stared at the report in Lucas's trembling hands. His eyes slowly filled with tears. Lucas looked up. "Alex..." Alex crossed the room and gently cupped Lucas's face. His voice barely came out.
Lucas quietly reached for Alex's hand. Their fingers intertwined naturally. Alex looked at him. Lucas offered him a reassuring smile. "It's okay. You should go, but be careful out there, okay." Alex hesitated. "I don't want to leave your side, especially today" Lucas laughed softly. "My love,"He gently caressed Alex's cheek."I'm surrounded by your entire family." He glanced around the room. "I don't think anyone would let a fly get near me." That earned a few chuckles. Sally immediately pointed toward Lucas. "He's absolutely right.""I'm guarding my future grandbaby." Emily raised her hand. "So am I." Annie smiled. "And me." Jason folded his arms dramatically."I suppose I'll volunteer too." Caleb shook his head with amusement. "I don't think Lucas could be safer anywhere else." Lucas turned back to Alex. "Go and do what you need to do." His voice became gentle. "But promise me something." "Anything." "Be careful." Alex smiled. "I should
Alex closed the distance between them in two long strides.The moment he reached Lucas, he pulled him into his arms with such force that Lucas almost lost his balance. "Oh..." Lucas laughed through the tears already forming in his eyes. "Alex..." Alex buried his face in Lucas's neck, unable to speak. His shoulders trembled. For several seconds, all he could do was hold him tighter. As though he was afraid the moment would disappear if he let go. Finally, he whispered in a broken voice, "Please tell me I'm not dreaming." Lucas smiled against his shoulder."I don't think either of us is." Alex slowly pulled back, cupping Lucas's face with both hands.His eyes searched Lucas's, looking for reassurance. "You heard him?" Lucas nodded, tears spilling freely now. "I heard him." Alex let out a shaky laugh before pressing his forehead against Lucas's. "We're... we're going to have a baby." Lucas's lips quivered into the brightest smile anyone in the room had
By the time he reached the bathroom, Lucas was already bent over the toilet, retching uncontrollably. "Oh no..." Alex immediately knelt beside him. "Is it happening again?" He rubbed soothing circles over Lucas's back while holding his shoulders steady. The retching continued. Lucas's body trembled with every dry heave. Alex's heart twisted painfully. "Easy, baby...I'm here.” Finally, after nearly two exhausting minutes, the nausea subsided. Lucas rinsed his mouth and splashed cool water across his face.When he stepped out of the bathroom, he looked a bit drained.Yet strangely, the nausea was gone. "I feel better." He muttered. He slowly lowered himself onto the couch by the window. Alex sat beside him immediately.His worry was impossible to hide. "No." He shook his head firmly."You're showering, and then we're going straight to the hospital." Lucas smiled weakly. "Alex, "I'm okay now. What I need isn't a hospital." He placed a hand over h







