His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 3

Lumina knew Cedric was naturally suspicious. His tone might have sounded joking, but there was a hint of genuine interrogation beneath it.

Hilton, standing nearby, didn’t dare say a word.-

Calmly tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, Lumina handed Cedric a tissue to wipe away the water on his hand, her smile unruffled. “How could that be? You’re always teasing me.”

Cedric, however, fixed her with a dark, searching gaze, as if trying to catch her in a lie.

Meeting his wary eyes, Lumina blinked innocently, turning defense into offense. “What’s that look for? If you don’t believe me, I’ll go get checked out tomorrow.”

Knowing how much Cedric hated unnecessary trouble, she doubted he’d actually make her go through with it.

After all, he was always meticulous about precautions. Except that last time, right before his business trip, when they ran out of protection.

But afterward, under his watchful insistence, she dutifully took the morning-after pill.

Just that once, Lumina had never imagined she’d get caught off guard.

Of course, fate has a way of giving you exactly what you dread.

To her surprise, Cedric nodded, entirely out of character. “Fine. I’ll approve half a day off for you tomorrow.”

Lumina froze, her whole body going stiff as ice.

She’d been bluffing, tossing out words without a second thought.

He actually took her seriously?!

Despite the storm inside her, she managed a steady smile. “Mr. Royce, you’re forgetting—we have that project meeting with Mr. Harding tomorrow. I’ve handled this case from the start. How could I skip out now?”

Hilton chimed in, “Mr. Harding’s flying in from overseas just to meet with us in person.”

Lumina kept her eyes lowered, expression unreadable.

Thankfully, Hilton was the kind of honest workaholic who noticed nothing amiss. He’d actually helped her out.

At Hilton’s words, Cedric gave Lumina a brief, unreadable look, then let the matter drop. Gathering up his files, he stood. “Let’s get to the meeting.”

Only then did Lumina let out a quiet, relieved breath.

...

That afternoon, Lumina finished her work at record speed, slipping out just in time to catch the clinic before it closed.

The doctor studied her ultrasound report, then broke into a gentle smile. “The scan shows two gestational sacs. Looks like twins. Congratulations, you’re very lucky.”

“Hey, bro. I came to see you.”

Lumina knelt and gently cleaned the headstone, then set out his favorite seafood in front of it.

As she tidied up, she noticed someone had already left a bouquet of fresh lilacs on the ground.

Looks like her mom and dad had been here already.

Lumina gathered her skirt and sat on the stone steps. “Don’t blame me for taking so long to visit, okay? Work’s been crazy. But I have good news to tell you.”

“I’m pregnant. With twins.”

She hugged her knees, the hem of her white dress fluttering in the chill breeze.

A few autumn leaves, carried by the wind, drifted down and landed on her shoulder.

“These two kids, even if the timing’s not perfect… I’ve decided I’m keeping them.”

She smiled softly, her eyes rimmed with red, a rare vulnerability showing on her face, one she never let anyone else see.

“Remember how you used to say souls can be reborn, that maybe the next life is just a new beginning? Do you think… maybe you’ve come back to me as my child?”