His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 72

He set her gently on the small loveseat, next to a side table. Under the soft glow of the lamp, her favorite books were neatly arranged beside a fragrant bouquet of violets—the flowers she loved most.

“Eat a little something first,” Cedric said quietly.

He was just about to stand up after settling her down, but Lumina suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on tight.

Maybe it was the warmth of this cozy room, the careful touches he’d added to the bedroom, the way he’d stood up for her with such unexpected tenderness in front of the child, or perhaps just the comfort of being held against his chest. Whatever the reason, she felt an impulsive reluctance to let him go.

Lumina buried her face in the crook of his neck, stubbornly refusing to release him.

Sensing something different about her, Cedric paused and murmured, “Hm?” He knelt down on one knee in front of her, reaching up to gently stroke her hair. “Are you feeling unwell?”

She shook her head. After a moment, she asked in a quiet voice, “Why are you being so nice to me?”

He looked at her, his gaze calm. “When have I ever not been nice to you?”

“In the past,” Lumina muttered, her voice muffled. “You barely acknowledged me, barked orders, acted like I was a nuisance.”

He chuckled. “Silly girl. Back then, that was my way of caring.”

His voice, bathed in the golden lamplight, softened and flowed over her like warm honey.

Lumina’s eyes drifted half-closed. In this moment, she wished time would slow down, wished this feeling could last a little longer.

Then Lumina lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes with rare frankness. “Earlier, you asked if I wanted a child, didn’t you?”

She took a slow breath. “Well, here’s my answer: Yes. I do want a child.”

At her words, the warmth in his eyes evaporated, replaced by a chill that cut right through her. His pupils contracted, and a coldness flickered in his gaze, sharp enough to make her heart ache.

Lumina lowered her eyes, her expression gentle with a mother’s longing. “Even if the child turns out like Ansel, mischievous, always testing my patience, wearing down my rough edges… I still want to know what it feels like to have two hearts beating inside me. I want to create a family, to have someone I can pour every ounce of love into.”

She had never been this vulnerable with him before. Now she laid her heart completely bare. This was her last attempt—her final hope. If Cedric didn’t truly object to having a child, maybe… maybe she could stay. She thought, if the child was his, surely as a father, he’d show some mercy, he wouldn’t cast them aside.

But Cedric only listened in silence, and when she finished, he gently released her from his embrace.