Kate's POV:

It had been seven long months since I left Lucio's house, and my belly had grown significantly. I hadn't done an ultrasound yet, and for some reason, I just didn't feel ready. My instincts told me to wait, though I couldn't explain why. Emily and Rose visited me often, their presence a comfort. They had insisted I stop working when I reached four months, and I reluctantly agreed. Despite everything, I missed Lucio—his voice, his presence, even the way he drove me insane with his stubbornness. I knew he probably regretted the things he'd said, but the pain lingered.

The day started peacefully, but that peace shattered when Lucio showed up. The moment I saw him, my heart raced, but not with excitement. His green eyes locked onto me, piercing through the layers of my oversized coat. I could feel his intensity, as though he was trying to see what I was hiding beneath the fabric.

When Steven tried to hug me, Emily had quickly intervened, stopping him in his tracks. If he had embraced me and felt the bump, there would've been no hiding it. I felt guilty knowing that Lucio didn't yet know about the baby—his baby.

Later, Emerald and I sat together as I tried to gather my thoughts.

"You need to tell Mom about this," Emerald said, fishing out her phone. "She'll know what to do."

When Rose answered, Emily quickly explained the situation.

"Mom says she'll be here in two days," Emerald informed me, sitting back down beside me. "She knows Lucio, and she knows he won't let this go until you give him a reason—a valid reason—for staying away."

I nodded, grateful but anxious.

"Don't worry, Kate. He won't do anything stupid while Mom and I are here. But you need to tell him," Emily urged gently. "Before he finds out on his own. If that happens, he'll be furious."

Her words settled over me like a weight. She was right, but I wasn't ready. "I'll try," I whispered, though I wasn't sure I meant it.

Emily squeezed my hand before standing. "Just explain why you didn't tell him in the first place. Be honest. He deserves that much." With that, she left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I lay back on the bed, finally removing the heavy coat. My hand instinctively rested on my rounded belly. Only a month and a half to go until I'd meet my little one. "Not much longer, baby," I murmured, rubbing slow circles over my stomach.

The thought of introducing my child to the world both excited and terrified me. How could I tell Lucio about this? What if he didn't want the baby? Worse, what if his dangerous world swallowed us whole?

The door suddenly swung open, startling me. I froze as Michen entered. He stood still, his eyes widening as they locked onto my belly. For a moment, neither of us moved.

Finally, he shut the door quietly behind him and stepped closer, his expression shifting from surprise to something unreadable.

I scrambled to stand, one hand protectively cradling my bump. My heart pounded in my chest.

"Was this the reason you stayed away, Kate?" Michen asked softly, his voice steady but tinged with emotion.

I nodded, tears springing to my eyes. I couldn't hold back any longer. "Yes," I admitted, my voice trembling. "This is why."

"Is it Lucio's?" he asked, sitting down beside me on the edge of the bed.

"Yes, it's his." The tears spilled over now, and I wiped at my cheeks uselessly. "I didn't know how to tell him. I didn't know if he'd even want this baby. And... his world is so dangerous. I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk them."

Michen sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Kate, do you know what this will do to him? He's been falling apart these past months, trying to find you. If he finds out like this—if he feels like you've kept this from him—he's going to lose it."

"I know!" I snapped, though my anger was more at myself. "I know, but I couldn't... I just couldn't. What if something happens to the baby? What if his enemies find out and use this against him? Against us?"

Michen shook his head, his voice firm now. "Lucio will do anything to protect the people he loves. Anything. You know that. And yes, he's made mistakes—huge mistakes—but this is something he deserves to know. Even if he doesn't always show it, he's a man who loves deeply. He loves you, Kate."

I bit my lip, my hands trembling. "I feel terrible for keeping this from him, Michen. But I just... I didn't know what else to do."

Michen softened slightly, reaching out to place a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Look, I get it. You were scared. But you need to be prepared. He's going to find out, one way or another. And when he does, you need to have an explanation ready."

I nodded silently, unable to meet his eyes.

Michen stood, kissing my forehead gently before heading to the door. "I'll support you, Kate. But just... think about what this is doing to him, too. He's not perfect, but he's been wrecked without you."

As he left, I sank back onto the bed, tears streaming down my face. How would Lucio react when he found out? Would he forgive me? Or would this push him further away?

I placed my hands on my belly, trying to soothe the child growing inside me. "I'm sorry, baby," I whispered. "I'm so sorry. I'm trying to protect you, but I don't know if I'm doing the right thing."

The question lingered in the air, unanswered.

Michen's POV:

After a long day out with the guys, I decided it was finally time to talk to Kate. We all missed her, but none more than Lucio. The man was spiraling. He hadn't been himself since she left—barely eating, never sleeping, and outright refusing to shower at times. It was driving everyone insane. He'd destroyed half the house in his fits of rage and desperation. We had to clear out for days just to let the dust settle and repair the damage. Now, with Kate back, I hoped things could finally calm down, though I knew they were far from over.

The house was quiet when I got in, and I assumed Kate was asleep. Deciding not to overthink it, I walked straight to her room and opened the door without knocking.

The sight before me stopped me in my tracks. Kate was standing there, visibly pregnant. I froze, my eyes widening as the reality of the situation hit me like a freight train. Her belly was unmistakable, even under the oversized coat she'd been wearing. I had wondered earlier why she seemed to be hiding herself under all those layers—Kate was never one to bundle up like that, even in the cold. Now I understood.

She turned to face me, her hand instinctively resting on her belly, her expression a mix of guilt and defiance.

I shut the door behind me and took a step closer, trying to process what I was seeing. "Kate... you're pregnant?"

She nodded, tears filling her eyes as she hugged herself protectively. "Yes."

My voice dropped to a softer tone. "Is it Lucio's?"

She sat down on the edge of the bed, looking away from me. "It is," she whispered. "But I couldn't tell him, Michen. I didn't know if he'd even want this baby. I was scared. What if he doesn't want us? What if he..." She trailed off, her voice breaking.

I sighed heavily, sitting down beside her. "Kate, you know Lucio. He's a lot of things, but he's not the kind of man to turn his back on his own child. He would've wanted to know."

Her tears began to fall, and she wiped them away with shaky hands. "I just didn't know how to tell him. And his world—it's dangerous. I didn't want to bring a baby into that. I didn't want to risk anything happening to them."

"I get it," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I really do. But do you have any idea what he's been going through without you? The man's been tearing himself apart for seven months, Kate. Not knowing if you were okay, not knowing if you were alive or dead—it's killing him. And now this?" I gestured to her stomach. "When he finds out you kept this from him, it's going to wreck him."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I didn't want to hurt him."

"Then you need to tell him," I urged. "Before he finds out on his own. You know how he is. He's not going to take this well if it doesn't come from you."

She looked at me with tear-streaked cheeks, her hands trembling. "I'm scared, Michen. What if he hates me for keeping this from him?"

I shook my head. "He doesn't hate you, Kate. He could never hate you. But you have to be honest with him. He deserves that much."

She nodded reluctantly, sniffling. "I'll tell him. Just... not yet."

I sighed, knowing this wasn't going to end well. "Alright. But don't wait too long."

I stood, kissing her forehead gently before leaving the room. My heart felt heavy. This was going to be a disaster if not handled carefully.

Downstairs, I found Lucio at the kitchen table, shoveling food into his mouth like a man starved. For the first time in months, he actually looked somewhat alive. Kate's presence was already doing wonders for him, though he didn't know the whole truth yet.

"Hey," I said, grabbing a drink and sitting across from him. "How's Kate?"

He looked up from his plate, his expression softening for a moment. "She's okay. Sleeping, I think."

"You doing alright, King?" I asked, testing the waters.

He shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. "I'll be fine once I know she's not going anywhere. I need her, Michen. I can't lose her again."

I hesitated, wondering if I should say anything about the baby. Instead, I changed the subject. "Any news on Carson?"

Lucio's jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the glass. "Still nothing. He's been sending taunting messages, but no real leads. He keeps saying he'll 'get what he wants' and that I'll never be happy."

I smirked. "Classic Carson. All bark, no bite."

Lucio chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "He'll slip up eventually. And when he does, I'll end it."

Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind us. We turned to see Kate entering the kitchen, still wearing her oversized coat. She kept her eyes down, avoiding Lucio's gaze as she rummaged through the fridge.

Lucio raised an eyebrow. "What's with all the weird food?"

She didn't even glance his way. "To eat. What else?" Her tone was curt, and she grabbed an odd assortment of items—pickles, ice cream, and some leftover pasta—before walking out of the kitchen.

Lucio stared after her, his expression a mix of confusion and something else I couldn't place. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly trying to piece things together.

"She's... eating a lot of weird stuff," he muttered.

I took a sip of my drink, suppressing a laugh. "Get ready, King. Things are about to get a whole lot weirder."