DIVORCE CHAOS: BACK TO MY EX'S BED.

NOT BITTER. NOT SWEET

Lucien sat beside Aurelia’s hospital bed, his jaw had clenched a thousand times and hands restless against his knees as he awaited the doctor. The steady beep of the monitors filled the silence.

Aurelia lay still, her face paler than he had ever seen it. A thin IV line went into her arm. Lucien’s fingers curled into fists as he exhaled sharply, trying to calm himself. Finally stepped in, glancing between Lucien and Aurelia on the bed.

"She’s severely dehydrated," the doctor said, flipping through the chart before Lucien could ask. "Her blood sugar was dangerously low, and her iron levels aren’t great either. It looks like she hasn’t been eating or resting properly." He sighed.

"Frankly, I’m surprised she lasted this long before collapsing."

Lucien’s lips pressed into a hard line. "And the baby?"

The doctor’s face softened. "Stable for now. But if she keeps neglecting her health like this, it won’t stay that way."

Lucien exhaled, rubbing his face with both hands. That was the keypoint. She was okay for now so was the baby. His grip tightened around the armrest of the chair.

"Make sure she eats, rests, and stays hydrated. She needs supervision someone to ensure she’s taking care of herself. This pregnancy is taking a toll on her body."

Lucien nodded.

As the doctor left. A few minutes later, Aurelia stirred, her eyelashes fluttering. Lucien leaned forward, waiting, his breath caught in his throat.

She blinked, her gaze hazy before focusing on him. For a moment, confusion clouded her face before the realization sank in. "What...? Why am I here?" Her voice was hoarse.

"f**k, Aurelia. You scared me," he said, his voice tight. His fingers raked through his hair. "What the hell were you thinking?" He took a deep breath, "You passed out from exhaustion and stress..."

Her lips parted, but no words came. She glanced away, guilt flickering across her face. "I was fine, okay. I didn't— Exhaustion? Where's that coming from?" She sighed, rolling her eyes even though she knew it was her fault.

She had climbed the gallery stairs a million times today, helped carrying some paintings. Even when she felt her body tired. She didn't stop, she pushed further, and barely had anytime to rest or even take anything.

"You barely touched the berries or the food I made you. Is this about me?"

Her chest rose and fell, darting towards the table where the berries sat. "No. It's not."

Lucien scoffed, shaking his head. "You hate me enough to risk your health over it? Enough to endanger the baby? Do you want this baby?"

Her jaw clenched. "It’s not." She swallowed. "It’s not about you."

His eyes darkened. "Then why?"

She didn’t answer. Lucien reached for her hand, his touch warm, grounding. "Lia—"

She jerked away as if burned. "Don’t, Lucien." Her voice wavered, but her glare was sharp. "I have a job. You don’t expect me to sit around all day just because I’m pregnant. Why don’t you do it?"

A muscle in his jaw clenched. Her rejection stung more than he wanted to admit. "Fine. I will, if that makes you happy." His voice softened. "But you’re coming home with me."

Her eyes flashed. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He said, firmly. "You can hate me all you want, but I’m not letting you do this to yourself."

She let out a breathless laugh with a hint of disbelief. "You don’t get to decide that."

"Actually, I do." His stare didn’t waver. "Because you’re carrying my child. And if you won’t take care of yourself, then I will."

"I will! I don't—" She said with her gaped wide eyes.

"Rest," he cut her off, his voice gentle but as cold as his gaze. "We’ll argue later. At home."

Her pulse pounded. "No! I’m not going home with you. What do you think everyone is going to say?"

His lips curled into something almost amused, but his eyes held something darker. "Does that bother you?" His voice dipped. "You’re pregnant. With my child. Yet that bothers you, Princess? What do you think they’ll say if they find out?"

Her mood darkened. "Don’t f*****g call me that," she snapped with a lower tone.

"I’ll call you whatever the f**k I want." He dropped a small container beside her. "Eat. You don’t want to pass out again."

She pushed the container away. "I can’t. I don’t want to."

Lucien exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose before his expression shifted to something lighter. His voice sounded like a melody. "Please, princess. You need to eat something."

Her gaze flickered away. "I can’t," she muttered, fists curling at her sides. "It’s hard for me to digest anything."

His stomach twisted. "Nothing? Anything at all?" He asked as desperation crept into his voice. "Please, baby. Just try, huh?"

He opened the container, taking a berry from inside, flashing a smile as if he was trying to lure her. "You’ll like this, I promise. It’s not too sweet, not too bitter either." His voice dipped into something softer and tempting.

Aurelia watched him take the first bite with his eyes glued to hers. Then the second. His eyes flickered to her belly before he lifted another berry to her lips, almost like a mother luring a child to eat.

Her lips tightened. Then, after a pause, she parted them.

The moment she took the berry from his fingers, something in Lucien’s chest eased, relief washing over him. "See? You’re okay, right?"

She swallowed slowly, hesitantly. "Yes. It’s fine."

His brow lifted. "Then let’s try another."

This time, she opened her mouth without hesitation. One after another, she ate, until only one remained in the container.

Lucien didn’t move. The coldness that was once in his eyes had vanished, he watched her fingers fiddling as she chewed carefully. Then, to his surprise, she reached for the last berry herself and popped it into her mouth, rolling her eyes at him before looking away.

He let out a deep, shaky breath. His legs ached from kneeling beside her for so long, but he didn’t care.

"It’s late," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "Won’t you leave?"

Lucien rose, stretching slightly before grabbing a glass of water and handing it to her. "No. How could I?"

For a moment Aurelia hesitated, fingers brushing against his as she took the glass. His lips curled into a triumphant smile.

Aurelia’s gaze followed him as he strode across the room, stopping near a black bag she hadn’t noticed before and then, suddenly his shirt was gone.

Aurelia choked slightly, gripping the cup tighter as her eyes flickered over him.

His body was a masterpiece. So smooth, his muscles shifting as he moved. Her gaze held the ridges of his abdomen, his boarded chest, his arms. Her breath caught as he reached for his waistline.

"What the f**k are you doing?" she blurted, eyes darting away but it wasn't for long.

Lucien turned, stood only in black boxers that clung to him in ways that made her pulse race. The fabric hugged his hips, his thighs, the outline of his bulge pressing against the material as if they were suffocating.

"I’m changing for the night," he said smoothly. Her darting eyes almost made him giggle.

Heat flared in her cheeks. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. He stood firmly as if he was trying to seduce her which was slowly working.

Lucien smirked. "Like what you see?"

Her gaze snapped to his, filled with fury. Warning burned in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

Aurelia spluttered a few cough before replying. "You’re insane," she said flatly, rolling her eyes, but the way her throat bobbed when she swallowed didn’t go unnoticed.

Lucien’s smirk deepened, quietly watching her tremble slightly as the silence stretched between them. Aurelia then shook her head, turning away.

As the silence stretched. She slowly turned around, hoping to take a peep, but her throat tightened, Lucien had moved closer. Much closer.

Now, she had a clearer view of him and sheer heat of his body radiating against her own. Aurelia remained motionless, her eyes flickering back and forth his body.

The way the small piece hung low on the sharp V of his waist, the way his broad shoulders flexed with even the smallest motion. She was suddenly high on adrenaline. She felt heat blooming between her legs.

Unconsciously, she licked her lips, her gaze flickering to his. Lucien’s gaze darkened. Every minute felt like a ticking bomb.

"Lucien." Her heart slammed against her ribs.

He leaned in slightly, close enough that she could feel his breath against her skin. "Yes, princess?"