Dear Ex, No More Second Chances

Chapter3

Seven days passed by so fast, and Lucas still hadn't been the same since his abrupt and forced divorce from Leah. He had grown more cold and aloof after his family kicked Leah out of their home, with their insistence for him to marry Harper legally weighing heavily on him. However, Lucas had declined their demand, stating he'd only commit once he'd confirmed that Harper was truly carrying his child... In two weeks.

In the meantime, he focused on gathering evidence from that night, hoping it would liberate him from his current torment. The torment of living in the same house with a woman he now detested with every fiber of his being—the woman who had set him up. Yeah, Harper Moore. Even though they weren't officially wed yet, both their families had pressured Lucas to allow Harper to move in with him.

He had strongly opposed this arrangement, but his parents and the Moores cited that he needed to take care of Harper, as she was going through emotional turmoil because of the incident that had happened between them.

Lucas suspected Harper was behind this. He knew it was merely a ploy from her to get him to stick by her side while she plotted another evil. However, he was determined to take her down before she succeeded in her malicious plans.

"Good morning, babe," Harper called out to Lucas, who had just stepped down from the bottom staircase in his pristine, white mansion. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit, his dark hair slicked back, and he held a briefcase in one hand.

Lucas halted at the sound of her voice, his expression deadpan as usual as he turned to face her.

His expression was at odds with Harper's cheerful demeanor as she approached his side with a lunch bag. "Here you go, baby, I packed your lunch."

Lucas couldn't mask his contempt, his Stoic gaze straying to the bag Harper was extending toward him. The gesture brought back memories of Leah, who used to prepare his lunch every day before they went to work. Seeing Harper do the same thing stirred anger within him because, once again, he realized he'd been separated from Leah because of her.

He fought the impulse to slap the bag from her hand, as he sneered. "Don't think you've won, Harper. This isn't over yet. Making yourself get too comfortable in another woman's matrimonial home? Don't you have any shame? Stop getting ahead of yourself,"

Harper's demeanor shifted at his cruel words, her genial smile faltering as she withdrew her hand instinctively. She put on that 'victim’ look again, but Lucas saw through her guise.

"But I haven't done anything wrong, Lucas. I'm just a victim of circumstance as you are," she said sadly.

"A victim, you say? Then how the f**k did you manage to get that footage? There are no cameras in that room. Care to explain the math?" Lucas scoffed derisively and shook his head when she remained silent. "Enjoy it while it lasts, Harper. Because I'm getting rid of you soon,"

Her eyes widened with dread. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"

Lucas snarled. "You think I don't know about the little stunt you pulled that night? You f*****g drugged me!"

Harper's eyes darted between his and her fingers fidgeted. Lucas noticed her chest heave despite her attempt to remain composed.

"Stay out of my way, I won't warn you again." He struggled with the urge to curse at her, choosing to walk away instead because his patience and tolerance were starting to wear thin. He left without the lunch bag.

Just after Lucas exited the house, Harper's smile faltered and her eyes narrowed as she threw the lunch bag on the floor. Her mind momentarily snagged Lucas's discovery. f**k, he's going to find out the truth. She couldn't let that happen.

Brushing her thoughts aside, she pulled her phone from her apron pocket. She let out an irritated hiss as she punched in a number on her phone. Pressed the call button, and it didn't take long before a deep, masculine voice came through the device.

"What's up, baby?"

"It seems Lucas is still thinking about that b***h!" Harper's voice dripped with venom as she spoke into the device.

"Leah?"

"Who else?" Harper shot back, her frustration boiling over. "I want you to take care of it. I want her out of the picture for good! Her still being alive is forfeiting my every chance to get Lucas to focus on me! This facade is starting to bore me out! He always sees through it."

There was a brief silence before the voice on the other end responded. "Sure, I'll take care of it. But you know Leah is long gone. She's disappeared from the City."

"I doubt that. I'm sure she's still lurking around somewhere... Just f*****g find her and do the needful! Call me once the job is done!"

"Will do."

She was about to hang up when the voice interrupted her again, this time with a softer tone, "Baby,"

Harper expelled a sigh as she rolled her eyes. "What now, Jamie?"

"I miss you." The voice said. "I haven't seen you since that night. I did what you asked—I helped you with Lucas."

"Now is not the time, Jamie." Harper swallowed, her chest heaving slightly. "I have a lot on my plate."

"So, what? He's more important than us now? Come on, you don't even like him. I still don't understand why you chose to be with him. I know your family doesn't approve of me because I'm poor but still..."

"I'm hanging up now, Jamie."

"I got a dumb wolf tattoo done because of him, Harps. For your sake!"

"I'm hanging up," she repeated, her jaws clenching.

"You don't even like him!" he yelled, but the line beeped as Harper finally ended the call.

She expelled labored breaths, feeling overwhelmed by her emotions as she stood there for a moment.

Her heart racing anxiously, she lowered her gaze to her flat belly, cradling it affectionately as a lone tear slipped from her eye.

She whispered. "I'm sorry, little one, but your grandparents don't approve of me being with your father. But don't worry now, Mommy will do everything within her power to make sure a powerful man like Lucas Castillo becomes your dad, okay? Stay with me, baby. Everything is going to be alright. Can't wait to meet you."

'Only a matter of time now. Lucas will become my husband soon once he realizes I'm truly pregnant. He will believe the baby is his.' Harper thought to herself as she lifted her gaze, her expression growing stoic once again as she realized the obstacle on her path of getting what she wanted—Leah.

*****

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the City, in a stylish restaurant that merely housed a few couples who had come to enjoy the evening together, Leah Milton occupied one of the tables, paperwork clutched in her hand as her gaze lingered on it with a mix of disbelief and enthusiasm.

She still struggled to accept reality. She still struggled to believe the report she had received from the hospital earlier—A nurse had confirmed, after a medical test, that Leah was expecting a baby—Lucas's baby.

It still felt like a dream even though it had been two hours since she left the hospital with the news. She had pinched herself multiple times, wanting to wake from this dream, but each time she was reminded that it was reality—she was truly pregnant with her ex-husband's baby.

Leah still didn't know what to do with the revelation. It had been a week since she severed ties with Lucas after the divorce, disappearing to live low-key on the outskirts of the City while she plotted her next move. She struggled financially since she had no money, family, or friends to support her. But she'd been surviving on her weekly pay from the restaurant she's now working at; however, with the news of a baby coming, she felt slightly overwhelmed.

Leah's reverie was broken by the masculine figure approaching her table—the man she had actually been anticipating his arrival. Apparently, he had a solution to her dilemma. That's what he had told her when he contacted her for a meeting a few days ago.

Leah snapped back to reality and tightened her grip on the pregnancy report in her hand as her eyes met His striking blue orbs.

"Hello," the man smirked at her genially, adjusting himself in his chair. "We meet again, Miss Milton."

Leah swallowed a lump, her

Heart raced as she processed the intimidating presence of the millionaire CEO, Elias Logan.