My Twin And Faincé Betrayed me...So I Married His Rival

Chapter 13

*Elena's POV*

*Kon kon!*

The gentle knock from a maid made me open the door.

“Ma'am, dinner is ready,” she said politely. “Mr. Harrington insists it is important that you come down to eat with everyone.”

I had just finished my night bath and was feeling fresh in my comfortable silk robe. I nodded quietly. “Okay. I’ll be down in a minute.”

I changed into a simple loose dress that softly hid my bump and followed the maid downstairs. My stomach twisted the moment I saw the dining table. Liam and Andrea were already seated. Andrea looked perfectly put together, while Liam’s eyes lifted the second I appeared.

He raised his head and fixed his gaze on me. A small, warm smile touched his lips. That tiny smile made something flutter in my chest, and I couldn’t help letting out a little smile in return.

“Come join us, dear. The dinner is lovely,” Andrea said sweetly, but her eyes carried a cold edge that made my heart sink a little.

I nodded and took the empty seat across from Liam. The chef immediately served my plate, adding a generous portion of fresh fruits on the side.

I looked at the extra fruits curiously. “Why so many fruits tonight?”

The chef smiled warmly. “Mr. Liam specifically asked me to add plenty of fruits to your diet every day. He said it’s very important for the baby’s health and development.”

I turned my gaze to Liam. He had food in his mouth but nodded confidently. “Yes. Your diet should be healthy from now on, El.”

El?

Did he just give me a nickname? A warm blush crept up my cheeks. I felt my face heat up and quickly looked down at my plate, my heart beating a little faster. The way he said it felt so intimate, so caring, and it made my stomach flutter with emotions I wasn’t ready to name yet.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, my voice was soft and shy, filled with a mix of gratitude and nervousness.

Liam swallowed his food and continued gently, his tone sounding very caring and sincere. “We will both go register for antenatal care tomorrow morning. I already made the appointment.”

I was shocked. My eyes widened in surprise. He noticed immediately and smiled a little, tilting his head. “Is there a problem?”

I shook my head quickly, trying to hide how touched and emotional I was feeling. “No… nothing. I just…i didn’t expect that. You really thought about all this for me?”

A little romantic tension crackled in the air between us. His eyes lingered on mine a second longer than necessary, warm and protective. My heart skipped. For a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the room. The way he looked at me made my stomach flutter in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks again, and a soft, unexpected warmth spread through my chest. It was scary how safe he made me feel in that moment.

Liam kept smiling softly as he added, “I have also already registered us for couple therapy classes. Since we are having a baby, I thought it would be good for us to be mentally prepared together. We can learn how to support each other better through this journey.”

This time I couldn’t contain my joy. My face lit up with genuine excitement. “You did all this? For me… for us? You really planned all these things without me even asking?”

He smiled wider, his eyes gentle and sincere. “Yes. I want to do this right, Elena. For you and the baby. I know this situation isn’t normal, but I want you to feel safe and cared for. You’re not alone anymore. I want us to build something real for the baby, even if it starts as a contract.”

The happiness bubbling inside me felt so real and overwhelming. For the first time since the contract began, I felt seen. Cared for. Like someone was actually thinking about me and my child beyond just the agreement. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away, not wanting to cry in front of Andrea.

My voice came out a little shaky with emotion. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Liam. This means more to me than you know. After everything that happened… it feels good to have someone thinking about us like this.”

Liam’s smile softened even more. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m happy to do it. I want you to be comfortable here. This is our reality now, let us make the best of it and have enjoy it while it lasts.”

Before I could respond, Andrea threw her cutlery onto her plate with a loud clatter. The chair screeched loudly against the floor as she stood up abruptly.

“I just lost my appetite,” she said coldly, her voice was sharp with anger, before turning and heading upstairs without another word.