Page 81 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal

The bathroom was mercifully empty. I locked myself in the farthest stall and read the instructions three times before following them with trembling fingers.

Then I sat on the toilet seat, staring at the little plastic indicator, and waited for my life to change.

Two minutes felt eternal. When the second line appeared—faint but unmistakable—I covered my face to stop myself from squealing—or puking.

I was pregnant with Lucian Cross's baby.

The tears came again, but these were different. Joy and terror mingled together, creating an emotional storm I couldn't navigate.

I pressed my hand to my stomach, marveling at the tiny life growing there.

Our child.

The baby we'd created together in stolen moments between his business trips and board meetings.

Part of me wanted to call him immediately, to share this miraculous news that would change everything between us.

But another part—the practical part that had kept me alive in corporate politics—knew this wasn't a conversation for phone calls or text messages.

I pulled out my phone, anyway, typing carefully.

Tessa 7:15 PM: When you have a chance, I need to talk to you about something personal. Nothing urgent, but important.

The response came within minutes.

Lucian 7:18 PM: Everything okay?

Tessa 7:15 PM: Yes. Better than okay. Just need to see you when your schedule allows.

I tucked the test into my purse and splashed cold water on my face again, trying to look normal when I rejoined Mom and Frank.

But as I opened the bathroom door, I found Mom standing there with worry written across her features.

"Tessie? You've been gone for twenty minutes. I was starting to worry."

My heart hammered against my ribs as I wondered what she'd seen, what she suspected.

But I managed a smile and took her arm. "Sorry. Long line. Did you find anything you liked?"

She looked up at me with confusion and concern etched on her brow, but I led her out of the bathroom, quietly tossing my evidence in the trash bin on the way past and keeping her chatting about cardigans so she didn't see what I was throwing away.

I had to remind myself that I wanted this. The baby, being a mother, having it be Lucian's baby simply so it would save me fifty grand on the IVF.

So how could I tell him I had what I wanted now and that I didn't need to keep having sex with him?

And how would I survive walking into work every day now if it destroyed me? Because I felt like it was going to destroy me.

There was no way he'd want to keep having sex with me anymore.

The stakes at the company were too high and Viktoria's angry meddling was making it too risky.

24

LUCIAN

When you have a chance, I need to talk to you about something personal. Nothing urgent, but important.

Tessa's message had been replaying in my mind all morning. I should have been there for dinner with her mother. She had asked me to, but I couldn't. Elena had called with what she deemed a "crisis" and I had to go.