"Fine, I will not marry him," Rachel finally said with a pout.
"That's good to hear. Now try to sleep, baby. He'll leave after some time," Bella said softly.
Rachel lay down and, within minutes, drifted off to sleep.
"So, I'm an old man… huh?"
Bella froze. Wait… what? Her eyes widened at the sudden voice behind her. For how long had he been standing there?
She turned around slowly, only to find Lucas leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, one brow raised. His face was unreadable, but the sharp glint in his eyes demanded an answer.
"I… I'm… I was…" she stammered, completely losing the ability to form a coherent sentence.
Lucas sighed, and she knew that sound too well—it meant trouble. He began walking toward her, and she instinctively took a step back.
"Y-you can talk from there," she blurted, waving a hand nervously.
Because every time he came close, her brain decided to stop working—and her heart started sprinting.
But him being Lucas Costanzo, he ignored the hint completely.
Bella kept stepping back until her knees hit the bed. Seriously, what is it with him and cornering me?
Lucas stopped only when his face hovered a mere foot away from hers. Then—just to torture her further—he leaned even closer.
Bella lost her balance and fell back with a soft thump. Thank God Rachel was sleeping on the other side; otherwise, she would have landed right on her tiny hand.
She quickly glanced at her daughter—still fast asleep—and then turned back to face the man standing so close she could feel the heat of his breath.
Lucas's gaze locked with hers, dark and knowing, and instantly, her mind betrayed her with memories of that night. The way he'd looked at her. The way—
No, stop thinking!
"Old man, huh?" His voice dropped low, that thick accent rolling smoothly off his tongue. "Look at you. This old man can make you blush again and again without even touching you, Bella."
Her heart skipped a beat—or maybe several. The sound of his voice alone sent a flutter through her stomach and definitely not just there—her heart, obviously.
"I didn't mean to call you that," she rushed to explain, words tumbling out faster than her breath. "I was just— I told Rachel you were too old for her. I said it so she'd understand. I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings."
Lucas's lips curved into a small, amused smile. "So that's what this was about," he murmured. "I accept your apology. Besides, I'm quite happy to know you think I'm a caring person with a good heart."
"Huh?" she blinked.
"Don't 'huh' me," he teased. "Didn't you just agree with Rachel on that?"
Bella huffed, crossing her arms. "Yeah, right. You're good and kind. Now will you please stop patting my head? I'm not Rachel."
"Oh, sure," he said, clearly entertained, and withdrew his hand. Then, as if nothing had happened, he offered her his hand to help her up.
She took it and stood, still flustered.
Before either could say anything else, Lucas's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting slightly.
"I have to take this," he said, straightening up.
Bella nodded. "Go ahead."
He gave her a faint smile before turning and leaving the room.
***
Lucas's POV
When I walked out of the bathroom earlier, I hadn't expected to overhear that conversation.
Old man? Really?
I stood there, towel in hand, listening as she tried to convince Rachel not to marry me.
"But he's good," Rachel had argued.
And Bella's reply? "Can't you understand? He's an old man."
My jaw nearly dropped. Old man? Did she forget how many times—no, no, focus, Lucas. There's a child here.
I waited until Rachel had fallen asleep before confronting her.
"So, I'm an old man, huh?"
The look on her face was priceless—pure shock and guilt. For a moment, I wondered if she thought I'd heard everything which I had.
She stammered, her words tripping over each other. Cute.The same woman who dared to call me old was now too nervous to speak.
I sighed and stepped toward her. She immediately began backing away until her knees hit the bed. Predictable.
When she fell, I couldn't help but smirk. The sight of her flustered, cheeks flushed, reminded me of that night. She still blushes the same way.
"Old man, huh?" I murmured, leaning closer. "Look at you. This old man can make you blush again and again without even touching you, Bella."
Her eyes widened, and that was all the proof I needed.
She rushed to explain herself, her words coming out in a nervous tumble. I almost laughed at how earnestly she tried to justify it.
Before I realized it, my hand had already reached up to pat her head. It was unintentional, instinctive—she just looked so adorably flustered, like a small bunny.
To cover the slip, I said, "I accept your apology. Besides, I'm glad you think I have a good heart."
Her brows knitted. "Huh?"
"Didn't you agree with Rachel about that?"
She sighed. "Yeah, yeah. You're good and kind. Now stop patting my head—I'm not Rachel."
I chuckled quietly and offered her a hand to help her up. She took it, her fingers soft and hesitant in mine.
Then my phone rang—Mark's name flashing on the screen. I frowned, knowing it couldn't wait.
"I need to take this," I told her.
She nodded, still a little pink in the cheeks.
I gave her a final look before leaving the room, a small smile tugging at my lips.
Old man, huh? We'll see about that, Bella.