Chapter 53

Serena's POV

I checked my phone one last time as I walked through the hospital corridor. Lucas had texted me several times last night - never directly asking me to pick him up, but dropping enough hints that even I couldn't miss his intention. The messages had that careful, almost casual tone I'd come to recognize when he wanted something but was too proud to ask outright.

When I reached his room, I found Miles busy with discharge paperwork, his efficiency evident in his quick movements. And there was Lucas, sitting perfectly still on the small sofa by the window.

I paused in the doorway, caught off guard by his appearance. Gone was his usual sharp business attire, replaced by a light blue button-down and khaki pants that somehow made him look younger, more approachable. But I didn't miss the paleness of his face or the slight tension in his shoulders that suggested he wasn't feeling as well as he wanted to appear.

"You came," Lucas said simply, his deep voice carrying across the room. His eyes met mine with an intensity that made me want to look away.

"I was in the area," I replied, aiming for casual but probably missing by a mile. "Ready to go?"

Miles glanced between us and suddenly became very interested in his phone. "I need to drop these forms at the nurses' station," he announced, heading for the door. "I'll meet you both at the car."

The silence that followed his exit felt heavy with expectation. Lucas hadn't moved from his spot on the sofa, and I realized with a mix of exasperation and something else I didn't want to examine too closely that he was waiting for me to help him up.

I crossed the room, trying to project an air of professional detachment. "Need a hand?" I noticed that for a moment, a smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.

The moment I got close enough, Lucas shifted his weight, effectively forcing me to either step back or support him. I chose the latter, almost stumbling as he leaned heavily against me. He was solid muscle, and I could feel the warmth of him even through his shirt.

"You're heavier than you look," I muttered, adjusting my stance to better support him.

"Must be all that last food," he replied, his breath brushing my ear and sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

The walk to the car was an exercise in maintaining composure. Lucas seemed in no hurry to reduce how much he was leaning on me, and I was acutely aware of every point of contact between us. By the time we reached the car, my heart was racing, and I wasn't sure it was entirely from the physical exertion.

The drive started in silence, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioning. I kept my eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead, though I could feel Lucas's presence beside me like a physical weight.

"Miss Sinclair," Miles spoke up from the frontal seat, his tone carefully neutral. "I saw in the news that you signed Eleanor Yates as your brand's new ambassador."

I tensed slightly. "Yes, that's right."

"She's perfect for fashion brands," Miles continued. "Beautiful, sophisticated. Don't you think so, sir?"

I couldn't help glancing at Lucas, trying to read his expression in my peripheral vision.

"She has good genes," Lucas replied, his tone maddeningly neutral.

Good genes. The words echoed in my mind, sparking unwanted questions. How well did he know Eleanor to comment on her genes? Had they already introduced themselves to their parents? I tried to push away the thought, but it lingered like an unwelcome shadow.

As we pulled up to the impressive gates of the Harrington estate, I noticed Walter stepping out onto the front steps. It struck me then - he actually lived here. During my previous visit, Lucas must have asked him to stay elsewhere temporarily. The realization made me uncomfortably aware of how much preparation had gone into that evening.

Before I could dwell on it further, the car door flew open, and two excited voices called out in unison.

"Mommy!" Milo and Stella rushed forward, their faces bright with excitement. "Dad wouldn't let us visit you at the hospital!"

"Hey, slow down," Lucas cautioned, but his voice held more amusement than warning.

I caught Lucas's eye over their heads, noting his slight smile. "Your daddy needed to rest and heal," I explained, running my hand through Milo's hair. "If you were there, he'd be too busy making sure you were okay."

Stella pouted. "That's not why. He didn't want us to monopolize you."

Heat crept into my cheeks as Lucas chuckled. "Come inside," he said, steering us toward the door. "It's getting cold."

At the entrance, Milo proudly pointed to a pair of slippers. "Look! We got these for you. Daddy helped us pick them."

The slippers were elegant but cozy, in a soft shade that matched the house's décor. My throat tightened as I remembered Lucas's slippers at my place.

"Thank you," I managed, trying not to read too much into it. "They're perfect."

"Come on, we'll show you around properly this time!" Stella grabbed my hand, while Milo took the other. "Dad said you might stay over sometimes, so you need to know where everything is."

"I - what?" I stumbled slightly, caught off guard by their assumption.

"Your room is next to ours," Milo continued enthusiastically. "Though Dad said you'd probably stay in his room instead."

"Milo!" Lucas's voice carried a rare note of embarrassment. "That's enough."

I felt my face flame. The twins' innocent comments made everything feel too real, too intimate. This wasn't just about Lucas and me anymore - there were two children involved, children who seemed to have already accepted me into their lives.

Over dinner, the conversation flowed more naturally, though I remained hyper-aware of every interaction. The twins kept up a steady stream of chatter about school and their activities, while Lucas maintained a careful balance between managing their enthusiasm and making me feel welcome.

Then Stella asked the question that would change everything.

"Mommy, are you staying tonight? Please say yes! We could have breakfast together tomorrow!"

I nearly choked on my grape, and Lucas quickly handed me a glass of water. "Not tonight," he said smoothly. "But perhaps in the future, when the time is right."

"You mean after you get married?" Milo asked innocently.

The word 'married' hit me like a physical blow. Marriage had never been part of my plan - not after everything that had happened with Ian. And certainly not with someone like Lucas Harrington, whose world seemed to operate on a different plane from mine.

"That's enough questions for now," Lucas intervened.

On the drive home, I knew I had to address it. We had let things go too far, allowed the children to develop expectations that might never be met. It wasn't fair to them.

"I need to say something," I began, my voice steadier than I felt. "I know I have a past, but I'm not the kind of person who takes relationships lightly. You're... you're Lucas Harrington. You could have someone... someone without complications, someone who fits into your world naturally."

I forced myself to continue, even as I felt his tension beside me. "I think it's better if we stay friends. I can't give you what you deserve, and I won't let myself be a source of disappointment for those children."

Before he could respond, I asked him to stop the car. We were near enough to my building that I could walk the rest of the way. As soon as the car stopped, I got out, leaving him sitting there with an expression I couldn't - wouldn't - read.

As I walked away, I told myself this was the right decision. In the days that followed, I threw myself into work at StarRiver, grateful for the distraction. Lucas didn't contact me, and I convinced myself that meant he understood and agreed with my decision.