Chapter 284: Vivienne's Secret

"You guys seem to have been having quite a lot of fun lately."

Luca glanced at Arabella, who was staring at her phone with an expression that shifted between amusement and mild surprise.

"Is that a problem?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Not at all."

Luca couldn't see the exact messages on her screen, but he could tell she was in a group chat with Vivienne and the others.

Arabella had never been the type to keep a large circle of friends. Seeing her genuinely enjoying herself with the others was enough to make Luca smile.

'When I get back to San Fierro, I'll introduce Amelia to everyone properly.'

...

In a restaurant in San Fierro, Naomi sat beside Vivienne, holding her hand across the table.

"Vivienne, are you really not going to tell Luca?"

Vivienne looked at her.

"About something this important?" Naomi's expression was filled with concern.

A few days earlier, Vivienne had realized her period was late. She'd initially dismissed it, but after a hospital examination, there was no longer any doubt.

She was pregnant.

Naomi had been with her when she received the news and had immediately wanted to call Luca.

Vivienne had stopped her. For now, only a handful of people knew. Even Luca's parents hadn't been told.

Vivienne was simply worried that someone might accidentally let the news slip before she could tell Luca herself. She lowered her gaze and gently rested a hand over her stomach.

"Maison Premier isn't some insignificant family," she said quietly. "Luca can handle them, but that doesn't mean we should give him another reason to be distracted."

There was warmth in her eyes as she looked down at the life growing inside her.

Of course she wanted to tell him.

She wanted to hear his reaction. She wanted to see his face when he realized they were going to have a child.

But things in Capital City were already complicated enough.

Vivienne had been following the news closely and keeping track of Luca's movements. She knew exactly how much pressure he was currently under.

If she weren't pregnant, she would have gone to Capital City without hesitation.

'I might not be able to solve anything for him, but at least I could be beside him.'

Naomi nodded slowly.

"Maybe you're right. I don't understand much about business, but even I know Maison Premier isn't an ordinary family."

She glanced around the table.

"They've got quite a reputation."

Sophie nodded in agreement.

"Exactly."

Then her gaze drifted toward Cecelia sitting beside her.

A faint trace of envy appeared in her eyes before she quickly looked away.

'Why hasn't it happened for me yet?'

Ever since Luca had returned to Ashford to deal with Daisy's situation, the two of them hadn't taken any precautions when they were intimate.

Sophie had quietly hoped that she might become pregnant as well. But so far, nothing had happened.

Vivienne noticed the change in her expression.

"Sophie, don't worry. It'll happen eventually."

Sophie forced a smile and nodded. She understood that pregnancy wasn't something that could simply be demanded. Still, she couldn't help looking forward to Luca's return.

'Then I'll just have to keep trying.'

...

Back in Capital City, Arabella sat beneath the pavilion and watched Luca practice boxing in the courtyard. A faint smile rested on her lips.

After a while, she locked her phone and placed it face down on the table.

"Luca."

He glanced toward her.

"I really want to graduate soon."

Luca wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked over. "Why the sudden rush?"

Arabella accepted the handkerchief he offered and shook her head. "Nothing."

She wasn't going to tell him. Not yet.

For most of her life, love, marriage, and children had seemed like distant concepts that belonged to someone else's world.

Then Luca had appeared.

She still remembered the first time they had crossed paths on the highway. It had been the first time she'd felt that kind of attraction toward a man. Not admiration. Not curiosity. Something deeper.

She had wanted to know him. She had wanted to be near him. And eventually, she had fallen completely in love with him.

Now, with the news that Vivienne was pregnant, another thought had quietly taken root in her mind.

She wanted a child too. A boy or a girl, she didn't care. As long as the child's father was Luca.

But that could wait. First, she needed to graduate.

She had the entire Windsor family behind her. She couldn't afford to let her personal feelings create unnecessary problems for them.

...

Five days had passed since Jack's engagement party. During that time, Maison Premier had become the subject of countless rumors.

Then came the news that Stephanie, Vincent's wife, had been found and brought back to the family.

Not long afterward, a photograph of the couple having dinner together appeared online.

They looked calm.

Almost affectionate.

The rumors quickly followed.

According to the prevailing story, Stephanie had apparently left the family home after an argument with Jack. Now, after Vincent had personally lowered his pride and apologized, the couple had reconciled.

When Captain Rico told Luca about it, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Maison Premier really knows how to clean up a mess."

Luca and the Windsor and Halloway families had all helped search for Stephanie. Yet somehow, Maison Premier had found her first.

'Interesting.'

...

That night, close to midnight, Luca was sound asleep when someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

His eyes opened.

Beside him, Arabella stirred groggily.

"What is it?"

Luca glanced at her half-asleep expression and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Go back to sleep. I'll see what's going on."

He didn't particularly enjoy being woken up at this hour.

But Sir Alfred wasn't the sort of person who would disturb him in the middle of the night without a good reason.

'If he's waking me up now, it must be urgent.'

Luca slipped out of bed and quietly closed the bedroom door behind him.

As he adjusted his shirt, he looked toward the butler.

"What happened?"

Sir Alfred stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"Sir, Vincent's wife has arrived."

Luca stopped.

"Stephanie?"

"Yes, sir."

"She came here?"

"She's waiting in the reception room."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

Luca's expression became thoughtful. Stephanie had secretly come to his residence in the middle of the night. That was strange enough.

Given the current situation between him and Maison Premier, Luca couldn't rule out the possibility of a trap.

"Did you search her?"

"Yes. The maid checked her belongings, and we've also activated the security cameras in the reception area."

Sir Alfred's expression remained serious.

"There's nothing suspicious."

Luca glanced back toward the bedroom.

Arabella was already asleep again.

"Alright."

He turned back to the butler.

"Let's go see what she wants."

The two men walked through the garden corridor and crossed two courtyards before arriving at the reception room.

The moment Luca entered, his gaze settled on the woman standing near the center of the room.

Stephanie wore a red dress.

She looked composed, but there was something strangely lifeless about her expression.

"Miss Stephanie," Luca said with a polite smile. "I believe this is our first time meeting. Welcome."

Stephanie turned toward him. Her eyes were dull, almost hollow.

"Mr. Hale. I've heard quite a lot about you."

"Please, sit." Luca gestured toward the sofa. "Bring her some tea."

The maid nodded and quickly prepared everything before leaving the room.

Throughout the exchange, Stephanie kept studying Luca. She had seen photographs of him before, including the ones of him with Arabella. But photographs hadn't done him justice. Luca was handsome in pictures. In person, he was considerably more striking.

'No wonder Arabella fell for him.'

Luca and Stephanie sat opposite each other.

The maid placed the tea on the table before quietly retreating with Sir Alfred.

Once the door closed, the room became silent.

Stephanie looked around.

"Your estate is beautiful." She spoke politely, almost mechanically. "You're very fortunate to live somewhere like this."

"Thank you."

Luca took a sip of tea. The flavor was light and refreshing, with a lingering fragrance. He placed the cup down.

"So, Miss Stephanie."

His eyes settled on her.

"What brings you here at this hour?"

His fingers tapped lightly against the table.

Once.

Twice.

Stephanie's expression changed.

The calm mask she'd been wearing finally cracked.

Pain surfaced in her eyes.

Her fingers curled tightly against her dress.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she slowly raised her head.

When she finally spoke, her voice was low and bitter.

"I want to cooperate with you, Mr. Hale."

Luca's eyes narrowed slightly.

Stephanie clenched her teeth.

"I want to make sure Maison Premier is destroyed."