Coco could not recognize the stranger, but she was definitely not a familiar face. From her question, she might be acquainted with Lucas."I am," Coco replied. "And you are?"The stranger took off her mask, and Coco immediately recognized her as Jayce Tyler! Jayce had risen to fame about ten years ago. Although no longer as popular as before, she was still active on TV in supporting roles."Hello," Coco greeted her. "You must be Jayce. I've seen your TV shows."It was not surprising to meet celebrities in this particular hospital. After all, it was the hospital where most celebrities and high-profile people would come, especially for the obstetrics and gynecology clinic. "Nice to meet you," Jayce greeted back, looking at Coco's already obvious belly. She sighed a little, "I never thought I'd see you here."Coco puzzled, "What?""Nothing. I've always wanted to talk to you," Jayce said."When I first met Lucas, I thought he'd marry someone of high status, intellectual, or with h
Lucas' face darkened as he thought of his history of dating Jayce. Then, he rushed toward the restroom, fearing that Jayce would hurt Coco.Lucas had provided Jayce with plenty of opportunities and resources while they were dating, but Jayce's career had gone slightly downhill after they broke up, and her popularity had gradually declined. Jayce had a considerably good life even though it had been years since her peaceful breakup with Lucas. Logically speaking, Jayce had no reason to hurt Coco, but Lucas lost his judgment because of fear.Worried about Coco, Lucas rushed into the restroom just in time to see Jayce reaching out to Coco near the sink. He rushed forward, protecting Coco behind him. "Jayce! What are you up to?!" Jayce froze, her hand still hanging in mid-air. "Lucas?! W-Why are you here?""What are you doing to Coco?!" Lucas questioned again."I..." Jayce was barely coherent, still confused by Lucas' sudden entrance.Coco poked her head from behind, calming him do
"Relax. I'm fine," Coco comforted him. Throughout her pregnancy, she realized he was constantly anxious and on the verge of something."You were talking about me?" Lucas asked again."Yes. What else could we talk about?" The only topic Coco and Jayce had in common was him."Do you want to know more about my past? Just ask me. I'll tell you everything," promised Lucas."Anything?" she asked."Anything," he promised. "Coco, I'll never keep any secret from you." Lucas would expose all of himself and present everything she wanted to know without hiding anything. Coco's heart warmed. Then, she remembered what Jayce had told her earlier. "I'm so envious of you. Lucas must have married you because he really loves you.""Although I dated him for three months, I didn't feel like we were actually dating. We didn't have any physical contact, not even an embrace or holding hands. There was nothing intimate in the relationship.""I think his other ex-girlfriends must have gone through th
Coco loved her husband more than ever, and she wondered if her love would only grow more."It's my pleasure, Coco. I'm happy you love me more," Lucas told her, the soft crooning note in his voice almost making her melt.After the checkup at the hospital, Coco and Lucas went to a restaurant near the hospital to have breakfast. Lucas accompanied Coco as she ate, occasionally wiping the corners of her mouth with a tissue."I want to go to the nearby mall to buy some baby stuff," she requested when she was done with breakfast."Isn't everything ready?" Lucas arched a brow."Mom, Dad, and Leia bought those for the baby. I wanted to get the baby something myself," Coco said.Her in-laws had bought so much stuff for the baby before the baby was even born. Coco initially thought the nursery was too big, but it felt a little cramped with all sorts of baby clothes and toys piling up in the nursery. She even wondered if her in-laws would try to grab everything from the mom-and-baby store af
When Coco was done, she handed the notebook to Lucas with a big smile on her face."Your turn.""Okay." Lucas grabbed the pen and began writing in the notebook. "Baby, I'm glad you're coming into Mommy and Daddy's life. If you want to know why you were born, you're born because Daddy loves Mommy so much and made you.""Meeting your mom is the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. Because of her, we're going to be a happy family. We don't know if you're a boy or a girl yet, but we'll raise you with love…"Lucas wrote his thoughts seriously, carefully recording his happiness and anticipation for the little one. Wanting the child to know how much he loved Coco, he would read the notebook with his child one day and tell his love story!-Everyone looked forward to the coming New Year. Contrary to those busy getting work done before the holiday season, Coco had so much free time it made her feel panicky.Coco was done with her current serialization and had plenty of time to rest
"I got a cramp at noon," Coco replied."Which leg?" Taking off his jacket, Lucas rolled up his sleeves and sat beside Coco. "My left leg."Lucas carefully rested Coco's left leg on his knee, his fingers massaging her leg."How is it?""Gently… Gently… It's so sore.""How about now?""Almost there. Move a little higher.""Here?""Yeah."Minnie was so stunned to see this. She never thought she would ever see Lucas give someone a massage in her lifetime. Lucas had always appeared to be a cool and stoic man. What happened to his image? He was so good at taking care of Coco!It took Coco a while to notice the shocked expression on her friend's face. She blushed, realizing it was the first time Minnie had witnessed this although Lucas had done this many times."Um… My legs tend to cramp as the pregnancy progresses. He'd give me a massage whenever he's free," Coco explained."T-That's nice," Minnie stammered. "Lucas seems very skillful at this."Skillful? Coco pondered, her f
Coco blinked. "I'll accompany you to the study later. You can focus on your work while I draw you," she suggested.Lucas arched an eyebrow."Don't worry about it," she reassured. "I can work with this much. You don't have to stay still while I draw you. Besides, you won't move much when you work, and… It's not like I'm taking the art to a competition or anything…""I just want to draw you," Coco said pleadingly."Alright. Do as you please. Just don't tire yourself," Lucas warned."I know," she replied.After dinner, the couple went into the study together.Lucas sat at his desk, busy with his work. Grabbing her drawing tools, Coco set up her easel in front of the sofa as she got ready to draw Lucas.Coco had not studied art in college. Only when she began to draw comics did she start going to classes, learning to draw systemically. As a fast learner, Coco was especially talented and learned quickly. The teacher who had taught her sketching thought it was a waste that she had
Lucas wondered if she knew she was the most tempting woman he had ever met. He got up and walked over to her. "Don't look at me like that. I may lose control.""I-I'm not looking at you in any particular way," Coco stammered. She swore she did not mean to seduce him. "The way you're staring at me now… It's a test for me," Lucas explained. "If you want me to wear less, pick another time, okay? Not when I'm working.""You can draw me any way you want. Even if it means dedicating myself to art."Coco's heart started to pound so loud and hard in her chest, her face turning hot and red. Just imagining Lucas doing whatever she wanted made her heart flutter like crazy.Dedicate himself to art? Could it be what she thought it was? "D-Do you mean… You'll let me draw you in… Your naked form?" Coco asked literally."If you want to. There's nothing wrong with that," he replied, almost giving Coco a nosebleed.Coco's eyes lingered on his beautiful torso, firm muscles, chiseled chest, an