Chapter 523: You Want A Child With Me?
The Di Carpio family had fallen, but the affairs of the underground world were far from over.
Even so, Dominion wouldn’t deprive itself of a moment to breathe after resolving one problem.
Ashley, especially, had more personal matters to handle.
The moment she stepped out of Scott’s ward, the door slid shut behind her. She turned her head and spotted Lucian talking on the phone.
As though sensing her presence, Lucian looked in her direction and caught the brightness in her eyes.
"Send them to me later," he said before hanging up.
He strode toward his wife, slipping his phone back into his pocket. Instead of speaking immediately, he studied her expression.
"Did he answer?" he asked, watching the corners of her mouth curve into a slow smile.
That alone was enough for him to know that Scott had finally given her the truth.
"Lucian," she called softly, reaching for him.
Her arms wrapped around his frame as she rested her head against his chest. The smile that had appeared on her face seemed permanently cemented there.
Lucian’s expression softened as he embraced her and planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
"I’m glad for you," he whispered, releasing a deep breath as the tension left his shoulders.
Of course, they still had other problems to resolve.
Memphis was still out there, and his plans remained in motion. There were also others who wanted to bring down Dominion and threaten the peace they had been fighting to achieve.
But all of that could wait.
When the couple finally released each other, Ashley’s smile had already grown into a grin. Lucian lightly pinched her cheek.
"Happy?" he asked.
She nodded enthusiastically. "I wonder what Auntie Liza will say. I’m excited and nervous at the same time."
Lucian hummed and looked up, imagining Liza’s reaction. The thought made him smile before he returned his gaze to Ashley.
"She’ll be happy," he assured her.
"Hopefully." Ashley pursed her lips. "Although... it’s kind of awkward."
His brows rose, but Ashley didn’t elaborate. Lucian could only observe the subtle changes flickering across her face.
Meanwhile, Ashley was mentally practicing how to address Tommy. Should she call him Dad or Father? Either one felt awkward on her tongue, and every time she tried, she ended up falling back on what she had always called him.
Well, she had never truly called anyone Dad for most of her life.
As a child, she had called Marshal that, but she quickly learned she wasn’t allowed to.
"Damn it," she hissed, scratching her temple. "Why am I so weird?"
"Adjusting to change can feel strange," Lucian said as she looked up at him. "You know them. They’ll wait until you’re ready, so don’t rush yourself."
"Right?" Ashley chuckled and hugged his side. "Lucian, once we’re home, let’s..."
She trailed off when a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Lucian raised his brows and studied her expression. Mistaking her hesitation for something else, he smiled in satisfaction.
He nodded. "We’ll ask them to babysit Primo."
At the same time, Ashley blurted out, "Let’s take Primo out on a date."
For one suspended second, silence fell between them.
Ashley stared at Lucian, and Lucian stared back at her. His Adam’s apple bobbed as a faint—but unmistakable—flush crept across his face.
Ashley’s brows furrowed. Her lips parted, but before she could say anything, Lucian narrowed his eyes at her.
"Not a word, please," he warned.
Ashley pursed her lips and nodded, pretending to zip them shut. Lucian cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
Deep down, he had genuinely thought they were on the same page. But they were still two separate individuals, and their connection wasn’t always perfectly accurate.
"Hehe." Ashley giggled as she leaned against his side and hugged his arm. "After we take Primo out on a date, let’s have our own."
He cast her a sidelong glance. "Overnight?"
"The whole night until morning." She winked at him. "Also, I’ve been thinking..."
Ashley hesitated for a moment, weighing the pros and cons against everything happening around them.
"What is it?" he asked. "Talk to me."
"I don’t know if this is the right time, considering everything that’s going on, but... I’ve been thinking about it for a while now." She met his gaze squarely.
Lucian tilted his head, not expecting her next words to steal his breath.
"Should I have my contraceptive implant removed?"
During the early days of their marriage, Lucian and Ashley had agreed that she should undergo the procedure. Even though nothing had happened between them at the time, they were still a married couple.
Back then, Ashley had more or less viewed herself as his property. She didn’t want an unwanted pregnancy. In fact, she didn’t want children at all. She could barely take care of herself.
But allowing Primo into her life and becoming his mother had taught her many things.
Primo had made her want a child of her own—and made her want to give him a younger sibling.
As for Lucian, he had agreed to the procedure because he knew he didn’t have much time left. He didn’t want to burden her with a child after he was gone.
They had never truly discussed it again, but they were both always aware of the implant’s existence. Because of it, neither of them had expected a pregnancy, no matter how intense their sex life had become.
After a long silence, Lucian’s expression twisted with emotions she couldn’t quite decipher.
"You want... a child with me?"
Ashley smiled, but before she could answer, the door behind them opened. She glanced back and saw Tommy smiling at the sight of her.
Lucian, on the other hand, kept his gaze fixed on his wife.
The thought of Ashley carrying their child—and of Primo becoming an older brother—filled his mind. His expression softened as an overwhelming tenderness rippled through his heart.
"Do you have any other business here?" Tommy’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "If not, shall we go see Liza and Primo?"
Ashley beamed before turning to Lucian. When they looked back at Tommy, they nodded.
And so, the three of them left the hospital with the confirmation they had long been waiting for.
They drove to the neighborhood where Liza and Primo had been staying with Nolan, ready to break the news.
With Liza, Tommy, Nolan, Ashley, Lucian, and Primo gathered around the table, Tommy led the conversation until he finally reached the most important part.
Throughout it all, Liza listened in silence. Her eyes continued to widen until her breath caught in her throat.
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as she turned to Ashley.
Her tears quickly turned into sobs as she pulled Ashley into the tightest embrace she could manage, unable to contain the longing and affection she had carried for the daughter she once believed she had lost.