CEO’s Tears Over Pregnancy Test Discovery

Jamie was stunned, her shock coming in waves over a few sentences. "So, how did Noah become part of the family?"

"He's more like an adopted son of the Lucas family, though very few people know about it," Ben replied, his brows furrowing slightly. It was clear he had been kept in the dark about this, too.

Mr. Lucas had done it for one reason which was to give Ben a rival, a grindstone to sharpen his edge.

Jamie felt a flicker of concern. Putting herself in their shoes, she couldn't imagine discovering that someone she had been competing with for years had only been placed in her path as a tool for someone else's agenda. She would be furious. Anyone would.

The result? Neither Ben nor Noah could truly be considered the winner.

She was about to offer some comforting words when Ben spoke up, his tone surprisingly calm. "If this had happened in the past, I'd already be on my way to confront him. But now... oddly enough, I'm not angry."

"Why not?" Jamie's heart skipped a beat at his unexpected response, her curiosity slipping out before she could stop it.

Ben's gaze fixed on her, steady and unreadable, before he chuckled softly and looked away. "Because I no longer have a reason to be. What matters to me has changed."

was entirely on Jamie. Whatever his father did couldn't shake him anymore, unless it involved her. But Ben had resolved not to let that happen. A charged silence fell between them, so quiet that Jamie

do you remember what I said? I've given you plenty of time to think it

Jamie, it felt unfamiliar,

ago, she might have entertained such an idea, but the world's harsh realities and the one

again, reentering

a loss

but calm. "I'm not asking for much,

the intensity

felt like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to fly

then... just give me a little more

QUMS

already given you plenty," Ben said, his tone edged

face softening. "Fine. Go ahead and take advantage of my feelings for you. I've already waited this long. What's a

leaving Jamie