25. Luca

CHAPTER 25

LUCA

T he early morning light filters in through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Hailey’s sleeping form. She looks ethereal, her chestnut hair fanned out across the pillow, dark lashes kissing her cheeks, full lips parted slightly in slumber. Peaceful. Serene.

I prop myself up on one elbow, drinking in the sight of her, committing every detail to memory. The graceful curve of her neck, the smattering of freckles dusting her nose and cheeks, the gentle rise and fall of her chest with each even breath.

My heart swells with a fierce surge of protectiveness, of awe that this incredible woman is carrying my child. Our child. Emotion clogs my throat and I have to blink back the sudden sting of tears.

I still can’t quite believe it, that Hailey and I have created a life together. A perfect blend of the two of us. It’s overwhelming and humbling and terrifying in the best possible way.

For the first time, I really question what I’ve been doing. Is it right to keep Hailey at arm’s length? Perhaps there is a way that I can fulfill my duty to the crown and have her take center stage in my life at the same time.

Reverently, I reach out to rest my palm against the still-flat plane of her stomach, imagining the tiny spark of life growing there. Hailey stirs at my touch, eyelids fluttering open, hazy with the remnants of sleep.

“Good morning,” I whisper.

“Good morning,” she murmurs.

“There is something I…” I swallow, suddenly nervous. “I wish to talk to you about.”

For a moment, she seems content, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she meets my gaze. But then awareness seeps in and her expression shifts, becomes uncertain, almost pained.

“Luca, I…” She swallows hard, dropping her eyes. “About last night… I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have let things go so far. It was a mistake.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Is she being serious? Here I am, about to tell her that I was wrong, that we should be together, and suddenly she feels different? What did I do wrong?

“Hailey…” I start, but she shakes her head, sitting up and pulling the sheet tightly around her chest like a shield. Like she needs to protect herself from me.

“No, just… let me finish, please.” She takes a shaky breath, finally meets my eyes again. Hers are shimmering with unshed tears. “I know we got caught up in the moment, and it was… it was amazing, being with you like that. But we can’t… I can’t do this, Luca.”

Her voice cracks on my name, and it’s all I can do not to pull her into my arms, to soothe away the hurt and uncertainty. I force myself to remain still, though, to hear her out.

“This pregnancy, it’s already complicated things so much.” She rests a protective hand over her stomach, just as I had done minutes before. “Sleeping together again… it’ll only make everything harder, messier. For both of us.”

I want to argue, to tell her that she’s wrong, that last night was the start of something real and lasting and worthwhile. That what we have goes beyond just physical attraction.

But I can’t seem to find the words — can only watch helplessly as she slips out of bed, out of my reach, tugging her discarded sundress over her head as she goes.

“I think… I think it’s best if we just focus on the baby right now,” she says softly, back to me as she moves towards the adjoining bathroom. “And try to keep our relationship strictly platonic from here on out.”

The door closes behind her with a quiet click, and I slump back against the pillows, scrubbing a hand over my face.

Fuck.

What the hell do I do now?

I swear I almost hear Simon’s voice in my head, my best friend telling me to get up and go after her. To make sure that she doesn’t get away this time.

So I take a deep breath, trying to gather my courage. I can’t let her walk away thinking last night was a mistake. That this — us — isn’t worth fighting for.

Sliding out of bed, I pad over to the bathroom door and rap my knuckles gently against the wood. “Hailey? Can we talk? Please?”

There’s a long pause, and for a moment I think she might refuse. But then the door cracks open and she peers out at me, eyes guarded. “Luca, I don’t think?—”

“I want to be with you,” I blurt out, cutting her off. Her eyes go wide with surprise. “Not just because of the baby. But because of how I feel about you. About us.”

I reach for her hand, relieved when she doesn’t pull away. “I know the timing is terrible, and that my position complicates things immensely. But I’m willing to figure it out, to find a way to make this work. If you are.”

She bites her lip, clearly torn. “What about your duties? The expectations? You’re going to be king, and…”

“And I still will be. But I want you by my side when I am . You, me, and our child — a family.” I squeeze her fingers. “I’m not saying it will be easy. We’ll need to be discreet for now, keep things under wraps until the right moment. But I’m all in, Hailey. I just need to know if you are too.”

Her eyes search mine for a long moment. Then, slowly, she nods, a hesitant smile pulling at her lips. “Okay. I’m in. Let’s do this.”

Joy explodes in my chest and I tug her into my arms, sealing my mouth over hers in a heated kiss. She melts against me instantly, arms winding around my neck as she matches my passion with her own.

When we finally break apart, we’re both breathless, grinning like idiots. I press my forehead to hers, hands spanning her waist.

“Meet me for breakfast in an hour?” I murmur, thumbs tracing circles on her hips. “I just need to change and take care of a few things first.”

She hums in agreement, stealing one last quick kiss before playfully shoving me towards the door. “Go. Before I drag you back to bed.”

Chuckling, I obey, feeling lighter than I have in weeks as I stride down the hall towards my own suite. My mind is already racing with plans for our future, a giddy bubbling in my veins…

Until I round the corner and nearly collide with Stefan. My chief advisor takes one look at my rumpled appearance and his brows shoot up knowingly.

“I take it you’ve made up with Ms. Warren, then?” he drawls.

I open my mouth to confirm, but he holds up a staying hand. “Just… be careful, sir. This infatuation could lead you both into very dangerous waters if you’re not exceedingly cautious.”

Then he’s gone, sweeping past me before I can argue.

A tight knot forms in my gut, some of my earlier euphoria fading. Because, as much as I hate to admit it…

He’s not wrong.

I catch up to Stefan just as he’s about to descend the grand staircase, grabbing his elbow. He turns, one brow arched expectantly.

“Hailey and I are together now,” I say in a low voice, glancing around to ensure we’re alone. “But given her… condition… and everything else, we need to keep it quiet for the time being. No one can know yet.”

His expression shifts from mild surprise to disapproval in a heartbeat. “With all due respect, sir, I don’t believe that’s wise. Ms. Warren doesn’t strike me as the type of woman to be content with being someone’s dirty little secret.”

I bristle at his wording, jaw clenching. “It’s not like that. She understands the delicate nature of the situation. The public scrutiny, the gossip rags just waiting for a juicy scandal…”

“And you think shelving her is the answer?” he counters. “How long do you realistically expect her to put up with being hidden away like some shameful mistake? She will tell everyone, and then…” He shakes his head, almost looking sad.

I swallow hard, hating the conflict in me. Stefan is wrong… right?

Then again, he was my father’s chief advisor for years. He’s seen the wave of politics over many decades. He knows what he’s talking about; he knows this country.

“It’s only temporary,” I snap, frustration rising in my throat. “Just until things settle and the time is right. She gets it. We’re on the same page.”

Even as I say the words, a flicker of doubt curls in my stomach. Hailey seemed so happy, so relieved when I told her I wanted to be with her… but we didn’t exactly discuss the finer details.

Will she truly be okay with keeping our relationship and her pregnancy a secret? Am I underestimating how much I’m asking of her?

Stefan seems to read the uncertainty on my face. He sighs, shaking his head. “I hope you’re right. I truly do. But I’ve seen far too many ‘secret’ royal dalliances end in tears and tabloid headlines. For both your sakes… tread carefully.”

With that parting wisdom, he extracts himself from my grip and continues on his way, leaving me standing there with a cold lump of dread sitting heavy in my gut.

I shake my head, trying to dislodge Stefan’s warning. He doesn’t understand. He doesn’t know Hailey like I do.

She’s different. Special. This isn’t some tawdry affair to be splashed across the gossip pages. What we have is real. Meaningful.

And yet, as I make my way back to my suite to dress for breakfast, I can’t quite escape the niggling whisper of doubt.

I think of her soft smile this morning as she woke in my arms. The way she looked at me, like I was her everything. Am I about to repay that trust by asking her to continue to lurk in the shadows? To pretend that what we share doesn’t exist beyond closed doors?

My jaw clenches as I stride into my rooms. No. I’m doing this to protect her. To shield her from the ruthless glare of the public eye until I can find a way to bring our relationship into the light on our terms.

She’ll understand. I know she will.

I choose to focus on that belief as I quickly wash up and dress, eager to see her again. To bask in her presence and let it chase away the uncertainties.

But even as I head to the dining room, my mind whirs, searching for a solution. A way to give Hailey everything she deserves while still managing the political minefield of my new role.

There has to be a path forward. And I’ll find it.