Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 144

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Lucian

“No!!! My baby!!!” Tina screamed in anguish.

“Yes, Tina,” I said coldly, my voice shaking slightly with suppressed anger and pain. “Your baby was born with a severe diaphragmatic hernia because of those medications you took to fake symptoms. The child

is mine, but even the doctors aren’t sure if he’ll survive this.”

Tina broke into agonizing sobs, shaking violently. Mara quietly stepped closer, slipping her arm around my

waist, gently holding me. I took comfort in her presence, deeply grateful she was beside me.

Despite everything, this pain ran deep. I may not have loved Tina anymore, but that baby-my own flesh

and blood-would have been cared for and cherished regardless of whether he had an Alpha Mark or not.

Mara would have loved and nurtured him as if he were her own. We’d never have treated him as a mistake.

Yet Tina’s selfishness had likely destroyed any hope of that future.

“What are they doing to save him?” Mara asked softly, her voice filled with cautious hope. I didn’t know how to answer her-the doctors were uncertain, the situation critical, and the specialized surgery was the

only lifeline left.

“I want to see my baby!” Tina screamed through her tears, desperate and pleading. Nobody responded, her cries filling the heavy silence of the room.

My father stepped forward firmly, his voice low and controlled, but still shaking with fury. “Lucian, there’s nothing more we can do here. Mara needs rest-I won’t risk her miscarrying because of this woman’s

selfishness.”

He spoke with raw anger; I could sense the profound pain beneath it. My father had come here to welcome a grandchild into the family. Alpha Mark or not, he would have loved the boy deeply. To discover that Tina’s reckless actions endangered that precious child’s life-his grandson-broke something deep

within him. I felt his barely restrained rage and grief clearly.

Tina froze, her tear-streaked eyes snapping to Mara. “She’s pregnant?” she asked, devastated realization dawning on her face.

“Yes, Tina. My wife is pregnant. We would have gladly taken your son in and cared for him-given him a good life, given you a fresh start with Joey. But now, because of your choices, that future might never happen.”

“What have I done?” Tina whispered, finally understanding the magnitude of her actions. Her eyes widened in horror, remorse flooding her face.

“I only wanted to keep a part of you forever, Lucian. I took those pills to make you notice me, to punish you and Mara… But all I did was hurt my baby. Please, Alpha-please don’t let my child die. Save him. I promise I’ll leave him with you and disappear forever if you just save him!”

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Her desperate pleas tore at me, making my chest ache. Finally realizing she’d gambled with her own child’s life had shattered her.

Clas

She broke down completely, body wracked with inconsolable sobs. Surprisingly, Mara stepped forward quietly, gently touching Tina’s arm, trying to comfort her. This time, Tina didn’t pull away; instead, she cried even harder, clinging to Mara for support.

“My baby, my baby,” Tina repeated in broken sobs.

“Leave her, Mara,” my father said firmly, his voice edged with concern and impatience. “It’s time to go home-you must rest. Early pregnancy is fragile, and you’ve been through enough.”

When Mara didn’t move fast enough, my father stepped forward to gently separate her from Tina. Mara reluctantly stepped back, giving Tina one last sympathetic look before moving back to my side.

We stood quietly together, absorbing the painful reality.

“I want you to pack your things and leave the Nighthorn mansion immediately,” my father told Tina coldly, turning on his heel and storming out of the room. His eyes glistened, heavy with unshed tears-tears he wouldn’t allow himself to release in public. I understood that grief; I was fighting it myself.

Quietly; I instructed Austin, “Stay with Tina until she leaves. Keep things calm.”

Austin nodded solemnly, remaining by Tina’s bedside as Mara and I stepped out into the corridor.

Mara grabbed my arm gently, her eyes pleading. “Lucian, there must be something we can do to save him.

We can’t just give up like this. Maybe another hospital, another specialist-let’s ask around, get a second opinion-”

I raised my hand slowly, stopping her, voice weary. “Mara, please. This is already the best hospital in Mooncrest. The specialists are here, and they’re telling us it’s critical. The situation is nearly hopeless.”

She shook her head stubbornly, tears welling in her eyes, unwilling to accept defeat. But I continued softly, painfully. “The doctor warned us months ago this might happen. He wasn’t sure how Tina’s medication abuse would impact the baby, but he was clear it could cause serious complications. Tina made her choice. She did this. Right now, I just need to go home.”

She studied my face silently for a long moment, finally understanding that I was barely holding myself together. Her expression softened in quiet determination. “Alright, Lucian. Give me the keys-I’ll drive.”

I handed them over without protest, feeling numb. Mara quietly guided us from the hospital. The moment we slid into the car and she closed the doors, something in me snapped. My composure crumbled, the pain I’d been bottling pouring out all at once. Mara silently rolled up the tinted windows, shielding me from prying eyes as I broke down, my shoulders shaking.

She drove wordlessly, and I didn’t notice where we were headed until she parked at the cliffside, our special place. Once the car stopped, she turned to face me directly, placing my hand softly over her belly.

“Lucian,” she whispered firmly, gently holding my gaze. “Please don’t let Tina’s selfishness steal your joy.

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We both would’ve loved and cared for that child, no questions asked. But perhaps the goddess has other plans. Maybe she sees a clean break is what’s best, for everyone involved-exactly what you originally wanted before all this began. Tina can finally start fresh with Joey, and we can build our life without having

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