Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 146

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Mara

“What does he want?” Lucian asked, his voice quiet but cautious.

I hesitated, unsure how much to tell him. I hadn’t fully considered the consequences when I asked my father to cto give him false hope-only to watch it fall apart again.

Yet if there was even the smallest chance, we owed it to ourselves to explore it. I silently hoped Lucian

could withstand the emotional strain.

“Mara?” Lucian’s voice was sharper now, pulling me from my tangled thoughts.

“My father says there might be another option for your son,” I finally admitted carefully. “He thinks it could

help.”

Lucian’s expression immediately brightened, exactly what I’d feared.

“He could’ve discussed it with you on the phone,” he said impatiently. “Time is crucial.”

I nodded gently. “I think it’s something unconventional. He wanted to discuss it face-to-face.”

Lucian’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “Dr. Green must have called him directly. The man has no respect for

confidentiality.”

I frowned slightly. Luciaome. Lucian had already begun making peace with the tragedy, and the last thing I wanted was

n continued bitterly, “Your father’s off-duty today, Mara. How else could he have known about the baby’s condition so quickly if someone at the hospital didn’t inform him? Dr. Green has already proven himself unreliable. At least we’ll use another hospital from now on. Goddess knows who else would have heard about your pregnancy by now. I’ll ensure his medical license is suspended after

this.”

I bit my lip, unsure how to respond. In a twisted way, Dr. Green’s indiscretion might have inadvertently given the baby one final chance.

Fifteen tense minutes passed before my father arrived, confirming Lucian’s suspicion that he’d called from home. Darian and Tiffany had not returned yet, but the Clearwaters quietly made themselves scarce when my father stepped into the house.

Lucian and I descended the stairs together to meet him. The two men shook hands cordially, and I quickly hugged my father before Lucian motioned politely toward the living room.

“Please, have a seat,” Lucian offered, his tone polite yet anxious. My father sat, meeting Lucian’s gaze

directly.

“Mara says you might have a solution for my son?” Lucian pressed, eager to cut to the chase.

My father hesitated, carefully weighing his words. “It’s not a guaranteed solution. Much depends on the

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extent of the internal damage,” he warned cautiously.

Lucian nodded gravely, squeezing my thigh gently-his comforting habit. “I understand, but even a slim

chance is better than doing nothing.”

Claim

My father leaned forward, voice measured yet hopeful. “A few years ago, I treated a family whose child had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia-exactly the same issue your son has. The mother was originally from Neev and had heard of a specialist neonatal care facility there, renowned for successfully treating

infants with severe birth defects.”

He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in before continuing. “They flew the child immediately to Neev by medical helicopter. It was a delicate, complicated procedure, but the baby survived. Today, he’s thriving, healthy, and growing strong. He developed normally, and when his wolf awakened, his healing accelerated significantly, greatly reducing long-term complications. He’s now living a normal, active life.”

Hope and confusion surged through me simultaneously. Could this truly be possible? Could we really have a way out of this tragedy after all?

Lucjan tightened his grip slightly on my thigh, tension and hope radiating from him in equal measure. He took a deep, steadying breath.

“Tell me everything,” he said firmly, determination returning to his voice.

Lucian sat in silence for a long moment, staring ahead, unmoving. The weight of my father’s words clearly hit him-harder than he was ready to admit. I didn’t blame him. This wasn’t just a medical decision. It was emotional. It waseverything.

“I would be sending my son away…” he finally said, almost to himself. “Letting strangers raise him.” “No,” my father said gently but firmly. “You’d be giving him the chance to be raised. There’s a difference.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. My heart ached for him. He wasn’t just making a choice for the baby-he was facing the fact that no matter what he chose, he would carry the cost.

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“Would we be allowed to visit him?” I asked, trying to get ahead of Lucian’s thoughts.

“Of course,” my father replied. “You’d be expected to. The staff there encourage it. They even do private accommodation for family members on the grounds. Many of their patients’ parents have homes in the nearby countryside. It’s discreet, secure, and fully accessible.”

Lucian slowly turned to me. “What do you think, Mara?”

I didn’t hesitate. “I think you’re his only chance, Lucian. If we can give him a life-any life-we owe it to him to try. And I think you’ll hate yourself forever if you don’t.”

He looked down at my belly, then back at me. “Would it affect you? Being pregnant, knowing he’s out there …that I have to divide myself like this?”

I reached for his hand. “You won’t be divided, Lucian. You’ll just be bigger. Your love will have to stretch, yes-but not split. I can take care of us. Let them take care of him.”

Lucian exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. “This isn’t how I thought fatherhood would begin.”

“No,” I said. “But we aren’t the first people to find out that parenthood isn’t something you plan. It’s

something you rise to.”

Lucian looked at my father. “Set it up. Contact the clinic. Book the flight. Get the papers. Whatever it takes,

just…do it.”

“I already made the first call,” my father admitted. “They can send a team by morning. You’ll need to sign a few things. They’ll stabilize him for the journey and prep him for surgery once he arrives.”

Lucian nodded. “Then we start tonight. If the goddess is giving us a thread, I’ll grip it with both hands.”

He turned to me, eyes heavier than I’d ever seen them. “Thank you,” he whispered.

I smiled faintly and squeezed his hand.

“We save him,” I said. “That’s what matters.”

“I think this is for the best,” Lucian finally said at last, his voice low but resolute.

He sat forward, hands clasped tightly between his knees, eyes locked on my father’s. There was a weight to his words-a weariness that came from months of buried regret.

“I want Mara and me to have a fresh start. I can’t keep holding on to the wreckage of mistakes I should’ve prevented. If stepping away means my son will have a real chance at peace, at life, then… I’ll do it.”

My father nodded slowly, the lines on his face deepening. “I understand your point of view,” he said, rising

to his feet. “I’ll make the arrangements. They’ll come immediately.”

There was a long silence after that, and then, almost gently, my father asked, “Have you thought of a

name?”

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Lucian nodded. “Richard.”

No hesitation. No ceremony. Just a name spoken aloud with quiet finality. It wasn’t one he’d spent hours

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