Page 32 of Secret Baby for a Damaged Billionaire

My eyes land on Xavier, talking with another fighter on the mat. He notices me and raises an eyebrow in curiosity. As he directs the fighter into a new posture, he then walks toward me, his expression carefully neutral.

“Emily, what are you doing here?”

“Have you seen Lucas?” I ask, trying not to sound too desperate. “He’s not answering my calls or texts.”

He hesitates for a moment before replying, “He went home.” He pauses, pressing his lips together. “Maybe you should go talk to him.”

His words were like a punch to my gut. Chloe had said the same thing. Something was going on and I seemed to be the only one who had no clue.

With stealth focus, like nothing else in the world matters, I drive to his building, heart pounding. As I make my way to the door, I have no clue how I’ll get inside and pray the doorman will know me.

I approach the door, the most convincing smile on my face, and it swings open with a warm welcome. I exhale for miles.

“Good day, Miss,” the doorman says. “Here to see Mr. Walker?”

“Yes, thank you,” I reply. “He’s expecting me.”

“Right, so,” he gestures his arm to the elevator. “Up you go, then.” And he smiles, turning back to the door.

As I ride the elevator up to Lucas’s penthouse, anxiety knots my stomach tighter with every passing floor. I have no idea what I’ll find or how he’ll treat me and the unknown of it all is terrifying.

The elevator reaches the top floor and I punch in the code he used the last time, the same as the gym security code. As the doors slide open, I cross the threshold, and my footsteps echo softly against the cool, marble flooring. The apartment is full of light streaming in from the enormous windows, highlighting the empty furniture. An uncanny silence fills the air, giving me an unsettled feeling, but then I hear movement, subtle thuds, and music coming from farther within the penthouse.

“Lucas?” I call out cautiously, my heart pounding in my chest, as I move toward the living room. The sound of thumping music hits me as I walk deeper into the space.

And there, at the back, I see him on his mat, doing push-ups and sit-ups with a fierceness I’ve never seen before. His body is drenched in sweat, and his eyes are locked on the wall.

He doesn’t respond, just continues his punishing workout as if I’m not even there.

“Lucas,” I call out again, but still no response. I’m sure he can hear me. “Lucas, please,” I beg, stepping closer to him. “Tell me what’s going on?”

He finally stops and looks up at me, his eyes filled with pain and anger that sends shivers down my spine.

I rush to his side. “You’re scaring me.”

For a moment, he just lies there on the floor, breathing heavily from his push-ups. Then he rolls onto his back and sits up, avoiding my gaze.

“Emily,” he says hoarsely. “What are you doing? Why are you here?” He wipes his head with his sweat rag. “I don’t have time to be dicked around with.”

I pull back in shock. “What?”

He exhales and glances at me. “I heard about your run-in with Carlo. Funny how it never occurred to you to maybe tell me that my nemesis assaulted you. I have to hear it from my sister?” He pauses. “The next day.”

He stares at me unblinking as the blood drains from my head.

“That’s what this is about? This is why you won’t answer my calls?” I stare back. “What the fuck, Lucas?”

He remains silent.

“I was going to tell you this morning,” I continued. “I didn’t see a need to give you a sleepless night over it.” I took a breath. “He didn’t hurt me. It was just… uncomfortable.” I glance down, realizing now that I should have told him right away.

His temper and his PTSD threw me off track. I was trying to protect him but stupidly did so with important information.

I kneel beside him, trying to catch his eye. “You’re right. I should have told you last night,” I say, watching him for a response. “I care about you, Lucas. I didn’t want to upset you.”

“Care about me?” He snorts, finally looking at me with a mix of disbelief and hurt. “Funny way of showing it.”

His anger is still heightened, catching me off guard. For a long moment, he remains silent, making me wonder what’s going on in his head.

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