Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

***Something Real**

The interview airs on morning television. Lucia sits calm. Poised. Answers every question with grace.

"Your success is inspiring," the host says. "But what sets you apart is your integrity. You refuse to cut corners."

"Integrity isn't optional." Lucia's voice is steady. "Women trust LUXÉA because we deliver what we promise. Always."

The clip goes viral. Shared thousands of times. Comments flood in.

"Finally a CEO who cares about more than profit."

"This is what real leadership looks like."

"Lucia Monroe is the role model we need."

Media outlets call. Want interviews. Features. Her face appears on magazine covers. Business podcasts. News segments.

The media darling. That's what they call her now.

Adrian watches from his office. Proud. Amazed. A little worried.

"You're everywhere," he says that night over dinner.

"Too much?" Lucia cuts her chicken. Precise. Controlled.

"No. Just worried about you burning out."

"I'm fine." She smiles. But her eyes are tired.

Luis pushes his food around. Hasn't eaten much. His face is pale. Cheeks too pink.

"Baby, you okay?" Lucia reaches over. Touches his forehead.

He's burning up.

"Luis." She's out of her chair. Kneeling beside him. "You're hot."

"I don't feel good." His voice is small. Weak.

Adrian stands. Moves fast. "I'll get the thermometer."

Lucia lifts Luis. Carries him upstairs. He's heavier now. Growing. But still her little boy.

Her. When did she start thinking of him as hers?

The thermometer beeps. 102.5.

"Fever." Adrian's face is tight. Worried. "Should we call the doctor?"

"Let's see if it comes down." Lucia sets Luis on his bed. Pulls the covers up. "Get me a cool cloth. Medicine from the bathroom cabinet."

Adrian nods. Leaves. Fast footsteps down the hall.

Lucia sits on the edge of the bed. Brushes Luis's hair back. Damp with sweat.

"My tummy hurts." Luis curls up. Small. Fragile.

"I know baby. We'll make it better."

Adrian returns. Medicine. Water. Cool washcloth. Lucia administers everything. Gentle. Practiced. Like she's done this a thousand times.

She has. With Thomas. Before. When he was little and got sick.

The memory stabs. Sharp. Painful. Thomas calling for Sandra instead of her.

But Luis reaches for Lucia's hand. Holds tight.

"Don't leave."

"I'm not going anywhere." She squeezes back. "I promise."

Hours pass. The fever spikes higher. 103.2. Luis shivers despite the heat pouring off him.

Lucia doesn't leave his side. Changes the cloth. Gives more medicine. Sings soft songs.

Adrian hovers in the doorway. Helpless. Watching.

"You should sleep," Lucia says quietly. "I'll stay with him."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go rest. One of us should."

Adrian hesitates. Then nods. "Call if you need anything."

He leaves. But doesn't go far. Just to his room across the hall. Door open. Listening.

The night drags. Dark. Endless. Luis tosses. Mumbles. Cries out sometimes.

Lucia holds him. Rocks him. Whispers comfort.

"Shh. I'm here. You're safe. I've got you."

Around 2am the fever breaks. Luis's skin cools. His breathing evens. He falls into real sleep. Deep. Peaceful.

Lucia sags against the headboard. Exhausted. But relieved.

A sound at the door. Adrian stands there. Rumpled. Hair messy. He hasn't slept either.

"How is he?"

"Fever broke. He's sleeping now."

Adrian walks in. Sits in the chair by the window. Studies her face.

"You've been up all night."

"So have you." Lucia gestures to his appearance. "You're still dressed."

"Couldn't sleep. Kept worrying."

They sit in silence. The only sound is Luis breathing. Soft. Steady. Alive.

"You're good with him." Adrian's voice is quiet. Careful. "Natural."

"I had practice." The words hurt. "Before."

"Thomas?"

Lucia nods. Can't speak. The name still cuts.

"Do you miss him?"

"Every day." Her voice cracks. "Every single day."

More silence. Heavy but not uncomfortable.

"You'd make a wonderful mother." Adrian leans forward. "You are a wonderful mother. To Luis."

"I'm not his mother."

"Maybe not by blood. But you love him like one. Anyone can see it."

Lucia looks at Luis. His peaceful face. The trust there even in sleep.

"He deserves better than me."

"He deserves exactly you." Adrian's voice is firm. "Someone who stays up all night. Who sings him songs. Who makes him feel safe."

The words break something in Lucia. Tears fall. Silent. Hot.

"I failed Thomas. Let Sandra take him. Let Marco convince me I wasn't enough."

"That wasn't failure. That was survival." Adrian moves to the bed. Sits beside her. "You were beaten down. Shot. Left to die. You signed those papers because you had no choice."

"I should have fought harder."

"You fought as hard as you could." His hand covers hers. Warm. Steady. "And now look at you. Building an empire. Loving my son. Being incredible."

"I'm not incredible."

"You are." Adrian's voice drops. Gets softer. "You make me believe in peace again."

Lucia's breath catches. She turns. Looks at him. Really looks.

His eyes are dark. Serious. Vulnerable.

"What?"

"Peace." Adrian doesn't look away. "I've been alone so long. Since Luis's mother left. Building my company. Focusing on work. Never letting anyone close."

"Adrian."

"But you." He keeps going. Needs to finish. "You walked into my life broken and somehow fixed something in me I didn't know was damaged."

The air between them shifts. Changes. Charged.

"I don't know what to say." Lucia's heart pounds. Fast. Loud.

"You don't have to say anything." Adrian's thumb traces circles on her hand. "I just needed you to know. You're not nothing. You're not broken. You're extraordinary."

Extraordinary. Nobody ever called her that. Not Marco. Not her parents. Not even herself.

"You're the first person who never made me feel small." The words spill out. Broken. True. "Everyone else. My whole life. Made me shrink. Apologize. Disappear."

"I see you." Adrian leans closer. "All of you. The brilliant businesswoman. The tender caregiver. The survivor. The fighter. I see all of it."

Lucia's throat closes. Can't breathe. Can't think.

Adrian's hand moves to her face. Cups her cheek. His thumb wipes away tears.

"I'm falling for you." He whispers it. Confession. Truth. "Have been for months. Maybe since the hospital. Maybe before. Maybe since high school when you were the only person who treated me like I mattered."

"Adrian." His name is a prayer. A question. A plea.

He leans in. Slow. Giving her time. Letting her choose.

Lucia's eyes close. Her breath hitches.

Their lips are inches apart. Hearts pounding. The moment stretches. Perfect. Terrifying. Real.

"Mommy Lucia?"

They freeze. Pull back. Fast.

Luis sits up. Rubbing his eyes. Hair sticking up. Face confused.

"Hey baby." Lucia's voice shakes. She clears her throat. Tries again. "You okay?"

"I'm thirsty." Luis looks between them. Innocent. Unaware. "And I had a bad dream."

Adrian stands. Moves to the door. "I'll get water."

He leaves. Fast. Flustered.

Lucia pulls Luis close. Holds him. Her heart still racing.

"What was your dream about?"

"Monsters." Luis snuggles into her. "Big scary ones."

"There are no monsters here." She kisses his head. "Just me and your papa. We keep you safe."

"Will you read me a story?" Luis looks up. Eyes big. Hopeful. "The one about the dragon?"

"Now? It's 3am."

"Please? Stories make the monsters go away."

How can she say no to that?

"Okay. One story. Then sleep."

Luis beams. Settles back. Pulls his blanket up.

Lucia reaches for the book on his nightstand. The dragon story. His current obsession.

Adrian returns with water. Luis drinks. Hands the cup back.

"Papa, Mommy Lucia is reading the dragon story." Luis announces. Proud. Happy.

Adrian meets Lucia's eyes over Luis's head. Something passes between them. Unfinished. Waiting.

"That's good buddy." Adrian sits in the chair. "I'll stay too."

"Yay! Family story time!" Luis claps.

Family. The word settles over them. Warm. Right. Terrifying.

Lucia opens the book. Starts reading. Her voice is soft. Steady. Even though her hands shake.

Luis's eyes droop. The story works its magic. By page three he's asleep again.

Lucia closes the book. Sets it down. Looks at Adrian.

He's watching her. Not Luis. Her.

"We should talk." He says it quiet.

"We should." She agrees.

"But not tonight."

"Not tonight."

They sit in the dim room. Luis sleeping between them. The almost kiss hanging in the air.

Everything has changed. Nothing can go back.

Tomorrow they'll talk. Figure things out. Face whatever this is becoming.

But tonight. Right now.

They just sit. Together. A broken woman. A careful man. A sleeping child.

Maybe not a traditional family. But something close.

Something real.

Something worth protecting.