ELLA.

I subconsciously clenched my hands tightly while lost in my thoughts, as my mind was filled with different worries all at once—most especially at the possibility of being dragged back into that miserable marriage again.

The thoughts overwhelmed me so much that I didn’t even realize when Lurgard suddenly stepped closer.

It was only when I felt a warm touch against my hand that I snapped slightly out of my daze.

I blinked rapidly.

Lurgard was now squatting right in front of me, his large hand wrapped gently around mine as his thumb caressed my clenched fingers softly, trying to ease the tension out of them.

"Relax, Theresa," Lurgard said quietly, his deep voice instantly pulling me back to reality. "There’s no need for you to worry about anything," he added calmly.

The softness in his tone caught me off guard, because ever since we entered into his office, I couldn’t help but to wonder if this wasn’t the same man that had practically threatened me on the staircase earlier.

Lurgard was staring at me like I was something too fragile and precious.

Slowly, he lifted his other hand and tilted my chin upward carefully.

I had no choice but to meet his gaze and the moment our eyes locked, my breath caught instantly.

His emerald eyes were dangerously captivating, deep, intense and filled with emotions I couldn’t fully understand.

Nyx stirred excitedly inside me immediately.

I swallowed hard as warmth spread slowly through my chest, and for a brief moment, I genuinely wanted to get lost in those eyes, to stay there and forget every single problem surrounding me---Forget Alex, and then the divorce and also forget the confusion consuming my life.

"My brothers and I were the ones who prepared the divorce papers," Lurgard said softly, a sly smile slowly spreading across his lips as he continued. "We’ll handle everything." His fingers brushed lightly against my jaw. "All you need to do is show up and stand firm on divorcing him."

Relief washed over me almost instantly, and I didn’t even realize how tense I had been until now.

At least...I wasn’t alone and honestly, I had no strength nor the power and resources required to fight Alex head-on by myself.

The only people standing beside me currently were the triplets and somehow, the thought of relying on them didn’t feel entirely wrong.

After all...They were my mates.

Right?

That wasn’t taking advantage of them...was it?

Before I could think deeper into it, Lurgard suddenly leaned slightly closer.

"Besides..." he muttered quietly. "How can I stand by and watch someone else claim what’s mine?"

My breath hitched instantly.

The possessiveness in his voice sent a strange shiver through me, and then slowly, he brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear.

His touch lingered there longer than necessary, and his gaze...

Gosh!

His gaze slowly drifted downward, straight to my lips, without blinking.

I swallowed hard immediately, as heat engulfed me.

The look in his emerald eyes had changed completely now, the softness was still there but beneath it...desire burned intensely, raw, unhidden and dangerous.

My heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

It became so loud I could practically hear it inside my ears.

And the worst part?

I couldn’t even blame it entirely on him. My body was reacting shamelessly again, as everything was affecting me far too much.

Gosh!

These pregnancy hormones were definitely at work again.

Just as Lurgard leaned closer, his gaze fixed intensely on my lips, my phone suddenly rang loudly.

The sound shattered the atmosphere instantly. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

I froze for half a second before reality crashed back into me.

Without thinking twice, I pushed Lurgard away immediately and stood up from the chair so fast it nearly shifted backward.

Lurgard blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting my sudden reaction.

Meanwhile, my heart was pounding wildly inside my chest.

I grabbed my phone from the desk without even checking the caller ID and hurried toward the office door almost like I was escaping danger.

And honestly...Maybe I was.

The moment I stepped out of the office, I breathed out heavily in relief, fresh air instantly filled my lungs. I walked further away from Lurgard’s office before finally stopping by the hallway.

My chest rose and fell rapidly.

What exactly was wrong with me?

I lifted my free hand and pressed it lightly against my forehead.

Being around the triplets was becoming much harder than I thought.

One minute they irritated me to the core, acting bossy, threatening and controlling and the next minute...they suddenly became soft, gentle, protective and dangerously sweet especially Lurgard.

Gosh!

The way he looked at me earlier...the way his voice softened while speaking to me...and the way my stupid heart reacted to him—It was driving me insane.

I tapped my head lightly in frustration before muttering under my breath. "I can’t handle this."

And honestly, it was becoming harder to think straight whenever any of them got close to me.

I shut my eyes briefly and took a deep breath.

I needed to stay away from them and my resolve hardened immediately when the thought of my pup crossed my mind.

That alone was enough to force me back to reality, because no matter how sweet the triplets acted now, the truth remained the same.

They wouldn’t accept my child and I couldn’t afford to forget that.

I slowly lowered my gaze to the phone still in my hand, only then did I realize the ringing had stopped moments after I left the office.

I unlocked the screen and checked the caller ID.

Micheal.

I blinked slightly.

Then immediately, a notification popped up on the screen and it was a message from him. I hesitated briefly before opening it, and the moment my eyes scanned through the message...

A sharp headache hit me instantly.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I pressed my fingers against my temple.

Seriously?

Why now?

How exactly was I supposed to handle all this?