Chapter 8 New House

Amelia's POV:

The sleek Bentley glided to a stop in front of Cypress Central's most prestigious tower. Through the tinted windows, I caught my first glimpse of what would be our home for the next year. My breath caught at the sheer grandeur - the gleaming glass facade stretching impossibly high, the pristine marble steps where uniformed doormen stood at attention. This was worlds away from our modest apartment in Maple Heights.

"Wow," Lucas whispered, his small hand tightening in mine. I watched proudly as he carefully removed his shoes without being prompted, placing them neatly by the door. "This is like a castle in the sky, Mommy."

Luke, who had been observing us quietly, seemed surprised by Lucas's restraint. Most four-year-olds would be running wild in such a space, but my son stood patiently, waiting for permission to explore.

"You can look around, Lucas," Luke said, his usual stern expression softening slightly. "Just be careful with the artifacts on display."

"Thank you, Mr. Carter." Lucas's polite response drew an appreciative look from Luke. "May I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Do you help people with all your money?" The innocent inquiry made me tense slightly, but Lucas continued, "My mommy says that when people have a lot, they should help others who don't."

I opened my mouth to intervene, but Luke's response surprised me. He knelt down to Lucas's level, something I'd never seen him do before. "Your mommy is very wise. Yes, I try to help through various charitable foundations. Would you like to know more about them?"

The genuine interest in his voice made something warm unfurl in my chest. I watched as my son nodded eagerly, and Luke began explaining about educational programs and children's hospitals in terms a four-year-old could understand.

Later that afternoon, after Luke left for a meeting at Carter Group, Lucas and I set about making the sterile space feel more like a home. We'd stopped at

Target on the way over, picking up affordable but tasteful items that would add warmth without compromising the apartment's elegant aesthetic.

"Mommy, can we put my drawing here?" Lucas held up his latest masterpiece, a crayon creation featuring what looked like three stick figures.

"How about we frame it first, honey?" I suggested, already anticipating Luke's potential reaction to having children's artwork directly on his expensive walls.

"Remember, we're guests here."

As we worked, I couldn't help but notice how the space began to transform. Soft throw pillows added comfort to the leather couches, family photos in simple frames brought life to empty shelves, and strategically placed lamps created pools of warm light to combat the apartment's clinical brightness.

By evening, I'd prepared a simple but elegant dinner – herb-roasted chicken with seasonal vegetables. I left detailed warming instructions next to the covered dishes in the refrigerator, along with a note:

Thank you for opening your home to us. Please enjoy dinner at your convenience. -A

The master bedroom remained untouched. Despite our temporary marriage arrangement, I wouldn't presume to invade his personal space. That wasn't part of our deal.

The next morning, I was preparing breakfast when Luke emerged from his room, looking slightly disoriented. His usually impeccable suit was perfectly pressed, but something about his expression seemed off.

Before either of us could speak, Lucas bounded forward, clutching something in his hands. "Mr. Carter! I made this for your office!" He thrust forward a childish paper decoration, complete with glitter and positive messages about work.

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at the sight of Luke Carter - the ruthless CEO who could make grown men tremble with a single glance - standing there in his immaculate three-piece suit, staring at this sparkly craft project as if it were a bomb about to detonate.

"It's to make work happier," Lucas explained seriously. "Mommy says everyone needs some happiness at work."

"This is... very thoughtful of you, Lucas," he managed, his usual commanding tone softened with uncertainty.

I busied myself with the coffee maker, giving them space for this moment. When I turned back, Luke was studying me with an unreadable expression.

"I noticed you didn't decorate the master bedroom," he said quietly, after Lucas had gone to get dressed.

"Of course not," I replied, keeping my voice neutral. "That's your private space. This arrangement doesn't require me to overstep such boundaries."

The three of us ended up sharing a quiet morning meal, the silence comfortable rather than awkward. Lucas's presence bridged any potential discomfort, his innocent chatter filling the space between adult uncertainties.

"Dinner tonight?" Luke asked as he prepared to leave. "I should be home by seven."

The casual domesticity of the question caught me off guard. "Yes," I found myself saying. "We'd like that."

As I immersed myself in actuarial formulas and probability models, my phone lit up.

It was Monica. "Ames, your father's here at the club making a scene."