26. XANDER
Chapter 26
XANDER
T hree remaining days to explore Monaco and have some fun. Three remaining days for me to spend time with Lyca and to finally tell her how I truly felt.
The following days in Monaco were a whirlwind of excitement and adventure. Apart from a few TV appearances and an unexpected product endorsement deal, I had a lot of free time to explore the top destinations in the country with the team.
One time, the guys couldn’t join us at the Prince's Palace. Or maybe they all conveniently came up with excuses, perhaps to give Lyca and me some much-needed privacy.
The palace’s grandeur took my breath away. The stone walls rose majestically against the backdrop of the azure sea, and the setting sun cast a warm, golden light over the ancient structure.
“Wow, this place is incredible,” I exclaimed, turning to Lyca with a wide grin. “Can you imagine living in a palace like this?”
Lyca chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “It must be quite the experience. Imagine the views from up there.”
We began our ascent, marveling at the architecture and the history that seemed to seep from every stone. “But you know…” Lyca began. “You’re technically a billionaire now, or at least the heir to one. So, you might find yourself living in a place like this pretty soon.”
I laughed. “I’m not sure about that. Besides, I prefer to live in a house where I won’t have to spend hours searching for another soul!”
Lyca laughed too. “Yeah, I get you.”
As we explored the palace grounds, I found myself drawn to her more, wanting to share this moment with her.
“This place is amazing, but it's even better with you here,” I said, smiling at her and taking her into a sweet embrace.
Lyca blushed, meeting my gaze. “I feel the same way. It's been such a wonderful trip.”
Together, we continued to explore, our laughter mingling with the sound of our footsteps echoing through the palace halls.
That evening, I took her out to dinner in a romantic restaurant. I gazed at her over the lit candles, admiring her stunning beauty and her radiant smile.
It’s time to tell her , I thought then, my heart beginning to hammer. “I can’t believe we’re going home tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s been such a memorable trip, and it didn’t feel like work at all.”
“I know.” I took a deep breath, prepping myself up to admit to her my real feelings. Even though we have been acting like a couple and sharing so many intimate moments the past few days, I still couldn’t tell where we actually stood. It was up to me to take the next step, to risk a leap toward the next level.
“But I’m really happy to be going home too,” she said. “I miss Lucas so much!”
“How’s he doing?” I asked, sort of still beating around the bush.
Her face lit up as she talked about her son. For a while, her stories captivated me, momentarily diverting my attention from my original intentions.But as we finished with dessert, my mind drifted back to my main goal.
Damn, why is it so hard to tell her? Why am I so afraid? I’ve never been this way before.
I reached over the table to take her hand in mine. “Lyca, thanks so much for coming with me here, for letting me in again…”
She nodded, knowing exactly what I was referring to. “Everyone deserves a second chance. Besides, I was the one who was wrong about you.”
“Listen, there’s something I need to tell you…”
She gave me a questioning look but did not say anything.
Just then, my phone rang. When I looked at the screen, I saw that it was someone named Arianne. I vaguely remember dating a model with that same name. I wondered what she wanted.
“You might want to answer that first,” Lyca said to me.
I tapped on the reject button. “It’s nothing important. As I was saying…”
A notification sound made me turn back to my phone screen. Arianne had just sent a message, and when I saw the first few words appear, a chill ran down my spine. I froze mid-air.
Xander, I’m five months pregnant…
The phone rang again. It was her. Lyca gave me a strange look. “Maybe it’s important, after all.”
“Yeah, just a sec. I’ll be right back, I promise.”
“It’s no problem, Xander,” she said kindly, smiling. “Take your time.”
I took the call and walked toward the nearby balcony, feeling the evening breeze on my face. “Why are you calling, Arianne?” I asked.
“Did you read my message?” was her reply. I felt my heart thumping. I could sense that she was about to deliver some bad news.
“I’m pregnant,” she said quietly from the other end. “Five months now. I haven’t been with anyone since we stopped dating, Xander.”
“Are you absolutely sure? Why are you telling me only now that you’re pregnant?” My voice was edgy now and I could feel my stress levels increasing fast.
“I was… scared. I didn’t want to alarm you. And honestly, I never wanted to bother you, because I know that you don’t care about me like that. We’d parted ways knowing that it wouldn’t work out between us.”
“That’s right.”
“But I figured you have the right to know… It’s a boy, Xander. We’re going to have a son.”
“A son…” I repeated in disbelief. I knew I should be somehow happy about the news. But it was shocking. I had no response to that, so I stayed silent.
“This must be a shock for you, and I’m sorry. I know you’re still in Monaco, but I’m hoping we can see each other when you get back. You know, to talk about things?”
“Fine, okay. I’m sorry, Arianne, I can’t do this right now. I’ll call you when I get back to L.A.”
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
We said goodbye. I found myself breathing hard, clenching my fists, and trying to compose myself before going back inside. But when I turned around, I found myself facing Lyca. She looked pale and confused.
“Arianne? Who is it this time?” she asked, trying to sound calm, but looking quite shaken.
“Arianne was someone I went out with a few times many months ago, Lyca,” I told her honestly, feeling rattled myself. “It didn’t mean anything, so I ended things at once. That was a long time ago, and I haven’t heard from her until now.”
“Because she’s pregnant and you’re having a son?” She sort of choked on that last word.
“I…” I faltered, still reeling from the shock.
Lyca shook her head and dashed away.
“Wait, Lyca!” I called after her, trailing her through the restaurant. Heads turned as we hurried past. A server handed me the bill to our table, forcing me to pause and settle it. By the time I got outside, it was too late. Lyca was gone.
“Fuck!” I cursed aloud, earning disapproving glances from some passersby.