Forced To Marry My Cousin's Fiancé

Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Lane woke up suddenly in the middle of the night feeling unbelievably hungry.

For a few disoriented seconds, she simply blinked at the darkness surrounding her room while trying to understand what had woken her so abruptly.

Then the craving hit again. Strong.Specific.

And impossible to ignore.

Lane slowly sat up against the bed with one hand resting over her stomach, letting out a tired sigh afterward.

"You really don’t let mommy rest anymore," she whispered softly.

A tiny smile still appeared on her face despite the exhaustion.

The mansion remained completely silent around her. Even the faint sounds from the city outside felt distant at this hour, leaving the estate wrapped in deep quietness.

Lane glanced toward the clock beside her bed.

2:17 AM.

Normal people slept at this hour.

Pregnant women apparently thought about food.

Very specific food.

Lane pushed the blankets aside carefully before standing slowly from bed. Her body still felt heavy with exhaustion, but the craving refused to disappear no matter how hard she tried ignoring it.

And somehow the baby had decided it wanted homemade spicy rice with eggs and vegetables.

Immediately.

Lane quietly slipped on a cardigan over her sleep clothes before leaving her room carefully so she wouldn’t wake anyone.

The upstairs hallway remained dimly lit by soft golden lamps while silence followed her all the way downstairs.

Sometimes the mansion felt haunting at night.

Like something beautiful that had forgotten warmth a long time ago.

Lane headed toward the kitchen quietly, smiling faintly to herself the moment she stepped inside.

At least the kitchen never felt cold.

Maybe because it was the one place in the mansion where she could still do ordinary things.Cook.Prepare tea.

Exist without feeling like she was intruding somewhere she didn’t belong.

She moved slowly around the kitchen gathering ingredients carefully while trying not to make too much noise.

Rice.Eggs.Vegetables.Sauce.

Lane laughed softly beneath her breath while standing near the counter.

"If Noah saw this combination, he’d judge us again."

The thought alone made her smile.

Then slowly, she began cooking.

The sound of vegetables sizzling softly in the pan filled the quiet kitchen while warmth gradually replaced the cold silence surrounding the mansion. Lane moved carefully, one hand occasionally resting against the small curve of her stomach whenever the baby shifted faintly.

Pregnancy had changed moments like this.

Even loneliness felt different now.

Because she was never truly alone anymore.

And strangely...

That thought kept her going most days.

As the food finished cooking, the smell immediately made her happier.

Lane carefully carried the plate toward the kitchen island afterward before sitting down slowly.

The first bite nearly made her emotional.

"That’s exactly what you wanted, isn’t it?" she whispered softly toward her stomach.

For several quiet minutes, Lane simply ate peacefully.

Just warmth and temporary comfort in the middle of the night.

The baby truly seemed determined to exhaust her lately though.

She had started eating much more recently, and sometimes it embarrassed her slightly how intense the cravings became.

But Dr. Faith assured her it was normal.

So Lane tried not to overthink it.

After finishing the entire plate surprisingly quickly, Lane leaned back slightly against the chair with a satisfied smile.

"Happy now?"

Silence answered her.

Lane laughed quietly anyway.

Then eventually she stood and gathered the dishes immediately.

The maids already worked hard enough every day.

The least she could do was clean up after herself.

So she carefully washed everything she used, wiped the counters clean, and returned all the ingredients neatly back into place.

Only after the kitchen looked untouched again did she finally allow herself to head back upstairs.

As Lane slowly climbed the staircase, one thought lingered quietly inside her mind.

This child was changing her.

Little by little.

Teaching her how to keep finding small moments of happiness even inside loneliness.

The next morning arrived much slower.

Lane woke up still exhausted from being awake during the night, but strangely the nausea seemed calmer today. After showering and getting dressed, she stood in front of the mirror for longer than usual.

Her clothes were definitely becoming uncomfortable now.

The soft sweaters still fit loosely enough, but several of her jeans and dresses no longer sat properly around her waist.

Lane sighed quietly.

Her stomach was becoming more noticeable.

Not enough for strangers to immediately recognize pregnancy.

But enough that she felt the difference every time she dressed.

She gently touched the small curve beneath her shirt before smiling faintly.

"You’re growing fast."

The realization felt both terrifying and beautiful.

After breakfast downstairs, Lane remained seated quietly while thinking.

Then finally she decided.

She needed to go shopping.

Not just for maternity clothes.

But also for groceries.

Last night she had used several ingredients from the kitchen while cooking, and even though the mansion probably replaced groceries constantly without anyone noticing—

Lane still felt guilty.

Because somewhere deep inside her mind remained the constant fear of becoming a burden.

Or worse—

Giving Ethan another reason to resent her.

So she quietly told the maids she would be leaving for a few hours.

"Should we ask the driver to prepare the car?" one maid asked immediately.

Lane nodded softly.

"Yes please."

About forty minutes later, Lane arrived at one of the luxury shopping centers downtown.

The atmosphere outside buzzed softly with life while wealthy shoppers moved through expensive storefronts carrying branded bags.

Lane adjusted her cardigan slightly before heading inside.

She kept her head lowered instinctively.

The scandal online had faded slightly over the past weeks, but she still occasionally recognized whispers or lingering looks from strangers.

Sometimes articles still surfaced online calling her: the woman who stole her cousin’s fiancé.

It hurt every single time.

So now she avoided attention whenever possible.

The maternity section made Lane emotional unexpectedly.

Tiny baby clothes displayed carefully beside soft blankets and small shoes suddenly made everything feel more real again.

For several quiet minutes, she simply wandered through the aisles slowly touching fabrics with gentle fingers.

Soft sweaters.

Comfortable dresses.

Stretch fabrics.

Lane eventually selected several simple elegant pieces that would hopefully remain comfortable as the pregnancy progressed.

Just practical things.

But while standing near the cashier afterward, her attention shifted toward a small pair of baby socks displayed nearby.

Tiny.

White.

Unbelievably small.

Lane stared at them for several seconds before slowly picking them up.

Emotion tightened unexpectedly inside her chest.

Her baby would really wear things this small someday.

The thought almost overwhelmed her.

A tiny smile appeared on her face before she quietly added them to her purchases too.

Afterward, Lane headed toward the grocery section.

Carefully, she replaced every ingredient she had used during the night.

Rice.Vegetables.Sauces.Eggs.

Even extra snacks she thought the staff might appreciate.

Because despite everything, Lane never wanted anyone inside the mansion thinking she took advantage of being there.

Especially Ethan.

The thought alone made her chest tighten slightly.

Sometimes she wondered if Ethan even noticed how careful she tried to be around him.

Probably not.

Still...

Lane continued trying anyway.

By the time she finally returned to Blackwood Estate later that afternoon, exhaustion had already settled heavily into her body again.

The driver helped carry the bags inside while the maids immediately rushed over in concern.

"You bought too many things yourself again."

Lane laughed softly.

"It wasn’t that much."

But the moment she sat down afterward, fatigue crashed into her properly.

Pregnancy truly drained her energy now.

Still, as Lane looked down briefly at the tiny baby socks resting carefully among the shopping bags beside her—

A small genuine smile touched her lips again.

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