Chapter 104: A lie and a plan

So, apparently, she had spoken to Dart about it and asked him to take better care of himself. Despite the emotional shock she received at that time, Nadia actually had heard all the instructions Luke provided to improve Dart’s condition.

She even urged him to stop working for the chief and get some rest. After all, Luke strictly warned about the heat and how long he remains standing.

She offered to go out and work herself to cover their basic needs. Nadia was good at basket making and despite the rumors surrounding them in the village, she was confident to earn enough to afford the rotation fees.

But he refused instantly, insisting he would handle everything and take care of himself.

Nadia knew it wouldn’t work. She could tell from Luke’s serious tone that the situation was difficult. Things were bound to fall apart again. That was why she had come to this idea.

An idea Luke could have never expected.

“You… help me bear a child,” Nadia said, fidgeting nervously, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Luke frowned. “Do you realize what you’re saying? Dart is my friend. I don’t want to betray his trust.”

He was no saint, especially after making four women cheat on their partners before. But none of them had truly cared about their mates, except Lex. With him, it had felt far more personal.

But this was different.

“I promise he will never find out,” Nadia assured him. “If Dart makes a few changes in his routine, it might give him hope of recovering. And when that happens, I’ll find a way to get him to take me one of those nights. That way, he’ll believe he recovered and was able to give me a child.”

Luke couldn’t help but smile darkly. “You’re an evil woman, you know that?” He folded his arms. “Not only are you desperate to have another man inside you, but you’re also planning to make Dart raise someone else’s child.”

Nadia lowered her eyes, her gaze filled with a mix of shame and guilt.

Yet her determination didn’t waver. “It doesn’t matter,” she muttered. “I just can’t watch him stay hopeless and defeated.” She clutched the hem of her skirt tightly. “I’ve never seen Dart like this… so broken and helpless. The guilt would kill me if I let him stay this way.”

Looking at Luke, she added softly, “I know I’d be betraying him, but if this is the only way to keep the spark alive in him, then I’m ready for it.”

Luke let out a sigh. He understood her point and what drove her to this conclusion.

But truth be told he would never want someone like Nadia to be his partner.

Never.

“Alright. Since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll support you,” Luke decided. After all, he wasn’t losing anything.

Nadia’s face brightened. “Whenever you feel like it, just let me know. I’ll come to you.”

Luke’s lips curved into a grin as he stepped closer.

Surprised by the sudden approach, Nadia instinctively backed away until her back pressed against the tree.

Luke placed one arm above her head and leaned in until she could feel his warm breath against her lips.

In a low, heavy voice, he spoke his honest thoughts. “Don’t think I’m like other men, Nadia. I can take you at any moment you want. And I don’t stop after just one release. When we do this, you need to be prepared. Because once I start, for the next half a day, you’re mine.”

Nadia was stunned by his words, but the intense heat in his eyes left her unable to speak. In the end, all she could do was nod.

Luke sighed and stepped back. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he said, “Meet me here tomorrow morning, same place.”

“H-Here… in the open?”

Luke didn’t say anything more and simply turned away.

Nadia watched his retreating back, then clenched her fist and nodded firmly.

She turned around and headed back to her house. Her mind was swirling with thoughts, but her feet carried her to the place where she belonged.

*Click*

She opened the door and stepped inside, only to find Dart sitting there.

“How did it go?” he asked.

Earlier, Nadia had lied to Luke that Dart had gone to work, pretending everything was back to normal. In truth, Dart had barely eaten or slept for the past two days.

“It… went well,” she replied with a nod. “He agreed.”

Dart took a deep breath and leaned back in his seat.

Last night, unable to bear seeing her mate so distraught, she had come up with the idea. She had suggested something that she thought might enrage him. After all, what man could tolerate his woman offering to have an affair with another man?

But instead of anger, Dart’s eyes widened with surprise as he asked, “Will… you really do it for me?”

The doubt in her mind and the knot of reluctance in her heart instantly melted away when she saw the hope shining in her mate’s eyes.

They both desperately wanted a child. They had dreamed of how they would raise him—if it was a girl, Dart would spoil her rotten; if it was a boy, he would put him through tough trials while Nadia showered him with love.

They had held onto these dreams ever since they became one. But after learning the real reason they could never achieve it, Dart had lost all hope.

With Nadia’s plan, at least half the child would be theirs. At least the child would carry some part of Nadia.

At least she would finally experience the joy of becoming a mother—carrying the child in her womb, enduring the pain of childbirth, and feeling the relief of telling everyone that they hadn’t failed as a couple.

“Was he reluctant?” Dart asked, gently holding his mate’s delicate hand.

Nadia hummed softly. “He was. He didn’t want to betray you.”

Dart gave a faint smile. “I’ve earned quite a good friend, haven’t I?”

Nadia nodded, a warm smile blooming on her face as well.

Silence settled between them as his hand continued to caress hers.

Then he asked the question that twisted his heart with pain. “When?”

Nadia bit her lower lip. The slight tremble in his voice made it clear he wasn’t unaffected by the thought of his mate being embraced by another man.

Still, they had discussed this through the entire night and had only reached this decision after careful thought.

So she answered directly.

“Tomorrow morning. He asked me to meet him behind the well house.”

Dart nodded slowly. He exhaled a heavy breath and said, “I won’t be home tomorrow… if you want, you can bring him here too.”

With that, he stood up and walked toward the bedroom.

Nadia watched his retreating back before letting out a soft sigh.

She knew how difficult this must be for him, yet he had chosen their family above everything else.

Clenched her fist, she muttered to herself, “I will make you happy, dear. Just wait for me.”

••••••••••

Luke hummed in surprise as he noticed a cloud of dust rising around the barter hub.

Several people were cleaning the dirt road, while others sprinkled water and repaired the damaged houses nearby.

As he drew closer, he realized the entire area around the chief’s house was being renovated.

Curious, he quickly spotted the man who could explain what was happening.

“Gary.”

“Hmm? Hey, Luke.” The short man, who had been overseeing the work, turned and smiled at him. “How have you been, man?”

Luke nodded. “Good. What’s happening here?” he asked, glancing around. “Some kind of festival?”

Gary chuckled. “Oh, you didn’t know? Some people from the head tribe are arriving tomorrow. They’re coming to take the young lady back to the village.”

Luke’s brows rose. “Isn’t that a bit too quick?”

Gary tilted his head. “What do you mean? It’s been almost a year since the two families decided to unite their children.”

Luke hadn’t been aware. So things had been going well for the chief for nearly a year now.

Gary then asked, “Hey, are you free tomorrow? I need help with security—”

“Nah, I’m out.”

Gary looked panicked. “The pay is high. You just need to guard the perimeter at night.”

Luke shook his head. “Night is for resting. I’m not guarding anything.”

When the chief wasn’t around, that was one thing—monsters could slip through the defenses and reach his home. But now that village security was at its peak, he would rather spend the night indulging in his mother’s warmth than wandering alone through the dark forest.

Gary groaned. As he thought, Luke really hated the job that requires patience.

After a brief pause, Gary asked, “How about a backup plan? If something goes awry can I rely on your assistance? Of course, you would be paid based on your performance.”

Luke hummed before nodding, “Yeah…that would do.” Though he barely believe anything would happen with so many strong people in the village.

…

A/N:- Thanks for reading. I am very confused about why people be hating the relationship between Luke and Roxanne. Can someone help me realize it?

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