Chapter 228: Lucas Stood Rigid

Lucas stood rigid. “I’ll take the sofa.” Noah’s sobs began to shake the room. “No… no! I want Daddy to stay. I’m scared!” Sienna pulled the trembling boy into her arms. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Mommy’s here. Daddy can watch over you from the sofa.”

“But Ethan told me he sleeps between his parents! They hold his hands and hug him all night!” Noah’s tears soaked through Sienna’s sleeve. “Everyone laughed at me because I’ve never done that!”

His small body convulsed with each ragged breath. Sienna’s heart clenched. She’d give anything to stop his tears. Still… sharing a bed with Lucas? She attempted reason. “Noah, research shows sleeping between adults isn’t healthy. The carbon dioxide—”

“I don’t care!” he wailed. “I’ve waited five years for this! It’s all I want!”

His crying intensified. Small shoulders shook with violent tremors. A seizure seemed imminent. Lucas strode forward, his expression dark. “Noah Harrington. Stop this behavior.” He retrieved a wooden ruler from the drawer. “Go to sleep. Now.” The ruler struck Noah’s bottom with a sharp crack. The boy jolted, crying harder. “Why are you mad? I just want what other children have!” He choked between sobs, gasping for air. Sienna panicked. She couldn’t risk another medical episode. She pulled him close, shooting Lucas a sharp look. “He’s sleeping with us tonight.”

Lucas’s brow furrowed. “That’s not appropriate—”

“Since when are you so proper? Get on the bed.” Her tone brooked no argument.

After a tense pause, Lucas relented. “Fine.” He moved to the far side of the bed. Sienna settled Noah between them, stroking his back. “No more tears, my brave boy. Mommy and Daddy are here. You need to stay healthy for us, alright?” Noah’s tears vanished. A radiant smile spread across his face as he snuggled against her. The three of them lay in uneasy proximity. Thankfully, Noah served as a barrier. His well-being outweighed her discomfort. Sienna wasn’t bound by convention. Her son’s peace mattered most.

She switched off the lights. Moonlight spilled through the window, softening the room’s edges. Noah’s breathing soon steadied into sleep’s gentle rhythm. Lucas watched Sienna through the silver light, a faint smile touching his lips before he closed his eyes. Sienna’s eyes snapped open in the darkness. What had she just agreed to? They lay together like a proper family. The intimacy of it unnerved her.