LOGINRoman lifted the baby from the water. His hands were shaking. His breath caught in his throat.The baby was coated in a thick, white, waxy substance. It clung to the tiny shoulders, the creases of the elbows, the folds of the neck. Roman wiped the baby's face with a clean towel, his movements clumsy, almost reverent.Then he noticed the slightly protruding part of the baby’s sex."A boy." Roman stared. For a second, his mind blanked.Evelyn's head lifted weakly, breathing heavily. "What?""A boy." Roman repeated. Gazing at the tiny face, the clenched fists, and the open mouth wailing at the world. He let out a short laugh in disbelief. "It's a boy."His eyes grew wet.Roman had been so sure. That he turned the whole nursery pink and only bought dresses. The name he had picked was for a daughter. Buy all of it was wrong. Turns out Evelyn won.Staring at the baby, he no longer cared. All he saw was his first child. Born by the woman he loved more than anything. It was like a dream come
The line went silent."You can't be serious.”"I am.""Roman, you haven't practiced medicine in years."“She’s my wife.” His grip tightened.“And no one is putting her or my child at risk.”Theon exhaled. "Roman, you are not even specialized in this aspect, if something goes wrong—""It won't.” He paused. “I remember enough to get my wife and child through this.”Another silence settled between them."I'll catch the next flight," Theon said. "I should be there in—""You'll be too late." Roman cut him off. "The baby is coming now."The snow swallowed the road ahead."Keep your phone on," Theon said. "I'll talk you through it if you need."Roman didn't answer. He pressed the accelerator.***Back in Rosewood manor, Evelyn cried into a pillow. “Roman!”Her voice trembled. “I changed my mind!”Mrs. Chen blinked. “About what?”Evelyn burst into tears. “I don’t want the baby anymore!”—Roman's car finally screeched to a halt in the familiar driveway after a long ride.He barely put it in p
Leo drove with one hand, the other gripping his phone. The address was burned into his memory.His mind replayed the trembling voice over and over again.‘Those men. They came back.’His grip tightened. He had almost forgotten how long it had been since he brought her here.Leo drove faster. The streets blurred past him. The buildings grew older as he turned into a quieter part of the city.The neighborhood looked almost forgotten.He slowed the car, brows furrowing as he tried to remember the exact building.When he finally noticed the familiar block, he froze. Three men stood at the apartment building, watching and loitering around.Leo cursed under his breath, and pulled up his phone.“Police emergency,” the operator answered.Leo kept his gaze fixed on the men. “There are suspicious men trespassing outside an apartment building.”His voice hardened. “They appear to be harassing a young woman.”He gave the address, described the men, and hung up.Five minutes later, a patrol car ro
Marcus remained rooted to the spot long after the elevator doors closed.His jaw was tight. His fists hung at his sides, clenched so hard his knuckles ached."You can try."Roman's dismissive voice echoed in his head. Like he was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.The stiff smile on his face disappeared bit by bit until nothing remained.Arrogant. Even now, Roman still looked down on him. Even after placing him on sabbatical, he still returned and effortlessly took control again.Marcus face darkened.Ring.The sound of his ringing phone cut through his thoughts. His gaze dropped to the screen. The irritation on his face vanished. Something sharper flickered through his eyes.He answered immediately. “I was waiting for your call.”A calm female voice sounded from the other end. “How are things on your side?”Marcus started walking toward his office “They’re progressing.” his voice turned respectful.“Good.”The woman paused. “Then I assume things are going according to plan?”Ma
Evelyn woke with a frown. Something felt wrong.The room was dark, the faint glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows across the walls. She stayed still for a moment, blinking at the ceiling. Then a dull ache spread across her waist.Evelyn stiffened. Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach.“…Ow.”The soreness stretched from her lower back to her waist. Not sharp. But uncomfortable enough to make her uneasy.Her brows knitted.Immediately, her thoughts flew to the fortune teller."I cannot feel your pregnancy. As if it's not there."Her heartbeat picked up. Evelyn turned toward the other side of the bed. Roman wasn’t there.Her heart became frantic. “Roman?”No answer. She sat up with effort, pushing the blanket away.The soreness hit again, causing her to wince.“Ugh…” She pushed herself off the bed.The hallway remained quiet. Only one room carried light beneath the door. The study.Roman's calm voice drifted through."…the quarterly projections need to be revised. I want them
Lena woke with a splitting headache.Morning light slipped through the curtains and landed straight across her face. She groaned and dragged the blanket over her head.Her head throbbed and her mouth felt dry.“You’re awake.”Evelyn’s voice came from somewhere too close.Lena cracked one eye open.Evelyn sat on the edge of the bed with a bowl of soup in her hands. Steam curled from the top.Lena squinted. “When did you learn to make soup?”“I didn’t.” Evelyn placed the bowl on the nightstand. “I ordered it.”Lena nodded once. “That makes sense.”“Don’t change the subject.”Lena frowned. “What subject?”Evelyn stared at her.“The one where you told me you were meeting Rhys, then somehow ended up drunk at a fancy restaurant.”She paused. "Drunk, Lena. In public."Lena groaned and pressed both palms against her eyes.“Can we not?” Her voice came out rough. “My head feels like someone is punishing me for my life choices.”“You promised me.” Evelyn crossed her arms. “You said you’d pull yo
Roman kept his promise.Later that afternoon, once she could walk without glaring at him every few steps, he took her out.Not just anywhere.Everywhere.He showed her Italy the way only Roman could — unhurried and intentional. Cliffside restaurants overlooking endless blue. Quiet cobblestone stree
Roman leaned closer, just enough for her to feel his presence. “Wear it for me,” he murmured. “Please.”That was unfair.She had just promised herself she’d stop hiding. Stop shrinking. Stop letting shyness win.Evelyn bit her lip, her resolve trembling—but holding.“There’s a private cove just bel
Evelyn sat on the edge of the wooden dock, her legs dangling just above the glassy surface of the lake. Her camera hung from her neck, resting against her chest, her hat shielding her eyes from the gentle afternoon sun. The conversation with Lena replayed in her mindAfter the abrupt end to their fi
Her stomach betrayed her.A low, unmistakable growl cut through the silence between them.Evelyn froze.Heat flooded her cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut, mortified. “Oh my God,” she muttered into the pillow.For half a second, Roman simply stared, then his lips curved into a slow, delighted smil







