Chapter 1 - Eden

My swollen feet are hurting a little and my pregnant belly is repeatedly bumping into something in my small kitchen, but I barely notice it.

Unable to contain my smile, I put another piece of roast beef in the Lunch Box on the counter. We don’t usually have such good meat, but I had made a good amount of money selling some of my old books. We would need the shelf space for the baby’s things anyway, and I wanted more than anything to surprise my husband that day.

The walls in our apartment are thin, so I can hear him in the bathroom, getting ready for his big day. Putting the finishing touches on his meal, I bring the Lunch Box with me, trying to be as quiet as possible as I walk over to where he is. 

The door is ajar, so I can see him tying his tie in front of the mirror, his face frozen in a determined expression, and I know he's rehearsing every word he's going to say in his presentation that day. Gosh, he's the one facing all those big-shots from the pharmaceutical industry today, but it seems like I'm the one who's about to explode with nervousness and pride.

As if he had sensed my presence, his blue eyes suddenly met mine through the reflection in the mirror. As if by magic, that pragmatic and even intimidating businessman was gone, leaving behind only my husband. 

I had known that man since I was a child, but every time he looked at me like that, I fell a little more in love with him. Sometimes, I even caught myself afraid the last year we spent together was just a dream. Afraid that one day I would wake up and his ring would no longer be on my finger.

As Connor approached me, I felt our little girl kick, as if she wanted to remind me that none of this was a dream.

“I hope you have a good excuse for being up at this hour, Mrs. Mycroft.” He wraps his arms around me, pressing his lips against mine “I thought I did a good job tiring you out last night. I guess I’ll have to work harder tonight…” Connor murmurs in my ear as his hands slide down my hips, almost making me forget what I came here for.

“I have a surprise for you.” I placed the lunch box between us, suddenly feeling shy “I made your favorite dish. I know your meeting will probably last all day and the food there is probably expensive. But, uh…” I blushed, hesitant “It’s okay if you don’t want to take it… I know it might seem a little childish and make a bad impression on your future partners…”

“Are you kidding?” he laughs and in the next moment, Connor sits me down on the kitchen counter, leaning over me “There’s only one thing I love more than your cooking, Eden. Well, soon there will be two.” He strokes my belly, his eyes shining as he feels our daughter move “But don’t think my favorite dish will make me forget you should be resting, Mrs. Mycroft.”

“It’s a special day. I mean, you’ve been working on this formula for so long. And now the moment has finally come!” I caressed his face, barely able to contain my excitement “They’re going to see how brilliant you are, and you’re finally going to have enough funding to found your own lab! Just like you always dreamed!”

“Well, a lab would be nice…” he chuckles, kissing my face “But the main reason I’m going to this meeting is right here, in my arms. And very soon, I’m going to make sure my wife never has to worry about anything other than her college education and our baby. That’s why I took my brother’s money in the first place. I’d be more than happy if we spent the rest of our lives in this apartment, like this…” Connor rested his forehead against mine, his eyes lighting up like I was the most extraordinary thing he’d ever seen “But you and our little Annie? You deserve more. And I’m going to give it to you.”

“I know you will…” I stroked his face, my heart skipping a few beats when he smiled at me like my approval was the only one that mattered. “Now, I think you should go. I don’t want you to be late. Oh, and give Alexander a hug for me, will you? Tell him his niece misses her godfather.”

“I wish he was there too, but it looks like the weather is bad in Seattle. His helicopter driver advised delaying the trip by a few hours. Which is a shame. This project wouldn’t happen without him…” Connor pulled his phone out of his pocket for a moment, clearly hoping to get a message from his older brother, but what was on the screen made his face contort into an impatient grimace. “Honestly…”

“It’s Jane, isn’t it?” I asked, trying to hide my discomfort as best I could.

I hated feeling jealous more than anything, especially because I trusted Connor with my life. Besides, Jane Ellison had never done anything serious other than be… A little inconvenient.

The three of them had grown up together, anyway. Maybe it was only natural that after a lifetime of attending the same schools, the same parties, and the same houses, Jane would still think her friendship with Connor was closer than it really was. 

God knew Michael, Connor’s father, had worked hard to make it happen, and his son would forget about his friendship with someone like me, the daughter of a mere nanny.

That was why, even though I tried to hide it as much as possible, I still felt my chest tighten when I remembered the last words my father-in-law had shouted at me, on the day Connor had definitely left the Mycroft mansion.

Jane was the right woman for Connor. I was just ruining his life, robbing him of his family, his money, and all the comforts he had grown up with. He should be using his talents to run one of his father's many companies and making his own fortune right now. Not stuck in a tiny apartment in the suburbs with a low-paying job and a pregnant wife who would keep him trapped forever.

No, the real problem wasn't Jane or her tendency to always call Connor, touch him, and try to keep me out of their conversations. What really made me feel that way was the fear that my husband would wake up one day and realize that it hadn't been worth giving up so much just to be with me.

“I thought I was very clear with her last time. I’m tired of this bullshit from her family trying to reconcile me with my father.” Connor rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to put her in her place this time.”

“Don’t be too harsh. She’s just trying to help. I also think you and Michael can still work things out… eventually.” I shrugged, trying to sound more hopeful than I actually felt.

“Sometimes you sound just like Alex…” he huffed, taking a quick glance at his watch. “Listen, I really have to go, but I’m going to leave my phone on the whole time, okay? If anything happens, call me.”

“I would wish you luck, but we both know your genius project doesn’t need it.” I hugged him, exultant.

“And Bowman’s partners too.” The corner of Connor’s mouth lifted with wicked satisfaction.

“Gosh, sometimes it feels like you and Jordan never got out of high school. It’s not because you two are chemists that you need to continue being rivals…”

“He made an enemy for life when he decided to hit on you back in high school.” Connor snorted jealously. “Besides, he’s been bragging for months that he’s the only one who can get a contract out of these tycoons. And I’m going to prove him wrong.” He straightened, stealing one last kiss that made me moan at the memories of that morning when he’d woken up with that tongue between my thighs. “See you tonight. I love you both.”

“I love you too. We’ll both be waiting,” I promised, resting my forehead against his for a second before Connor finally grabbed his nearby briefcase and walked out the door, that confident, dreamy smile still on his face.

Feeling like I'm floating in my own joy, I walked into the living room, sitting down on the couch as I looked at the many medical books still spread out on the coffee table.

“I wanted to study some more…” I cooed to my baby, yawning “But you really need a nap, I see. It’s okay…” I stroked my belly, imagining the little blue-eyed girl who would be in my arms in less than two months “That way the time will pass faster until Daddy comes back…”

Cooking had actually taken more energy than I had imagined, because at some point my heavy eyes got the better of me and I fell into a deep sleep. However, after what seemed like a long time, something woke me up. But not the sound of Connor’s return, as I had expected. 

There was a sharp pain in my belly, seeming to pierce my womb and extend all the way to my spine.

I had only two years of medical school experience under my belt, but I could tell that, although it looked like it, it was no ordinary contraction. The baby was only 7 months old. My daughter probably wasn’t ready to be born yet, even though I could feel something wet running down my legs, as if my water had broken…

However, I didn't really despair until I looked down at my lap and realized what was actually staining my legs and the skirt of my dress.

Blood.