LOGINLILY'S POV After Tony Had Left.She remained motionless on the bed.The bedroom door had barely stopped vibrating from Tony's departure with her eyes fixed on it.Unblinking.The frown on her face lingered.Then finally she looked away.Her gaze swept across the mattress.Searching.The moment she spotted her phone lying near one of the pillows, she reached for it immediately.Her fingers wrapped around the device.The screen lit up.A few taps later, she was already scrolling through her recent calls.Megan.Her thumb pressed the name.The phone rose to her ear.The ringtone echoed softly through the speaker.Lily rose from the bed as she waited.One ring.Two.Then—"Hey." Megan's voice flowed through the speaker.At the same moment, Lily reached the master bathroom door."Hey."Her answer came out barely above a whisper.She pushed the door open.Stepped inside.Then quickly locked it behind her.Lily then walked deeper into the bathroom."Why are we whispering?" Megan asked.Lily
Tony blinked.For a moment, he simply stared at Lily.Then his eyes slowly lowered to her stomach.His lips parting slightly before his gaze rose back to her face. "Are you sure?" The question came out softer than he intended.His eyes drifted downward again before he lowered himself onto the edge of the bed beside her, the mattress dipping beneath his weight.Lily watched him carefully."Are you annoyed?" Her voice was quiet.Cautious."What?"Tony's eyebrows lifted immediately, small smile appearing on his face, before a short breath escaped him."No."He shook his head. "Why would I be annoyed?"His hand reached for hers as his smile widened. "This is good news. I'm the happiest man alive right now.""You are?" Relief washed visibly across Lily's face. A breath escaped her lips. The tension in her shoulders eased."Yes." Tony nodded.Without thinking, he rested a hand gently against her stomach.His palm lingered there.Warm. Protective. "I've gotten two pieces of good news today.
Moments later, Tony’s car rolled into the teaching hospital parking lot with a slow, controlled ease, the tires cutting through the quiet morning stillness of the Genetics Department wing.He didn’t rush when he parked.He simply aligned the vehicle, killed the engine, and sat for half a second longer than necessary.Still.Silent.Then he pushed the door open.The soft thud of his flip-flops hit the pavement as he stepped out.The air outside felt sharper than he expected.He lowered the wing door, pressed the lock key, and didn’t look back at the car again.His focus was already ahead.The building.The answer.Inside, fluorescent lighting replaced daylight as he walked through the hospital corridors with steady steps.No hesitation.Just movement.A few minutes later, he stood in front of a closed office door.He knocked once.Then twice.A pause.“Come in.”The voice came firm, professional.Tony pushed the door open.The doctor looked up immediately.A polite smile formed on his
TONY.Two Days Later.The Glass Penthouse.8:00 AM.Tony's eyes slowly opened.For a few silent seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling above him.The room was washed in the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the thin curtains that covered the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master bedroom.He turned his head.Lily was still asleep beside him.Her wine-colored hair spilled messily across one side of her face, a few strands resting against her cheek. Her breathing was slow and steady, her body completely relaxed beneath the blanket.A faint smile tugged at Tony's lips.His gaze lingered on her a moment longer.Then he pushed himself upright.A quiet breath escaped him.His elbows rested briefly on his knees as he stared toward the far corner of the room.He wasn't really looking at anything.His thoughts were elsewhere.Today.Today he would finally get his answer.The message had come in the previous night. The DNA test results were ready. His fingers rose to his hair, b
Moments Later.We pulled into the labor and delivery parking lot.The tires slowed, rolled, then stopped completely.The engine cut off.For a second, everything went quiet except my breathing.Tony turned toward me. “Are you okay?”I nodded quickly, too focused on the contraction tightening through my lower belly to speak properly.“Mmm… mm.”My hand gripped the edge of the seat as another wave built under my ribs.Tony didn’t wait.He opened his door and stepped out.I saw him move around the front of the vehicle through the window, fast but controlled.Then my door opened.Cold air hit my face immediately.A stronger contraction pulled through me.“Ah—”Tony leaned in instantly, one hand steady on my arm.“Easy. I’ve got you.”I shifted forward slowly.Every movement felt heavier than the last.He guided me out carefully until my feet touched the pavement.The moment my weight fully settled on the ground, a sharp pressure shot through my back.I gasped.Tony didn’t let go.He shut
AVA.A Week and Some Days Later.The Glass Penthouse.6:15 PM.I rolled slowly from my left side onto my back, then onto my right, trying to get comfortable. The ache that had been living in my lower back and belly all day refused to leave.A slow breath slipped past my lips.I shifted again, careful, measured, one hand resting beneath my stomach.Another pain hit.Stronger this time.It wrapped around my lower belly and squeezed."Ahhh..."The sound escaped before I could stop it.I shut my eyes and waited.A few seconds later it eased.My chest rose and fell heavily.Then I planted both palms against the mattress and pushed myself upright.My swollen stomach stretched prominently in front of me.Nine months.I swung my legs over the edge of the bed.Slowly.Carefully.The moment my feet touched the floor, I rose up and took a step.Then froze.A strange popping sensation rippled deep inside my pelvis.My eyes widened.A warm gush suddenly rushed down my thighs.Fluid splashed onto t







