เข้าสู่ระบบThe third time Zora woke them before sunrise, Asher Blackwood made a decision.“We’re hiring another night nurse.”Serena, who was sitting against the headboard with their daughter tucked against her chest, looked at him over Zora’s tiny head.“You said that yesterday.”“And I meant it yesterday.”“You also said it the night before.”“I was right both times.”Serena laughed softly, careful not to disturb the baby.Zora had been home for barely a week, and already she had managed to turn their carefully organised household into a place where sleep was apparently optional.Asher, who could negotiate million-dollar deals without blinking, had discovered that a newborn’s cry was considerably more intimidating.He sat beside Serena and gently brushed a finger over Zora’s cheek.“She’s doing it deliberately,” he murmured.“She is seven days old.”“Exactly. Seven days of strategic manipulation.”Serena shook her head.“You’re going to be a terrible influence on her.”“I intend to be an excel
The sharp, burning pressure of the final push hit Serena like a freight train, tearing straight through her lower back and robbing her of every last breath."One more push, Serena! Right now!" Dr. Aris urged, her voice steady and loud over the hum of the room.Serena gripped the metal rails of the delivery bed until her hands cramped. Her whole body shook with exhaustion, her skin slick with cold sweat as she poured every remaining bit of strength into the push, crying out through her teeth.Then, a sudden, wet weight shifted, followed by a loud, clear cry that shattered the silence of the room."She’s here," Dr. Aris said with a warm smile, quickly wiping the newborn girl and placing her straight onto Serena’s bare chest.Serena sank back into the damp pillows, gasping for air. Her chest heaved, her heart racing so fast she felt dizzy. Her hands trembled violently as she instinctively cradled the tiny, warm body resting against her. The baby was wet, slippery, and crying hard, her li
The sterile, chemical scent of antiseptic soap and freshly laundered cotton sheets replaced the familiar warmth of the penthouse hours ago, marking the boundary between their old life and whatever waited on the other side of this room.Asher stood rigidly beside the adjustable hospital bed, his tailored shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his hands gripping the metal safety rail so tightly that his knuckles shone white under the harsh, recessed overhead lights. Outside the private maternity suite at NewYork-Presbyterian, the Manhattan rain beat a relentless, rhythmic tattoo against the reinforced glass, blurring the distant twinkling lights of the city into bleeding smears of amber and gray."You're going to break the rail, Asher," Serena panted softly, her dark hair splayed across the crisp white pillows as she exhaled a long, measured breath through her nose. Her face was flushed, a faint sheen of sweat catching the light along her temples.Asher immediately loosened his grip, th
The air inside the penthouse smelled faintly of crisp eucalyptus and fresh linen, the city outside muffled by thick double-paned glass as a steady autumn rain tapped against the skyline.Serena sat propped up against a mountain of goose-down pillows on the living room sofa, her feet resting comfortably on an ottoman. Her dark hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she wore a soft, cream-colored cashmere lounge set that stretched smoothly over her full nine-month bump.The calendar on her tablet flashed six, marking the absolute threshold of her due date. Zora’s arrival was no longer a distant plan on a spreadsheet; it was an imminent, breathing reality.Asher walked in from the master study, carrying a thick leather-bound folio tucked under one arm. He stopped by the kitchen island, pouring two glasses of sparkling water before walking over to the sofa and handing one to Serena."Marcus called from the studio an hour ago," Asher said, sitting down beside her and pulling her legs ac
The sharp rattle of the apartment radiator cut through the quiet night, its rhythmic clanking echoing against the peeling plaster of the hallway walls.Cassian sat in a worn, secondhand armchair in the corner of the small nursery, his broad shoulders hunched forward as he rocked back and forth. In his arms, baby Octavia let out a soft, high-pitched mewl, her tiny face scrunched up as she rooted against his chest. The faint scent of warm milk, talcum powder, and cotton filled the cramped room.His thumbs traced the thin fabric of her pink sleeper, feeling the fragile rise and fall of her ribs beneath his palms."I know, little one," Cassian murmured, his voice rough with exhaustion. "I know."He looked around the room, his jaw tightening into a hard, bitter line. The walls were painted a simple, pale cream—a job he had done himself with cheap rollers from the hardware store down the street. There were no imported designer cribs, no custom silk draperies, and no sprawling walk-in closet
The morning light filtering through the tall penthouse windows carried the crisp, biting chill of late autumn, casting long, pale shadows across the hardwood floor.Serena sat at the mahogany dining table, stirring a spoonful of honey into her steaming mug of tea. The heavy scent of brewed bergamot and toasted brioche filled the quiet room. Her left hand rested gently over the heavy, unmistakable curve of her eight-month bump, feeling the slow, rolling shift of the life growing inside her.Asher walked into the room carrying a cup of black coffee. He wore a dark tailored shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, the morning sun catching the sharp planes of his face. He sat down opposite her, setting his mug on a coaster."Marcus mentioned something interesting while we were wrapping up the distribution logistics yesterday," Serena said softly, looking up from her tea.Asher raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip. "Oh? What did Marcus have to say?"







