chapter 16

Judith wasn't expecting Liam to remember the appointment. Moreover, she was of no importance, she thought.

So when she walked into the clinic and found him already waiting, she stopped, but he immediately stood from his seat.

The movement seemed automatic.

Like he'd been watching and waiting for her arrival.

"You're early."

Liam glanced at his watch.

"So are you."

She rolled her eyes at him and he found it cute.

Has she always been this cute? he questioned himself

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

it did not look quite a smile.

But close it was very close to it.

After Judith settled, the waiting room felt awkward and unfamiliar in a way.

For years, they had lived together and done intimate things that even brought them to this point of sitting in an ob/gynae clinic waiting room

But now, even sitting beside each other felt strange.

Eventually, Liam broke the silence.

"Have you thought about names?"

Judith laughed.

"The baby isn't even born yet."

"So?"

"So we have months."

"I like being prepared."

"You own six backup companies."

"Exactly."

Judith shook her head.

Some things never changed, and that saying was true.

When the doctor finally called them inside, Liam became noticeably quieter as if it was time for judgement.

Judith didn't think much of it.

Until the ultrasound started.

The room dimmed slightly.

The monitor flickered.

The technician moved the device gently across Judith's stomach.

Then, the heartbeat filled the room.

It was fast, strong, and unmistakable.

Liam froze completely.

The sound lasted only seconds.

Yet it felt much longer.

Judith looked over.

And for the nth time since she divorced him, she saw Liam Smith utterly speechless.

The technician smiled.

"Everything looks healthy."

Liam didn't answer. He didn't even look at the person producing the sounds.

His eyes remained fixed on the screen.

Afterward, they walked out together.

Neither spoke immediately.

Eventually, Liam stopped beside her car.

"Thank you."

Judith looked surprised.

"For what?"

"For letting me be there."

The honesty caught her off guard.

Liam glanced down at the ultrasound photo in his hand.

Then back at her.

For a moment, he seemed younger somehow.

Less controlled, more youthful, and less certain.

"I didn't know it would feel like that."

Judith understood exactly what he meant.

The first time she heard the heartbeat, she had cried.

The memory softened her expression.

"It's different when it's real."

Liam nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

very different.

That was one word for it.

Life-changing was another.

As Judith drove away, Liam remained standing in the parking lot.

The ultrasound photo was still in his hand.

He looked down at it again.

Then smiled.

A genuine smile that was small and private.

The kind nobody else would ever see.

For the first time, he wasn't thinking about contracts, businesses, family expectations, or mistakes.

He was thinking about becoming a father.

And surprisingly, it was not weird or a heavy feeling. It was like something he anticipated, it was the thing he wanted most.