chapter 33

The First Crack....

By the time Judith entered her seventh month of pregnancy, everyone around her had become unbearable

Just collectively.

Her mother called three times a day.

Julian had somehow appointed himself head of security.

Ava sent her articles about babies at random hours.

Liam kept showing up with things she didn't need.

And Ethan...

Ethan watched her like she might disappear if he looked away for too long.

It was exhausting.

"You all need hobbies."

Judith announced one evening.

The statement was directed at everyone gathered in her living room.

Nobody looked guilty.

Which made it worse.

"That's rude."

Ava grabbed another cookie.

"You literally came here because you thought I sounded tired on the phone."

"You did sound tired."

"I was yawning."

"Exactly."

Julian nodded in agreement.

Traitor.

Judith looked toward Ethan.

"Say something."

Ethan raised his hands.

"I enjoy being alive."

The room erupted into laughter.

Even Judith couldn't stop herself from smiling.

Then the doorbell rang.

Ava immediately stood.

"I'll get it."

Nobody stopped her.

Mostly because everybody already knew who it was.

A few moments later Liam walked inside carrying several bags.

Judith immediately groaned

"No."

Liam stopped.

"What?"

"What did you buy?"

His expression became suspiciously innocent.

"Nothing."

"Liam."

"A few things."

Everyone stared.

Julian looked ready to throw him out personally.

Ethan looked amused.

Ava looked excited.

Judith looked exhausted.

Ten minutes later, her living room floor was covered in baby supplies.

Blankets.

Toys.

Books.

Tiny clothes.

So many tiny clothes.

"Do babies really need this much stuff?"

Judith asked.

Liam looked genuinely confused.

"Of course."

"No."

"Yes."

"Absolutely not."

Richard, who had arrived halfway through the argument, picked up a tiny sweater.

"This is adorable."

"Don't encourage him."

Judith pointed at her father.

Richard immediately put the sweater down.

"Fair."

The conversation continued long into the evening.

Comfortable and easy.

The kind of gathering Judith hadn't realized she missed.

At some point, she looked around the room.

Her parents.

Julian.

Ava.

Ethan.

Liam

All laughing.

All arguing.

All talking over each other.

And for a brief moment, she imagined what things could have been.

If her marriage had looked like this.

If Liam had been part of her world instead of standing outside it.

If they had learned each other sooner.

The thought hurt more than she expected.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through her lower back.

───

Judith froze.

The smile disappeared from her face.

Immediately, Liam noticed.

"What happened?"

Everyone turned.

Judith forced a smile.

"Nothing."

Liam was already standing.

"Judith."

The concern in his voice made everyone pay attention.

Even Ethan.

"It's fine."

But it wasn't.

Another sharp pain followed.

Not unbearable.

Just enough to make her grip the armrest.

The room instantly became tense.

Her mother stood.

"Are you alright?"

Julian looked alarmed.

Liam was already beside her.

And for the first time all evening, nobody was laughing.

A few minutes later, they were at the hospital.

The drive felt much longer than it actually was

Liam drove.

Probably faster than he should have.

Judith sat beside him.

Trying to remain calm.

Trying not to panic.

The baby was okay.

She knew that.

Probably.

Hopefully.

Yet fear had a way of ignoring logic.

At the hospital, doctors quickly examined her.

Ran tests.

Asked questions.

Checked everything.

The wait felt endless.

Liam paced the hallway.

Julian paced with him.

Which was unfortunate.

Because two anxious men pacing together only created more anxiety.

Eventually, the doctor returned.

"The baby is fine."

Relief hit the hallway instantly.

Judith nearly cried.

Liam actually sat down.

Julian closed his eyes

The doctor smiled.

"Stress and exhaustion."

Judith immediately looked away.

Because she already knew what was coming.

Sure enough.

Every person in the room turned toward her.

Every single one.

"This is ridiculous."

Nobody looked convinced.

The doctor folded her arms.

"You need rest."

Judith sighed.

"I know."

"No."

The doctor pointed at her.

"You know it. You don't do it."

Ava looked impressed

"I like her."

The doctor ignored her.

After another hour, Judith was finally allowed to go home.

By then it was late.

The city was quiet.

The roads nearly empty

Liam drove her back himself.

Neither spoke much.

The scare had shaken both of them.

More than either wanted to admit.

When they arrived at the estate, Judith reached for the door.

Then stopped.

"Liam."

He looked toward her.

For a moment, she wasn't sure what to say.

Because she had seen something at the hospital.

Something she hadn't expected.

Fear.

Real fear.

Not the fear of losing a child.

Not only that.

The fear of losing her.

And that realization had stayed with her.

"You looked terrified."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Liam didn't answer immediately.

For the first time all night, he looked away.

Then he laughed quietly.

A humorless laugh.

"I was."

The honesty caught her off guard.

Liam gripped the steering wheel.

"When they took you inside..."

His voice became lower.

Quieter.

"I couldn't stop thinking about all the things I never got the chance to say."

Judith felt her breath catch.

The silence between them stretched.

Neither looking away.

Neither pretending not to understand.

Then Liam spoke again.

"That's when I realized something."

"What?"

His eyes met hers.

And for the first time in months, there was no hesitation.

Just truth.

"If anything happened to you, Judith..."

He stopped.

Took a breath.

Then finished softly.

"It would destroy me."

The words settled heavily between them.

Because they weren't dramatic.

They weren't rehearsed.

They were real.

And for the first time since the divorce, a small crack appeared in the wall Judith had built around her heart.