chapter 41

...

By the time Judith reached her eighth month of pregnancy, everyone had become paranoid.

Liam was paranoid.

Her mother was paranoid.

Julian was beyond paranoid.

At one point, Judith sneezed and three people asked if she needed a doctor.

It was ridiculous, completely ridiculous.

Unfortunately, nobody listened when she pointed that out.

One Friday evening, Judith was leaving Lux Group headquarters after a long meeting when her phone rang.

Liam.

She smiled before answering.

That was becoming a problem.

A very serious problem.

"Hello."

"Are you still at work?"

His tone immediately made her roll her eyes.

"Don't start."

"I'm not starting."

"You are."

"I'm simply asking a question."

"That sounds suspicious."

Liam laughed.

The sound sent an annoying warmth through her chest.

"Judith."

"What?"

"Go home."

She walked toward the elevator.

"I am going home."

"Good."

A pause.

Then.....

"Text me when you get there."

She smiled despite herself.

"You're becoming unbearable."

"Noted."

The elevator doors opened.

The call ended shortly afterward.

Judith never got the chance to send that text.

Because halfway to the parking garage, everything went wrong.

A sharp pain hit her stomach.

So sudden she stopped walking.

Her breath caught.

For a moment she remained frozen.

Then another pain followed.

Stronger, much stronger.

Fear immediately settled in her chest.

Not because she didn't know what contractions were.

Because she did.

And she knew it was too early.

Way too early.

Judith reached for her phone.

Her hands were shaking.

The first number she called wasn't her mother.

Or Ava.

Or Julian.

It was Liam.

The call connected instantly.

"Judith?"

The moment he heard her breathing, his voice changed.

"What happened?"

For the first time in months, she sounded frightened.

"Liam..."

His heart dropped.

Immediately.

"Where are you?"

"I think..."

Another contraction interrupted her.

Pain flashed across her face.

"I think something's wrong."

The world seemed to stop.

Liam was already grabbing his keys before she finished speaking.

"I'm coming."

"Liam—"

"I'm coming."

The line disconnected.

Across the city, Liam broke more traffic laws in fifteen minutes than he had in the previous ten years.

Nothing else mattered.

Nothing.

Not meetings.

Not business.

Not consequences.

Only Judith.

Only the baby.

When he arrived at the parking garage, he spotted her immediately.

She was sitting on a bench.

One hand on her stomach.

Trying very hard not to panic.

The moment she saw him, relief flooded her expression.

And something inside Liam nearly broke.

Because she had called him.

Him.

Not anyone else.

Him.

He was beside her seconds later.

"Look at me."

Judith lifted her eyes.

"You and the baby are going to be okay."

The confidence in his voice sounded absolute and unshakable.

Even though inside he was terrified.

Together they rushed to the hospital.

The next few hours became a blur.

Doctors.

Tests.

Nurses.

Questions.

Waiting.

Endless waiting.

Family members arrived one after another.

Eleanor.

Richard.

Julian.

Ava.

Even Ethan.

The waiting room slowly filled.

Nobody spoke much.

Everyone was worried.

Liam paced continuously.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Julian watched him for several minutes before finally speaking.

"Sit down."

Liam ignored him.

"Smith."

Still nothing.

Julian sighed.

Then something surprising happened.

He stood.

Walked over.

And placed a hand on Liam's shoulder.

Liam froze.

The gesture shocked both of them.

"You'll wear a hole in the floor."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Liam laughed weakly.

The first laugh he'd managed all night.

Hours later, a doctor finally appeared.

Everyone stood instantly.

"How is she?"

The question came from at least four different people.

The doctor smiled reassuringly.

"Mother and baby are fine."

Relief hit the room so hard it was almost physical.

Several people sat down immediately.

Ava actually started crying.

Then denied it.

Repeatedly.

The doctor continued.

"It wasn't labor."

Every person in the room visibly relaxed.

"However..."

The word immediately ruined everything.

Liam felt his stomach drop.

The doctor smiled.

"It's time for her to stop working."

Julian looked victorious.

Absolutely victorious.

"I've been saying that."

Nobody cared.

Because Judith was okay.

The baby was okay.

That was all that mattered.

An hour later, Liam was finally allowed into her room.

The lights were dim.

The room was quiet.

Judith looked exhausted.

But she smiled when she saw him.

That smile alone made the worst night of his life feel bearable.

"You look awful."

Liam laughed.

"So do you."

"Rude."

"Accurate."

For several moments they simply looked at each other.

No jokes.

No distractions.

Just relief.

Then Judith's expression softened.

"Thank you."

Liam frowned.

"For what?"

"For coming."

The answer surprised him.

Because from his perspective, there had never been a choice.

Never.

He moved closer to the bed.

Then gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.

The gesture was instinctive.

Natural.

Intimate.

"I'll always come."

The words settled between them.

Simple.

Honest.

Absolute.

Judith felt tears sting her eyes.

Because she believed him.

Completely.

Without hesitation.

And maybe that was what finally changed everything.

Not the months they'd spent rebuilding trust.

This.

Knowing that if she needed him, he would come.

Every time.

Without question.

Without hesitation.

Without fail.

For the first time since their divorce, Judith realized she wasn't afraid anymore.

And that realization terrified her far less than it should have.