The sterile hospital corridor felt unnaturally long as Adrian paced back and forth, his thoughts racing faster than his hurried footsteps. His hand clenched and unclenched, a nervous habit he couldn’t shake.The fluorescent lights above flickered occasionally, matching the anxious pulse racing through his veins. His mind replayed every moment of the day: Elena's soft smile as they entered the hospital, her tight grip on his hand as the contractions started growing more frequent.He had never felt this powerless, standing in the shadow of something so far beyond his control. Every part of him was itching to be there beside her, but the doctor had insisted he wait outside. "Just for a moment," they said, "just to let things progress."But as time dragged on, it felt like more than a moment. It felt like an eternity.Adrian stopped pacing, his back pressed against the cool, white wall, and closed his eyes for a second, willing the fear to subside. He let out a long breath, rubbing his fa
The day had been peaceful, wrapped in gentle sunshine and laughter echoing faintly in the freshly prepared nursery. Adrian had just returned from finalizing a few touches in the baby’s room when he heard Elena call out. Her voice—usually calm and melodious—carried an unusual urgency that made his heart leap.“Elena?” he rushed to the living room.She was standing by the edge of the couch, one hand clutching her lower abdomen, the other gripping the side for support. Her face was pale, her expression strained.“I think... we need to go,” she said, trying to steady her breath.Adrian’s heart skipped a beat. He dropped everything he was holding and rushed to her side, placing a hand on her back and another under her arm for support.“Okay, okay. We’re going. Just breathe, alright? You’re okay,” he whispered, kissing her forehead as he gently guided her toward the door.The house staff, seeing the tension, immediately sprang into action. Elena’s hospital bag was already packed and waiting
Adrain stood at the center of the living room, eyes scanning the vast space that was about to be transformed. The soft morning sun filtered through the windows, casting golden rays over the polished floors and elegant décor. But today, everything would change. Today, their house would turn into a warm, joyful celebration of new life—because today was the baby shower.He had risen earlier than usual, quietly slipping out of bed so as not to disturb Elena, who was still asleep, resting peacefully. She needed all the rest she could get. The pregnancy had come with a sweet kind of tiredness, and he made it his mission to carry every burden for her.After a quick breakfast and coffee, Adrain gathered the team of decorators he’d called ahead of time. The house, already grand and modern, needed touches of innocence and warmth. He wanted soft pinks, creams, and golds—a color scheme that screamed elegance but whispered love.Balloons floated up into gentle arches, lining the hallway and framin
The sun was warm, casting a gentle golden hue over the city. It was the perfect day for something special. For Adrian and Elena, it wasn’t just another ordinary outing—it was a celebration of the life growing inside her. The moment they’d both waited for with eager hearts had arrived. Their daughter. Their miracle. And today, they were going shopping for her.Adrian pulled open the passenger door of the sleek black SUV, helping Elena down with the utmost gentleness. Though she was still in her early months, he treated her as though she were made of glass. She smiled at him as she stepped down, placing a hand gently over her belly. He kissed her forehead and whispered, “For our princess.”Hand-in-hand, they walked into the luxury baby store, a boutique filled with soft colors, delicate textures, and shelves stocked with the most adorable baby items imaginable. The aroma of lavender and baby powder hung lightly in the air, creating a sense of calm and excitement all at once.Elena’s eye
Adrain chuckled. “Well, she and the investigator both said they initially wanted to ask when you didn’t show up, but since I mentioned I’d be working from home more and only breezing in and out of the office, they figured everything was okay since we’re together.”Elena smiled warmly, placing her hand on her belly. “Do you think it’s time we tell them?”Adrain’s eyes met hers, a quiet sparkle of joy lighting his face. “I was thinking the same. They’ve stood by us through so much—it feels right to let them be a part of our joy. Just the two of them, for now.”Elena nodded in agreement. “Tomorrow then. At the close of work.”The next day, just as the evening sun dipped behind the skyline, Adrain called Sophie and his investigator into his office for a quick meeting.Both of them exchanged curious glances as they walked in. “Sir?” the investigator asked.Adrain leaned against his desk, arms crossed but with a calm smile that hinted at something more. “I wanted to thank you both for check
At first, it didn’t raise alarm. Everyone deserved a break after what they'd endured, especially Elena, who had endured more than anyone had seen on the surface. But now, her absence stirred a quiet concern in Sophie’s chest.Unable to resist the growing curiosity, Sophie made her way to Adrain’s office. She knocked gently, and upon hearing his familiar, “Come in,” she stepped inside. Adrain was seated by the window, working through some documents on his tablet, dressed casually in a linen shirt, a slight smile touching the corner of his lips when he saw her.“Sophie,” he said warmly, setting the tablet aside. “What a pleasant surprise. Everything alright?”Sophie nodded, then hesitated. “Yes… I just wanted to ask—how’s Elena? I hope everything is okay.”Adrain's smile deepened slightly, touched by her concern. But before he could respond, the door clicked open again.It was Adrain’s trusted investigator. His eyes shifted between the two of them, and he raised a brow. “I hope I’m not
The morning sun poured golden light through the curtains as Adrain helped Elena into the car, his hand protective on her lower back. The day had finally arrived—the gender reveal appointment. There was an unspoken excitement in the air, a kind of nervous anticipation that neither of them wanted to admit out loud. Both had made playful claims in the days leading up to this moment: Adrain had already imagined their daughter with pigtails and sharp wit, while Elena pictured a little boy with his father’s eyes and calm demeanor.“I’m telling you, Elena,” Adrain said as they drove through the quiet city streets, “I’ve had dreams. She’s a girl. I can already hear her voice calling me ‘Daddy.’”Elena chuckled and gave him a teasing look. “And I’ve had dreams of our son—curious, strong, and always asking questions about the world.”Adrain shook his head with a grin. “Well, one of us is going to be proven right today.”They arrived at the private hospital and were ushered into the familiar wa
After the scan, Dr. Moore conducted the rest of the routine checkup, confirming Elena’s vitals were stable, and her energy levels were where they should be. She offered gentle advice on nutrition and managing stress, along with prenatal vitamins to continue taking.As they stepped out of the examination room and back into the hallway, Adrain couldn’t stop looking at the sonogram prints. He was quiet for a while, as if lost in thought, then suddenly turned to Elena and said, “This changes everything. I thought I loved you at my fullest… but seeing this, feeling this… I love you even more now.”Elena touched his face, leaning into his shoulder. “And I love you, Adrain. More than words.”They walked out of the hospital hand-in-hand, their hearts full, their bond stronger than ever.This wasn’t just a checkup—it was the first official encounter with a piece of their shared future. And it was beautiful.The drive back from the hospital was quiet but not silent. It was filled with the kind
True to his word, Adrain arranged for his home office to be fully equipped. His large study was renovated into a sleek and efficient workspace, complete with secure connections to the company’s boardroom via encrypted video feeds and systems for virtual communication with all departments.He delegated, coordinated, and led major meetings from home, always making sure that he never had to step too far from Elena. The staff knew to keep interruptions minimal and to only bring the most urgent matters to him directly.Meanwhile, Elena was treated like royalty. Fresh fruit platters. Hand-picked meals crafted by the mansion’s chef according to her cravings. Soft classical music played on surround sound while she rested in the lounge or read on the patio. Every evening, Adrain would massage her feet gently, whispering little jokes and telling her stories to make her laugh.She protested at first—at least a little—but it was hard to argue with a man who looked at her like she was the only per