บททั้งหมดของ The Contract Omega( MXM Romance): บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

Aldric POVSleep would not come. I had been lying in the darkness for hours now, listening to Caelen's steady breathing beside me while my mind refused to quiet. His head rested against my chest, one hand curled loosely over my heart, and every few minutes I felt the subtle shift of his body as he settled deeper into sleep.He could sleep now. The secret was out, the confession made, the worst of his fears confronted and dismissed. For him, the hardest part was over.For me, it was just beginning.My hand moved to his stomach almost without conscious thought, settling gently over the slight swell that I had somehow failed to notice before. Beneath my palm, hidden under skin and muscle and layers of biology I did not fully understand, was a baby. My baby. Our baby.The thought kept circling back, refusing to be pushed aside or rationalized away.I was going to be a father.In seven months, less than that now, probably closer to six and a half, there would be a child who depended on me

Caelen POVThe medical building was modern and discreet, tucked into a quiet street in Kensington where privacy was practically guaranteed. I sat in the passenger seat of Aldric's car with my hands clenched in my lap, trying to breathe through the anxiety that had been building since we left the estate.This was real. We were about to see the baby for the first time. Together. No more hiding, no more secrets, just the two of us facing this enormous thing we had created."You okay?" Aldric asked, putting the car in park but not moving to get out yet."Nervous. Terrified. Excited. All of it at once." I flexed my fingers, trying to release some of the tension. "What if something's wrong? What if the ultrasound shows complications?""Then we'll handle it. Together." He reached over and took my hand, his grip warm and steady. "But Dr. Rose said everything looked healthy last time, right?""Yes, but that was two weeks ago. Anything could have changed.""Or nothing has changed, and everythin

Caelen POVDinner was a celebration, even though we had not planned it that way. Eleanor kept getting up to touch my shoulder or squeeze Aldric's hand, like she needed the physical contact to believe this was real. She asked a thousand questions about the pregnancy, my symptoms, the doctor's recommendations, and how we were feeling about becoming parents."Terrified," I admitted over dessert. "Completely terrified.""That's normal. Every parent is terrified at first." She smiled at the memory. "I was nineteen when I found out I was pregnant with you. No partner, no stable job, no idea how I was going to manage. But somehow you figure it out because you have to.""You were so young," Aldric said quietly. "That must have been incredibly difficult.""It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But also the best." She looked at me with such love it made my chest ache. "Being your mother has been the greatest privilege of my life, Caelen. Even when things were hard, even when I was sick and s

Mira POVI spent the rest of the day watching. During lunch, I noticed how Aldric made sure Caelen ate, how he kept water within reach, how his hand kept gravitating to Caelen's stomach with unconscious protectiveness. At dinner, when Caelen mentioned being tired, Aldric immediately suggested moving to the conservatory ,where the furniture was more comfortable.Small things. Consistent things. The kind of care that cannot be faked over an extended period.After dinner, Caelen and I retreated to the guest room where I was staying, sprawling across the bed as we had during university."So?" Caelen asked nervously. "What do you think?""I think you found someone who actually loves you." I poked his arm. "But I'm still mad you didn't tell me about the pregnancy immediately.""I was terrified, Mira. I didn't know how to tell anyone when I could barely process it myself.""I know. But we're best friends. You're supposed to be terrified with me, not alone." I softened my voice. "How are you

Caelen POVThe cramping started during the afternoon strategy meeting, a dull ache low in my abdomen that I tried to ignore. We had the board presentation in two days, and I was in the middle of explaining how to frame the international expansion messaging. Five executives sat around our dining table with laptops and papers spread everywhere, and I could not afford to lose focus."The key is positioning ourselves as thoughtful versus Voss's reckless approach," I said, pulling up another slide. "We emphasize sustainable growth that benefits all stakeholders, not just..."The cramp intensified suddenly, sharp enough to make me pause mid-sentence. I pressed my hand against my stomach, trying to breathe through it."Caelen?" Rachel's voice came from across the table. "You okay?""Fine. Just a cramp." I forced myself to continue. "Not just shareholders seeking quick profits. We need messaging that appeals to…"Another cramp, stronger this time. I gripped the edge of the table, my vision go