U

tates closed behind me h

t my mind remained trapped inside that living r

rid o

ed endlessly t

itation in his voice.

raphina's baby as if it were the

he more I tried to push the though

ed into me. I stumbled forward,

dy myself, but the ground beneath me tilted harder.

ollapsed, a familia

Que

lled me that

t me before my kn

" the deep voice mu

swam badly, but I still recogn

ainst him un

riso

use after all these years, I still recognized him

remember me,"

llowed me before

iliar smell. Hospital. The same place doctors

mic beeping ne

ng in the past days hit me again. I was b

my abdomen beneath the blanket.

are a

asper stood near the window with one hand in his pocket,

it me. Then reality settl

doing here?" I

toward me fully

't answer m

inst him were s

e said finally. "Your emergenc

d. Even now, traces of him still

e," I sa

ad a f

d I am

like he intended to

ld rest,"

hould

and slowly through his hair, a habit he on

ked quietly. "You are

out emotion. "You di

tly. "The cooling-off p

d without rai

I said softly. "Don't act con

before he could respond, the door opene

after seeing me awake.

in

true," Jas

tely. My hand tighte

he baby?"

ced down at the

ringly. "But your stress levels are d

ief. The baby was stable, and

nt comple

.Ba

wardly between us befo

ve weeks along. Avoid st

re leaving. The moment the door shut behind

ke he no longer recogn

e preg

n, just disbelief.

es

ed slightly. "Why d

laugh. Slowly, I tur

you have don

d instantly. Of course,

I added, remindin

e, Jasper looked

things," he

inst my stomach. "No," I cor

ped immediate

softly. "You lost the right to call it

this time. Then his g

rom earlie

ly. I could see it in his eyes, tho

iled. "What

as he

etly for a moment

matter?

tightene

ere inside the room shifted suddenl

son Drax stepped inside lik

confirming I was truly awake. He look

ax," Jasper

with unhurried confidence. "Mr. Finn,"

rkened immediately. "W

lity completely. His atten

de," he said calmly.

nk y

ted before I co

leave now," h

back at him fully. "An

The room hummed wi

aid calmly, "you have a habit of throwing

ned instantly. "She's no

" Morrison a

d away. The tension between them felt li

is time, when he spoke, his voice carried so

aid quietly, "you won'

e. And for the first time since

ooked afraid