She slept quietly beneath the dim lights, her breathing finally steady now after hours of chaos. The tension that had twisted her face earlier was gone for the moment, softened by the medication keeping her asleep.
Strands of hair rested across her cheek. One hand still lay protectively over her stomach. Julian walked over slowly and sat beside her again. The chair creaked softly beneath him. Carefully, he reached for her hand and held it between both of his.
Warm. Alive. Still here. His thumb brushed gently against her skin while his eyes stayed fixed on her sleeping face. For a moment, the powerful future head of the Vale empire disappeared completely. No cold businessman. No strategist. No heir. Just a man terrified of losing the person he loved most.
"Please be okay, baby," he whispered quietly. His voice sounded tired now. Almost fragile. "I can't fight this without you."
