"Maybe we should just wait," he whispered carefully. "Just until the baby is born." Amara’s eyes filled with exhaustion. "You’re scared." Julian laughed weakly under his breath.

"Yes," he admitted immediately. The honesty in his voice hurt her. "I’m terrified." He stepped closer until he was right in front of her. "Not because of what people will say." His eyes locked onto hers. "I don’t care about that."

And he truly didn’t. The Vale family. The gossip. The scandal. None of it mattered compared to losing her. Julian reached up slowly and touched her cheek gently. "I’m scared because you already decided there’s a condition attached to loving you."

Amara’s face crumpled slightly. "If that baby is Seb’s," Julian whispered painfully, "you think I deserve someone better." A tear slipped quietly down Amara’s cheek.

"But there is nobody better for me than you." His voice shook at the edges again. "Do you understand how impossible it is for me to imagine my life without you now?" Amara looked down immediately because hearing him say that made her chest ache.

Julian lowered his forehead against hers again. "And that’s what terrifies me," he admitted softly. "Not the truth." His eyes closed briefly. "The thought that one test could make you walk away from me.-

–

Julian stood frozen in the middle of the living room. Amara’s tears were still fresh in his mind. "I’m sorry, Julian..." Her voice had sounded so tired. So defeated.

"Please don’t make this harder anymore," she whispered. "I’m begging you." Every word cut into him.

"Please be ready tomorrow." Then she turned and walked toward their bedroom before he could stop her. Julian watched her disappear down the hallway, feeling completely helpless. The soft click of the bedroom door echoed through the apartment.

And suddenly the penthouse felt unbearably empty. Julian lowered his head slowly, dragging both hands through his hair in frustration. He hated this.

Hated that the woman he loved was crying herself to sleep while he stood there unable to fix any of it. For the first time in years, Julian truly understood what powerlessness felt like.

—

Miles away, inside the private wing of Mercy Hospital, the atmosphere could not have been more different. Sebastian Creed stood beside a hospital bed, smiling.

Actually smiling. The dim lights cast shadows across his face, making the excitement in his eyes look almost unsettling. Machines beeped softly around the room. And lying in the middle of it all was Seren.

Small. Pale. Fragile after three years trapped in silence. Seb leaned closer to her bedside carefully. "Did you hear that, Seren?" he murmured softly. His voice carried an eerie tenderness.

"Your mummy is coming tomorrow." A slow grin spread across his face. "Yes," he whispered excitedly. "Amara is coming to see you." His fingers brushed lightly against Seren’s hand.

"You’ll finally get what you always wanted." His eyes gleamed. "The only Piers and Creed princess." For a moment, nothing happened.

Then. Seren’s fingers twitched. Seb froze instantly. His entire body went still. "Princess?" Another tiny movement. Seb’s breathing quickened.

"Can you hear me?" he whispered urgently. "If you can hear Daddy, move your hand again." A second later. She did.

A sharp breath escaped him. The doctors nearby immediately straightened in alarm. And then slowly... Very slowly... Seren’s eyes fluttered open. Sebastian’s face lit up with something dangerously close to triumph.

Three years. Three years of silence. And now. "Daddy..." Her tiny voice cracked weakly through the room. Seb’s eyes widened. "Daddy," Seren cried again softly, confused tears filling her eyes. "Where’s Mummy?"

The doctors rushed forward immediately, checking monitors and shining lights carefully into her eyes. One nurse gasped quietly. "She’s responding perfectly."

Seb barely heard them. His entire attention remained fixed on Seren. "Are you sure this worked?" he asked the doctors quickly, unable to contain the excitement in his voice.

One of the specialists nodded. "Yes, Mr. Creed," he said carefully. "It appears the neurological response was successful. Recovery will still take time, but this is a major breakthrough."

Seb smiled slowly. A dangerous kind of smile. Because his mind was already somewhere else. Not on Seren. On Amara. If it worked on Seren... Then it could work on Amara too. No permanent damage. No serious complications.

Just enough. Enough to fix everything. Enough to bring her back to him. Seren tugged weakly at his sleeve again. "Where’s Mummy?" she asked tearfully.

Seb’s expression softened immediately as he looked down at her. "Mummy will come tomorrow," he promised gently. "Daddy promises."

Seren relaxed slightly after hearing that. Then suddenly, another thought crossed Seb’s mind.

A test. Carefully, he reached for his phone and pulled up a photo.

Elara. He showed it to Seren quietly. "Who is this?" Seren blinked sleepily at the picture before answering without hesitation.

"That’s your secretary." Seb’s eyes sharpened instantly. "And my nanny." A slow smile spread across his face. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Then he changed the photo. Amara appeared on the screen.

The second Seren saw her, her tired little face brightened instantly. "That’s Mummy," she whispered with a tiny smile. Sebastian stared at her for a long second. Then finally leaned back in his chair.

Satisfied. Relieved. Victorious. "Rest now, sweetheart," he murmured gently, helping settle her back against the pillows. Seren closed her eyes again slowly, still smiling faintly.

Seb turned away afterward, unable to hide the excitement building inside him anymore.

"This is great," he whispered to himself. His smile widened. "This is just great." Sebastian could barely contain himself as he stepped out of the hospital. For the first time in years, he felt light.

The cold night air hit his face, but he barely noticed it. His mind was racing too fast, replaying Seren’s voice over and over again. Daddy. Three years. Three years of silence, and now she was awake.

Seb laughed softly to himself as he walked across the parking lot toward his car. The excitement inside him felt almost boyish, almost manic. Everything was finally falling into place.

He slid into the driver’s seat, loosened his tie, and immediately pulled out his phone. Then he called the one person he knew would notice the difference in his voice instantly.

His mother. The phone rang twice before she answered. "Sebastian?" Madam Creed’s voice carried warm surprise. "Well, this is rare." Seb smiled as he leaned back against the seat.

"Hello, Mother."

"Well?" she teased lightly. "Are you finally remembering you have a mother?" Seb let out a quiet laugh.