KEY TO HAPPINESS:(My mute devil)-Chapter 84

The hospital doors burst open as Nix stormed in with Elisa cradled carefully in his arms, her soft groans of pain slicing through the sterile air. Tom trailed close behind, his face pale but his voice loud and commanding. "Hey! We need help here.. now!" he barked, his tone sharp enough to draw every pair of eyes in the reception toward them. "She’s in labor! Somebody get a doctor!"

Almost instantly, a nurse leapt from behind the counter, signaling for a stretcher as two orderlies rushed forward. Nix’s grip tightened briefly before he reluctantly let them take Elisa from his arms, his eyes following her as they wheeled her down the corridor. The world seemed to narrow for a moment, the smell of antiseptic, the echo of hurried footsteps, and the distant wail of a monitor brought back a nostalgic feeling. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Then, as the adrenaline began to settle, Nix turned to find Tom staring at him expectantly. He gave him a questioning look, with one brow raised. "Weren’t you grinning from ear to ear just a few minutes ago? So why are you suddenly handing me the responsibility?"

Tom just shrugged, scratching the back of his head with an exaggerated sheepishness. "Because you look more... responsible?"

Before Nix could reply, a nurse with a clipboard called out from behind the counter, with eyes bright. "Sir! Are you the husband?"

"The what?" Nix blinked.

"Oh, wonderful!" She beamed, scribbling something down while another nurse joined her, whispering and giggling.

Nix frowned. "No, no, I’m not her.."

But it was useless. They were already calling him ’the husband’ like it was a royal title. "Please, sir, fill this out for your wife’s admission she’s progressing quickly!"

Tom’s grin was wicked. "Well, congratulations, Daddy Nix."

"Tom.. " Nix hissed through his teeth, but he was already halfway to the reception desk, taking the forms.

"Relax," Tom said, waving him off. "I’ll fill it out. You just stand there and look like a proud father."

Nix rubbed his forehead. "I’m surrounded by idiots." he scoffed

Moments later, as Nix was trying to retreat to the waiting area, a nurse marched up to him with a kind but no-nonsense expression. "Sir, where are the baby things?"

He blinked. "Baby what?"

"The baby items! Diapers, blankets, bottles, clothes, everything the newborn needs. You didn’t bring them?"

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," he replied flatly.

She sighed like a disappointed teacher and handed him a list. "You better hurry before the delivery’s done. The store across the street has everything. Go quickly."

Tom reappeared with a smirk just as Nix stared down at the paper. "Don’t tell me you’ve been sent on an errand."

"Apparently," Nix muttered. "She wants me to get baby things."

Tom chuckled. "Well, the baby is going to be born on the same day as you were so you owe him this much" Tom teased a bit relief to see Nix out of his shell after a long time and acting as if he had never sinked in his well of darkness

"We’re not.."

"Save it for later, Romeo," Tom said, patting his shoulder. "Let’s go before the nurse starts threatening us."

In no time they arrived at the little baby store that was painted soft yellow and smelled faintly of powder and plastic. Rows of pastel onesies, tiny shoes, and teddy bears lined the aisles.

Nix paused at the entrance, suddenly quiet. His eyes softened as he took in the sight all the little things that symbolized a life beginning, innocence untouched.

For a brief, piercing moment, his chest ached as the thought of ..

If Carmela were alive... Would he have stood like this? Clueless in front of shelves of baby clothes, trying to imagine whether their child would have her eyes or his temper?

He swallowed hard. The thought cut through him, silent and heavy.

"What if the baby’s a girl... or maybe a boy?" he murmured absently to himself, then waved down a clerk. "Just give me... everything unisex. As much as you’ve got."

The attendant blinked. "Everything?"

"Everything," he repeated.

Tom’s jaw dropped. "Are you building a baby boutique or something?"

Nix didn’t answer, still staring at a row of soft blankets with little stars embroidered on them.

Tom crossed his arms. "You do realize the baby won’t stay tiny forever, right? And the mother’s going to need a few things too. You’ve only picked two adult items.. if she wakes up and sees this, she’ll think you were trying to clothe a small army."

Nix exhaled slowly, forcing a small smile. "Then help me pick. Before I accidentally buy the whole store."

They spent a few minutes fumbling through racks, Tom cracking jokes about Nix’s terrible color coordination and Nix replying with sarcastic remarks that barely hid his distracted expression.

When they finally paid and left, Nix carried the bags like they were made of glass.

The moment they stepped back inside the hospital, the sound of hurried footsteps and muffled cries filled the hallway. Nix’s heart started pounding faster than he expected.

He didn’t even know her properly. Didn’t know her story. But something about hearing those cries, that struggle for new life stirred something raw inside him.

Minutes later, a nurse appeared at the door, smiling wide. "Congratulations, sir! It’s a healthy baby girl!"

For a heartbeat, Nix froze.

Then, despite himself, he smiled. A small, genuine curve of the lips he hadn’t felt in a long time.

"Try to reach out to her family and inform them," he said quietly to Tom, handing over the car keys. "Her bag’s in the back seat."

Tom nodded and left, while another nurse approached Nix with a bundle of soft blankets. "Here," she said gently. "You can follow them to the room." she smiled as the stretcher Elisa laid in came in sight . She looked pale but breathing steadily, her hair damp with sweat. A nurse followed, holding the baby wrapped in a soft yellow cloth.

But Nix only followed beside them silently. The moment they arrived the room he placed the bags he was holding aside and stood like an odd item watching how the nurse placed the baby in her cradle

"Sir!" She called and approached him and he turned his attention towards her "Her delivery was smooth but then she’ll.." the nurse’s words faded into the background as Nix’s gaze was fixed on the tiny baby lying under the warm hospital light.

For a man who had lost so much, the sight was both unbearable and beautiful. He couldn’t describe his true emotions at the moment but then he knew if he had the chance he’d protect the little one with all he had

"I guess I’m not destined to be a father" he murmured confusing the nurse that was speaking to him

"Sir are you listening?" She asked bringing his attention back to her and he nodded

"So make sure she takes those medications, and sanitize yourself properly before going to the baby. I’ll take my leave now" she said and left the room leaving just Elisa, the baby and him.

The baby’s soft whimpering broke through the hum of the hospital monitors and Nix turned his head, watching as the tiny bundle in the cradle squirmed, her cries small but piercing, the kind that made even the toughest man’s chest ache.

For a long second, he simply stood there frozen, and unsure. He’d faced assassins, men with knives and cold hearts, but this? This fragile, red-faced creature wailing with all her might? It felt like standing before something holy.

He hesitated, then finally went to the bathroom in the room to wash and sanitize his hands before coming to her. He leaned forward, his large hands trembling just slightly as he lifted her from the cradle. She was so light, so impossibly delicate that he feared even his breath might crush her.

"Hey, hey..." he whispered awkwardly, his voice softer than he expected. "You’re... smaller than my hand."

The baby’s cries quieted, just a little.

And as he held her against his chest, a strange, unfamiliar warmth crept up inside him a feeling of peace, of belonging. The sterile smell of disinfectant faded; all he could feel was the soft weight of her tiny body and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against his palm.

He smiled faintly, a rare, unguarded one that reached his eyes. The kind of smile he only had on around Carmela

Then something caught his attention.

Her eyes now half-open glimmered faintly under the hospital light. A dark, stormy gray.

The same color as his. Nix blinked "Well... that’s new." He let out a small, breathy laugh, brushing a thumb over her tiny fist. "What are the odds, huh?"

The baby’s breathing steadied, her little mouth curling as if in contentment. He chuckled softly under his breath, shaking his head. "Guess you’re tougher than you look, kid."

And that’s how Elisa found him when she woke up sitting beside her bed, her baby sleeping quietly in his arms, his expression a mixture of wonder and confusion.

For a moment, she just watched him, her head slightly tilted.

There was something oddly tender about the sight the man’s usual composed aura softened, his gaze gentle as he rocked the baby.

A soft smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Her movement stirred the sheets, and Nix turned instantly.

"Oh," he said quickly, standing up so fast he nearly jostled the baby. "You’re awake."

Elisa blinked drowsily, her voice weak but warm. "You... carried her?"

He nodded, his tone apologetic. "I’m sorry. She was crying uncontrollably, and you were asleep. I didn’t know what else to do."

Her smile widened a little. "It’s fine. You seem to be doing just fine."

"I’m not so sure about that," he muttered, glancing at the baby like she was a ticking bomb.

Elisa chuckled softly, adjusting herself on the bed. "Thank you. Really."

He nodded once, clearing his throat awkwardly as he handed her the baby. "She’s calmer now."

As Elisa cradled the infant, Nix sat back down, unsure what to do with his hands. A quiet lingered for a moment before he asked, "So... where’s the father?"

Her eyes flickered down. "He’s abroad," she said simply. "Work."

"Ah." He nodded slowly, then smirked faintly. "Well, your baby and I have the same eye color. If someone walked in right now, they might think she’s mine."

That made her laugh a genuine, light sound that filled the room. "You’re ridiculous."

"Just observant," he teased with a small smile and she shook her head, smiling at him. And that was all the confirmation he needed.

"They may look alike but their personalities are different" he murmured to his self as if reassuring himself that the person before him wasn’t his wife

But before either could say more, the door burst open.

"Sis!"

Liam’s voice cut through the air as he rushed inside, worry painted across his face. He ran straight to the bed, completely ignoring the man seated beside it.

"I’m so sorry," he gasped, clutching her hand. "I got so scared when I got there and couldn’t find you... I just got a call and rushed over here as.."

His voice faltered mid-sentence. His gaze dropped to her stomach no longer rounded, just a faint trace beneath the sheets.

"Elisa," he breathed, "where’s the baby? Your stomach, it’s..."

"If you’d taken a second to look around," she interrupted with a tired laugh, "you’d see your little nephew." She nodded toward Nix.

Liam turned and froze and the air seemed to still.

Nix Dean sat quietly beside the bed, his sharp, brooding features softened by the sight of the baby in his arms again. The shadows under his eyes gave him that same dangerous aura Liam remembered the one that made men hesitate before speaking. But somehow, holding the tiny newborn, that darkness looked... almost gentle.

Nix looked up, meeting Liam’s wide eyes with a calm, unreadable expression.

"Nix Dean," Liam muttered under his breath, a chill running down his spine.

Elisa blinked between them. "You two... know each other?"

Nix tilted his head, saying nothing.

Liam swallowed. "He’s the.. "

"He’s the bodyguard that saved me," Elisa cut in, smiling faintly, though confusion flickered in her brother’s eyes.

"Bodyguard?" Liam repeated slowly, his gaze shifting between the two, suspicion stirring.

Nix just gave a small, dry smile the kind that held more secrets than explanations. And something about this next intercession in the love story of his sister and her husband gave him chills

"Another bloody war is about to start isn’t it?"