She bent forward again, a broken sound escaping her lips as Julian tightened his hold around her waist. "Amara, don’t be stubborn," he said urgently. "You’re in pain."

"I said no," she whispered, tears forming now from sheer agony. "Get me out... please..." Her voice wasn’t angry anymore. It was fear. Seb stepped forward sharply, his tone cutting through the chaos.

"Get Doctor Ade. Now." A nurse hesitated. "Sir—"

"Now," Seb repeated, colder this time. The urgency in his voice made them move.

Julian looked between Amara and the hospital entrance, completely torn. His mind raced, trying to decide what was safer: getting her out of this place immediately or trusting another doctor here while she was clearly deteriorating in his arms.

But Amara’s grip on him tightened again. "I can’t... breathe," she whispered. That was it. Julian stopped thinking.

"Call me a cab," he said quickly, pulling his phone out. "We’re leaving." But before anyone could move. The doors at the end of the corridor burst open.

"Where is she?" a voice shouted. Doctor Ade stepped in. And the entire hallway seemed to shift. The moment Amara saw her, something inside her twisted painfully.

Doctor Ade. The same woman who had once confirmed her pregnancy. The same doctor who had stood beside her when she lost the baby. Memories crashed into Amara all at once. The cold hospital room. The silence after the words there is no heartbeat. The emptiness that followed for months. Her knees almost gave out again.

Doctor Ade’s expression softened immediately when she saw her. "Amara..." she said gently, moving closer. "What is happening to you?" Amara tried to speak, but only a broken breath came out. Julian tightened his hold around her.

"She’s in severe pain," Seb said quickly. "We need help now." Doctor Ade stepped forward immediately, taking one look at Amara’s condition.

Another wave of pain hit and her strength collapsed completely. Julian caught her fully this time as her knees finally gave way. "Amara, I’ve got you," he whispered, panic clear in his voice.

Doctor Ade crouched beside them, her face serious now. "Move her to the examination room," she said quickly. "Now." Seb stood a little behind them, watching everything unfold silently. But his eyes never left Amara.

Not once. And for the first time that day, there was no confidence in his expression anymore. Only tension. Because whatever was happening to Amara... Was no longer something anyone could control.

Amara looked pale under the harsh hospital lights as they wheeled her toward the examination room. Every small movement seemed to drain what little strength she had left, her hand was still pressed protectively against her stomach as another wave of pain passed through her.

Doctor Ade moved quickly beside the bed, her voice calm but firm. "Amara, dear... we’re going to take care of you now, alright? Just breathe for me."

Amara barely nodded. Julian didn’t leave her side for a second. Even while speaking into his phone to arrange backup, his eyes stayed locked on her, as letting go even for a moment wasn’t an option.

But the moment she heard the wheels slow, Amara turned her head weakly. "Julian..." she called. Instantly, he ended the call. "I’m here, baby," he said, rushing closer and grabbing her hand tightly. "I’m right here."

His voice softened immediately, as everything else in the world had disappeared. "Just breathe for me, okay? I’ve got you."

Seb followed behind them, his jaw tight, expression controlled, but there was irritation flickering behind his eyes, like he hated not being fully in control of the situation. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Amara’s fingers tightened around Julian’s hand. She looked scared now. Really scared. "Please..." she whispered as they stopped outside the room. "I don’t want to be alone." Julian leaned in quickly, brushing his thumb over her knuckles. "You’re not alone. I’m here."

Her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head slightly. "I want my husband with me." The words hit differently in the tense air. Julian didn’t hesitate. "Then I’m not going anywhere," he said immediately.

Doctor Ade exhaled gently, trying to remain professional despite the emotion in the room. "We need to examine her properly. It will be easier if we limit the number of people inside." Seb stepped forward instantly. "I should be in there."

"No," Doctor Ade said firmly, cutting him off. Seb’s eyes narrowed slightly. She didn’t flinch.

"I can’t have too many people in the room," she repeated. "It will only increase her stress." Julian didn’t even look at Seb. His entire focus was on Amara. Amara’s grip tightened again as they began to move her inside.

"Julian..." she whispered one more time.

"I’m right here," he repeated softly, walking alongside her until the very last second. "I’m right here. Breathe for me." The doors slowly opened.

And as she was wheeled inside, Julian stayed close enough that she could still see him. Even when the door began to close between them. Even when the room swallowed her up in white light and machines.

She didn’t feel alone. Not yet. "I’m the father," Seb said sharply as the doors began closing. "I have more right to be in there than her so-called husband."

Doctor Ade stopped and looked at him calmly.

"My patient comes first," she said without hesitation. "You can wait here." And before Seb could argue again, she shut the door directly in his face. The sound echoed through the hallway. For a second, silence settled heavily. Seb’s expression darkened immediately.

Julian, however, looked almost satisfied. Not because Amara was in pain. But because for once, someone had chosen Amara’s comfort over Seb’s control. Inside the examination room, nurses moved quickly around Amara while Doctor Ade began checking her carefully.

The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and lavender. Soft monitor sounds filled the quiet space.

Amara lay weakly against the bed, exhausted after everything that had happened. Her breathing had finally slowed slightly, though her fingers still trembled from the stress.

"Easy," Doctor Ade said gently while adjusting the monitor around her arm. "Your blood pressure is very high."

Amara closed her eyes tiredly.