Chapter 8
The door swung open, and Alex strode in like a whirlwind, radiating energy and authority.
“Quinn, what the hell are you doing sitting there like a statue? Natalia doesn’t even have a proper place to rest! She’s pregnant, for crying out loud. Movel”
His sharp gaze swept the room, his tone loaded with disapproval “And what’s with this shoebox of a room? It’s practically bare–bones. Quinn, go find the hospital director and arrange for the best suite–now.”
Quinn shot me a brief, unreadable look before standing and leaving without a word.
Alex settled himself into the armchair beside the bed, his demeanor instantly shifting as he smiled warmly at me. “Natalia, your only job right now is to focus on yourself and that baby, alright?
“Don’t you worry about your dad’s company–I’ve already had the funds transferred to help him out.”
Relief flooded me, and I smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Alex. I’ll find a way to repay you as soon as possible.”
Alex chuckled, his sharp eyes glinting with something unreadable. “Oh, Natalia, let’s not get all formal. We’re family. Think of it as a little investment in my future great–grandchild.”
The meaning behind his words wasn’t lost on me. That “help” for my dad’s company wasn’t entirely free. If I divorced Quinn or tried to take the baby, Alex wouldn’t hesitate to turn that favor into leverage.
I pressed my lips together, unsure of what to say.
Alex handed me a glass of water, his tone firm but kind. “Natalia listen to me. I know you’ve been through hell and back, but as long as I’m around, that Terell woman won’t get within spitting distance of this family.
“Once that baby is here, Quinn will wake up and realize what he’s got in you.”
His words were meant to reassure, but they only made the knot in my chest tighten. Divorce would have to wait–for now. I nodded faintly, lifting the glass to my lips and downing the water in one go.
An hour later, I was moved to the top–floor VVIP suite, complete with floor-to–ceiling windows and a view that screamed wealth.
Alex wasn’t taking no for an answer–he insisted Quinn stay and have dinner with me, though I could tell Quinn wasn’t thrilled about it.
The meal was straight out of a five–star dining experience, courtesy of a Michelin–star chef Alex had personally arranged. The table was packed with gourmet dishes–truille risotto, steak, and even a tower of macarons for dessert
But I barely had an appetite. I pushed the food around my plate while Quinn didn’t bother touching his at all.
He sat on the sleek black leather sofa, his focus entirely on the iPad in his hands. His fingers flew over the screen, lost in whatever work had his attention, leaving me to sit in silence
I didn’t want to bother him, but then my phone buzzed. It was Elijah.
“Natalia, how are you feeling Elijah asked, his voice full of concern. Since being released from detainment, he’d been bedridden with a fever and hadn’t been able to visit me
ha
“I’m fine, Dad,” I replied solity, glancing at Quinn. He hadn’t even looked up, so I relaxed and let the conversation flow.
“Natalia, did you have a fight with your mother? Elijah sighed, his voice a mix of frustration and care. “You know how she is
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Chapter 8
-short–tempered, always snapping. But don’t take it personally She really does care about you. You’ve been like our own daughter ever since you came into our lives. We’ve always thought of you as family.”
His words tugged at my heart. For all her harshness, I couldn’t bring myself to resent her. They had raised me, after all.
“I understand, Dad. You take care of yourself, okay?” I smiled, though it was tinged with bitterness.
After hanging up. I looked up to find Quinn had put the iPad down. He was leaning back on the sofa, eyes closed, looking like he was trying to catch a moment of rest.
My gaze lingered on him–his strong jawline, his features perfectly chiseled, like something straight out of a statue.
He was effortlessly handsome, successful, and loaded, the kind of guy everyone either envied or idolized. The golden boy. the one who seemed to have it all together.
Sensing my gaze, he opened his eyes lazily, his voice cutting through the silence. “You done eating?
“Yeah. I mumbled.
“If you need anything, call me directly. Don’t bother Grandpa,” he said flatly, his tone cold and distant.
Did he think I’d orchestrated Alex’s meddling? That I’d pulled strings to make him stay tonight?
I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out, “I didn’t ask Alex to make you stay. If you’re busy, you can leave.”
Quinn’s eyes flicked to mine, his expression unreadable. After a beat, he said casually, “It’s fine. I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”
I froze, caught off guard. His unexpected kindness felt surreal, almost like I’d imagined it.
Could it be that, he was starting to feel something for the baby? Was he just as caring about the little life growing inside me? My thoughts wandered back to that day in his office–the moment I’d collapsed in the private suite, only for Quinn to appear out of nowhere and save me.
“Why did you come back to the office that day?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“Finish eating and get some rest,” he responded curtly, clearly not interested in explaining. With that, he picked up his tabler again and resumed working, his focus unwavering
I sighed, feeling like I’d hit a brick wall. Dejected, I curled up under the blanket and turned toward the bed’s edge, stealing glances at his sharp, elegant profile.
Despite his coldness, just seeing him there made me feel safe. Like nothing could hurt me while he was around.
That strange sense of comfort lulled me to sleep before I even realized it
When I woke up the next morning, the sunlight was pouring through the windows. My heart skipped a beat as I looked toward the sofa, but it was empty.
sighed, shaking my head and laughing softly at myself. What had I been expecting? That Quinn would spend the whole might here, watching over me!
After breakfast, a doctor entered my room for the routine checkup He wore a lab coat and a mask, standing silently by my bedside, his sharp eyes studying me like he was trying to solve puzzle.
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Feeling a late unnerved under his scrutiny, I asked hesitantly. “Uh, is something wrong. Doctor!
The man sighed dramatically, pulling down his mask to reveal a familiar, mischievous grin. “Natalia, you seriously don’t recognize me?” he teased.
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Chapter 8
Alden! 1. my face
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up in recognition. It was Aiden Stuart.
The Stuarts and Hintons went way back, and Aiden and I practically grew up together. I used to tag along after him like at little shadow, and he always treated me like I was his baby sister
After med school, he’d gone abroad for further studies, and the last time I saw him was two years ago–at my wedding to Quinn.
“When did you get back?” I asked, thrilled to see him again.
“Not too long ago,” he said, his tone warm, his smile as easy as ever. “Today’s actually my first day working at PrimeCare Hospital, and 1 hear you’re having a baby!”
“No way! Does this mean you’re gonna be my personal doctor now?” I teased, my mood instantly lighter.
He chuckled, reaching out to ruffle my hair like he used to when we were kids. “Sure thing. I’ll make it my mission to keep you and that little peanut perfectly healthy.”
Then his tone shifted, his smile fading into something more serious. “Natalia, tell me–has Quinn been treating you right?*
The question caught me off guard. I hesitated, not sure how to respond. I’d never been good at lying, and Aiden knew me too well to buy any sugar–coated answers.
Seeing my hesitation, he didn’t push for an answer, just gave me a lopsided grin and said, “If the day ever comes when you don’t love him anymore, kick him to the curb. I’ll take care of you and the baby, no questions asked.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, please. I can take care of myself just fine! You, on the other hand, should probably worry about your own love life. You’re still flying solo, aren’t you?”
The Stuarts had been fretting over Aiden’s single status for ages.
Over the next few days, Aiden came by often, brightening my mood and keeping me company. He’d always known how to make me laugh, and soon enough, I was feeling better.
My recovery sped up, and after a thorough checkup, Aiden finally gave me the green light to leave the hospital.
“Your little one’s growing strong at 17 weeks, everything looks great,” Aiden said with a satisfied nod. “You’re good to go
home
Hack at the villa, life fell into a steady routine. The days blurred together, but I was restless. It’d been a while since I’d been in the office, and the stack of paperwork waiting for me wasn’t going to handle itself. Time to dive back in.
When I walked into the Madden Group office, Raelynn practically let out a sigh of relief. “Ms. Hinton, it’s good to see you!”
Without missing a beat, she grabbed a stack of folders and began running through updates. “There’s a document that needs Mr. Madden’s signature,” she said, already grabbing the file to hand over
I reached for it, glancing at the contents before closing it with a snap. “Tll take it to him myself, I said, standing up.
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Chapter 8
Dec 12
-short–tempered, always–snapping. But don’t take it personally She really does care about you. You’ve been like our own daughter ever since you came into our lives. We’ve always thought of you as family.”
His words tugged at my heart/For all her harshness, I couldn’t bring myself to resent her. They had raised me, after all.
I understand. Dad. You take care of yourself, okay?” I smiled, though it was tinged with bitterness.
After hanging up. I looked up to find Quinn had put the iPad down. He was leaning back on the sofa, eyes closed, looking like he was trying to catch a moment of rest
My gaze lingered on him–his strong jawline, his features perfecily chiseled, like something straight out of a statue,
He was effortlessly handsome, successful, and loaded, the kind of guy everyone either envied or idolized. The golden boy, the one who seemed to have it all together.
Sensing my gaze, he opened his eyes lazily, his voice cutting through the silence. “You done eating?
“Yeah.” I mumbled.
“If you need anything, call me directly. Don’t bother Grandpa,” he said flatly, his tone cold and distant.
Did he think I’d orchestrated Alex’s meddling? That I’d pulled strings to make him stay tonight?
I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out, “I didn’t ask Alex to make you stay. If you’re busy, you can leave.”
Quinn’s eyes flicked to mine, his expression unreadable. After a beat, he said casually, “It’s fine. I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”
I froze, caught off guard. His unexpected kindness felt surreal, almost like I’d imagined it.
Could it be that, he was starting to feel something for the baby? Was he just as caring about the little life growing inside me? My thoughts wandered back to that day in his office–the moment I’d collapsed in the private suite, only for Quinn to appear out of nowhere and save me.
“Why did you come back to the office that day?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“Finish eating and get some rest,” he responded curtly, clearly no interested in explaining. With that, he picked up his tablet again and resumed working, his focus unwavering.
I sighed, feeling like I’d hit a brick wall. Dejected, I curled up under the blanket and turned toward the bed’s edge, stealing glances at his sharp, elegant profile,
Despite his coldness, just seeing him there made me feel safe. Like nothing could hurt me while he was around. That s
strange sense of comfort lulled me to sleep before I even realized it.
When I woke up the next morning, the sunlight was pouring through the windows. My heart skipped a beat as I looked toward the sofa, but it was empty.
I sighed, shaking my head and laughing softly at myself. What had I been expecting? That Quinn would spend the whole night here, watching over me?
-After breakfast, a doctor entered my room for the routine checkup. He wore a lab coat and a mask, standing silently by my bedside, his sharp eyes studying me like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
Feeling a little unnerved under his scrutiny, I asked hesitantly, h, is something wrong, Doctor?”
The man sighed dramatically, pulling down his mask to reveal a familiar, mischievous grin. “Natalia, you seriously don’t recognize me?” he teased.
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Chapter 8
“Aiden!” I exclaimed, my face lighting up in recognition. It was Aiden Stuart.
The Stuarts and Hintons went way back, and Aiden and I practically grew up together. I used to tag along after him like a little shadow, and he always treated me like I was his baby sister
After med school, he’d gone abroad for further studies, and the last time I saw him was two years ago–at my wedding to Quinn
“When did you get back?” I asked, thrilled to see him again.
“Not too long ago,” he said, his tone warm, his smile as easy as ever. “Today’s actually my first day working at PrimeCare Hospital, and I hear you’re having a baby!”
“No way! Does this mean you’re gonna be my personal doctor now?” I teased, my mood instantly lighter.
He chuckled, reaching out to ruffle my hair like he used to when we were kids. “Sure thing. I’ll make it my mission to keep you and that little peanut perfectly healthy
Then his tone shifted, his smile fading into something more serious. “Natalia, tell me–has Quinn been treating you right?”
The question caught me off guard. I hesitated, not sure how to respond. I’d never been good at lying, and Aiden knew me too well to buy any sugar–coated answers.
Seeing my hesitation, he didn’t push for an answer, just gave me lopsided grin and said, “If the day ever comes when you don’t love him anymore, kick him to the curb. I’ll take care of you and the baby, no questions asked
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, please. I can take care of myself just fine! You, on the other hand, should probably worry about your own love life. You’re still flying solo, aren’t you?”
The Stuarts had been fretting over Aiden’s single status for ages.
Over the next few days, Ajden came by often, brightening my mood and keeping me company. He’d always known how to make me laugh, and soon enough, I was feeling better.
My recovery sped up, and after a thorough checkup. Aiden finally gave me the green light to leave the hospital.
“Your little one’s growing strong at 17 weeks, everything looks great, Aiden said with a satisfied nod. “You’re good to go
home
Back at the villa, life fell into a steady routine. The days blurred together, but I was restless. It’d been a while since I’d been in the office, and the stack of paperwork waiting for me wasn’t going to handle itself, Time to dive back in.
When I walked into the Madden Group office, Raelynn practically let out a sigh of relief. “Ms. Hinton, it’s good to see you!” Without missing a beat, she grabbed a stack of folders and began running through updates. “There’s a document that needs Mr. Madden’s signature,” she said, already grabbing the file to hand over.
I reached for it, glancing at the contents before closing it with a map. Tll take it to him
