CELESTE's POV:

The hours dragged on. The contractions grew sharper, closer together, but my body refused to progress. I was too exhausted, too drained. My breath came in shallow pants as sweat coated my skin.

The doctor returned to my ward, had a few words with the nurses present, checked me and the systems that were monitoring my heart rate and stuff.

In my blurred vision, I watched the doctor turn to Blake with a grave look afterwards. “Her blood pressure is spiking. We can’t wait much longer. If she can’t push, we’ll need to proceed with an emergency C-section.”

Blake’s head snapped up. “Do it.”

“Blake,” Seraphina called him, panic flashing across her face before she masked it with another tearful look. “Are you sure? Surgery is dangerous. Maybe we should just wait. She’ll be fine.”

The doctor frowned. “If we wait, both mother and child could be at risk.”

Blake’s voice turned firm. “Then we don’t wait. Prepare the surgery and papers. I will sign.”

Seraphina’s nails dug into his sleeve, but he shook her off. For the first time, something in his grey eyes flashed in them. It was fear.

Not for me, I reminded myself bitterly, but for the child. His child.

The nurses wheeled me toward the OR. My heart pounded, fear and hope colliding. Would I live to see my baby? Would Blake regret his decisions if something unseen happens to both of us?

The last thing I heard before the anesthesia pulled me under was Seraphina’s voice, faint but venomous, whispering to Blake, “You’re only doing this because of the baby. Don’t forget who you really love. It's me, Blake. It has always been me.”

Yes, she didn't lie. It's her he had always loved, and I doubt if he would feel a thing if something happened to me or the child. He would probably carry on his life with Seraphina. It's not so hard considering we don't have a thing together.

Hours later, when the haze cleared, I felt the sharp pain around my abdomen, yet the first thing I could think of was the baby. My child.

"My baby," I whispered, turning my head to the side where I heard a thin, fragile cry of a child. My heart clenched. A nurse dressed in sky blue and navy blue scrubs was nurturing my baby in her arms.

She moved her gaze to where I lay on the bed, a soft smile curling on her polite face.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Lancaster,” the nurse murmured. “It’s a healthy baby boy.”

Tears slid down my cheeks, soaking into the pillow under my head. A boy. Our boy.

I turned my head weakly, searching then I saw him. Blake stood by the side of the room, staring down at our baby with unreadable eyes.

For one moment, I thought...maybe. Maybe he’d smile, maybe he’d say something sweet to me for once after giving birth to his child, maybe the sight of our child would soften him.

"Mr. Lancaster, you've been staring at your baby for so long now. Wouldn't you like to hold him in your arms? Maybe feeling the first touch of his parents would make him calm down a bit, and stop crying. It happens all the time, you know," she offered with a genuine smile, stretching the baby towards Blake.

But he didn’t touch the baby, didn’t look at me. His face was just so hard and distant. Without a word, he turned on them and walked out of the ward with a straight back.

The ache in my chest was worst that the stitches tugging at my skin. His silence hurt more than the scalpel. Even now he still doesn't give a damn.

A single tear slipped down my cheek as I whispered to the nurse, "Bring my baby to me. I want to hold him in my arms, please."

I sobbed quietly when the nurse brought him closer and I held my baby for the first time. It was a heartwarming feeling that couldn't be put into words.

I kissed him on his forehead, my tears marking his face and like magic, he stopped crying. This brought the smile that had long abandoned me back to my face. My bundle of joy...my sweet little boy.

****

The room was quiet except for the soft whimpering of my baby nestled in the cot beside me. My body still felt heavy, stitched and sore from the C-section, but it was my heart that bore the greater weight.

Blake hadn’t returned.

I swallowed hard, brushing my fingertips gently over my son’s tiny fist. “It’s just us, darling,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “But I promise… I’ll love you enough for both of us.”

The door creaked open. Relief sparked in my chest.

Blake had come back. I thought. But the figure who entered made my blood run cold.

"Seraphina."

She walked in silently, her lips curving into a smile that never touched her eyes. I noticed that she also carried a small handbag, far too tightly clutched.

“Well,” she said softly, shutting the door behind her. “Congratulations, sister. You’ve done it successfully once again. You’ve tied him to you...with a child.”

Her gaze flicked to the cot, full of disdain. “Aww, I heard it's a boy. So adorable. Congrats on giving Blake an heir, Darling sis.”

I tensed, instinctively pulling the cot closer though my body screamed in protest. “Seraphina… what are you doing here?”

"You would know very soon, sister." She smirked then set her bag on the table, pulling out a small syringe filled with a clear liquid. My eyes widened in horror.

“No…” My voice broke. “Seraphina, don’t. There are cameras everywhere. Whatever you do here would be seen and I will make sure you're dealt with,” I threatened, knowing her far too well.

“Hush.” Her smile sharpened, cruel. “Relax. It won’t hurt. Just a little something to make sure you never stand in my way again. Blake deserves better than a liar and a mistake. Don't worry, I will be a great step-mother to your son...better than you could ever be. But well, that's if I eventually let him live,” she laughed.

"Don't you dare, Seraphina. My baby has done nothing wrong to you. Why do you want him to suffer without his mother? Leave my room now before I scream... before the security officers in charge of the cameras in this ward would get to know what you're up to!" I was panicking, feeling my heartbeat race in my chest as she leaned over, slipping the syringe into my IV.

A cold burn spread up my arm instantly. Panic surged, and I yanked the cannula out with the little strength I had, blood spilling onto the sheets. My voice cracked into a hoarse cry, “Help! Somebody..!”

Seraphina’s face twisted into an ugly look. “You stupid, stupid girl!”

Before I could scream again, she grabbed the fruit knife from the tray and pressed it to my throat while gripping a handful of my hair, her hand trembling with rage. “Call out again and I swear you will regret it!”

The doorknob turned. Someone was coming.

Seraphina’s eyes darted wildly. Then, with unexpected quickness, she slashed her own wrist and shoved the knife into my hand.

The door opened just as Seraphina collapsed onto the floor, wailing dramatically. “Blake, help me! She tried to kill me!”

Blake burst in, his face pale, his eyes landing instantly on Seraphina cradling her bleeding wrist. Then they shifted to me, who was weak, trembling, and clutching the knife with blood staining my hand, on the bed.

I shook my head, "No...it's not what you think. She tried to attack me first."

His expression hardened.

“Celeste, how could you?” he said, his voice low with disappointment, the same tone he had used so many times before. “I never thought you could fall this low. Not even now. Trying to kill your very own sister could probably be the lowest but then, you amaze me every single fucking time, Celeste.”

My lips parted, trembling. “Blake… no… I didn’t do anything.”

"Just shut the fucking hell up and stop lying for once, Celeste! The truth and evidence are right here, yet you still want to lie to me?!" He roared at me and I flinched. My heart pounding in my chest.