Chapter 123
KNOX
I’m a father.
The thought still hasn’t fully sunk in. I can’t stop staring at Luca, this tiny, perfect human being in my arms. He’s so small, yet he’s already got this quiet strength about him, like he knows he’s surrounded by love. His eyes are closed, his little face so peaceful as he sleeps against my chest, his tiny fingers curling around my thumb. Every time I look down at him, my heart swells a little more.
I glance over at Isabella, lying in the hospital bed, smiling softly. She looks exhausted but radiant, her green eyes shining with a kind of joy I’ve never seen before. I lean down and kiss the top of Luca’s head, breathing in that new baby smell. How can something so small have so much power over me? He’s perfect. And he’s ours.
Asher, Jax, and I have been taking turns holding him, but I swear I could stay like this forever, just soaking in every second. My son. Our son. I’m proud of him already, and he’s barely been in the world for a few hours. I’ve never felt anything like this.
There’s a knock at the door, and Maggie, our mom, steps into the room, her face lighting up when she sees Luca. Behind her, Rebecca and Freddie—Alex’s parents—follow, their expressions soft with awe.
“Oh my goodness,” Maggie whispers, walking over and peering down at Luca in my arms. “Look at him. He’s perfect.” Her voice is thick with emotion, and I can see tears welling up in her eyes. “Just like his mother.” She looks at Isabella, her pride unmistakable.
Isabella blushes, smiling as Maggie leans down to kiss her on the cheek. "You did so well, Bella," she says softly, before turning her attention back to Luca. "My first grandchild... He’s beautiful."
Freddie and Rebecca take their turn, gathering around the bed. Rebecca’s eyes are twinkling as she reaches out to gently touch Luca’s little hand. “He’s a strong one, you can already tell. Look at those tiny fists.” She chuckles, clearly smitten.
Freddie nods, crossing his arms and grinning. “He’ll grow up to be a force, no doubt. Especially with the Black genes in him.” He glances at Asher and Jax, then back to me with a proud smile. “But I wonder if he’ll have your hazel eyes or Isabella’s green.”
Maggie joins in, her eyes sparkling. “Or maybe Asher’s brown eyes,” she says, nudging Asher playfully. “It’ll be a surprise, that’s for sure.”
Jax leans over the bed, peering down at Luca with a soft smile. “I hope he’s got Bella’s eyes,” he says quietly, his voice filled with warmth. “Green like hers, with a little mischief.”
I laugh softly, shaking my head as I look down at my son. “Whatever color his eyes end up being, he’s already got his mom’s stubbornness.” I glance at Isabella, who rolls her eyes at me, but there’s a teasing smile on her face.
Everyone laughs, the sound light and full of happiness, and I feel this overwhelming sense of pride and love for the people in this room. My family. Luca is surrounded by so much love already, and he’s only just arrived.
As I hold Luca close, my chest tightens with a mix of emotions—joy, awe, and an intense protectiveness. I’m proud of him. Proud of Isabella. Proud of everything we’ve built together. And I know that no matter what happens, this little boy will always have a family who will love and protect him fiercely.
I look around the room again, at all the smiling faces, and I know this is just the beginning. Luca’s got a whole world of love waiting for him, and I couldn’t be prouder to be his dad.
ISABELLA
The moment I tell them to go home, rest, and shower, I expect a bit of resistance. After all, my boys have been glued to my side, hovering like protective shadows ever since Luca was born. But to my surprise, they accept without the usual hesitation, without the playful bickering or insisting that they’re fine.
Jax is the first to nod. “Alright, we’ll be back soon,” he says, standing up from the chair beside my bed.
Knox follows suit, stretching his arms above his head. “Yeah, we’ll just be gone for a bit. Get some real food in us.”
Even Asher, the most stubborn of the three, agrees without argument. “Call us if you need anything,” he says, planting a soft kiss on my forehead before joining his brothers.
They leave the room, and for a second, I stare at the door in mild disbelief. That was way too easy. No fuss, no complaints. Then I hear a familiar throat clear from the corner of the room.
Spencer.
Of course.
I glance toward him, standing by the window with his arms crossed, watching the city lights beyond the hospital. His presence explains everything. No wonder they left so easily. I smile to myself as it all clicks into place.
“They’re not going far, are they?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.
Spencer’s lips curl into a slight smirk, his eyes still on the view outside. “Probably not. But I told them you’d be fine with me here.” He finally turns his gaze toward me, his expression softening. “And you are, aren’t you?”
I sigh, leaning back against the pillows. “Yeah, I am.” I pause for a second, looking at the man who has been such an unexpected, but vital, part of my life these past months. He’s more than just a protector—he’s a friend, someone who understands me in a way even the boys don’t always manage. “You’ve been watching over me this whole time, haven’t you?”
Spencer walks over to my bedside, pulling the chair closer and sitting down with a nod. “That’s my job,” he says simply, though there’s a deeper layer of meaning behind his words. He’s not just here because it’s his duty; he’s here because he genuinely cares. I can feel it.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, my voice softer than I intended. It’s not the first time I’ve thanked him, but tonight it feels different. The weight of everything—Luca’s birth, the emotions swirling around my heart—it all makes me more aware of how lucky I am to have people like Spencer in my life.
He shrugs, looking almost embarrassed. “No need for that. You’ve got enough going on without worrying about me.”
We fall into a comfortable silence for a while. I’m watching Luca sleep in his crib, his little chest rising and falling steadily, and I feel an overwhelming sense of peace. It’s as if all the chaos of the past year has led to this—this tiny, perfect moment.
Spencer breaks the quiet after a few minutes. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, you know.”
I glance at him, surprised by the sudden compliment. “What makes you say that?”
He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ve seen how you handle things, Bella. The way you’ve dealt with everything—Dominic, your family, the pregnancy, the boys. And now Luca.” His eyes meet mine, serious but warm. “Most people would’ve cracked under half that pressure. But you? You just keep going.”
His words catch me off guard, and for a moment, I don’t know how to respond. I’m used to thinking of myself as just...me. Doing what needs to be done. I’ve never thought of it as strength, just survival.
“I didn’t have much of a choice,” I finally say, trying to downplay it.
“Maybe,” Spencer agrees. “But you still made it through. That’s something.”
I smile at him, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “Thank you,” I whisper, this time with a little more weight behind the words. Spencer gives me a short nod, as if to say, "Anytime."
We talk quietly after that, about Luca, about life, nothing too heavy. It’s easy, natural, the way it always is with Spencer. He doesn’t push, doesn’t pry—just lets me be me, which is exactly what I need right now.
At some point, exhaustion starts to creep over me. My eyelids grow heavy, and I struggle to keep my eyes open, though I don’t want the moment to end. Spencer must notice because he chuckles softly, standing up and grabbing the blanket at the foot of the bed.
“You need to rest,” he says, draping the blanket over me gently. “I’ll be right here.”
I mumble something incoherent, already halfway to sleep as I curl up under the blanket. The last thing I remember is Spencer’s calm presence beside me, a silent guardian in the quiet of the hospital room, as I drift into the best sleep I’ve had in what feels like days.