Chapter 333 Cherishing Now

Chapter 333 Cherishing Now
Emma's POV

I pulled back, my expression turning serious. "If anything happens to Rachel, I will never forgive you. I don't care what your purpose was in taking her."

"I needed Alaric's help to get back quickly," Blake explained, his hands still resting lightly on my waist. "Taking Rachel was the fastest way to get his attention and assistance."

Before I could respond, my phone rang, the screen lighting up with Rachel's face. My heart leapt.

"Rachel?" I answered immediately, fully alert despite the late hour.

"Am I interrupting you and the soon-to-be daddy?" Rachel's teasing voice came through, sounding reassuringly normal.

"This is the kind of interruption I like best," I replied, relief washing over me.

"Mmm, enjoying your time in lover's paradise?" she continued.

I rolled my eyes, though she couldn't see it. "For an OB-GYN, you have a surprising lack of knowledge about basic pregnancy protocols."

"Are you okay, Rachel? Are you hurt?" I asked, the lightness in my voice giving way to genuine concern.

"Shouldn't I be asking if you gave Blake a chance to explain himself?" she countered.

"Let's video chat," Rachel suggested. "I didn't dare earlier—was afraid I might catch a live show."

Blake stood up to fetch me a glass of water as Rachel's video call came through. Her face appeared on screen, and she immediately asked, "Where did Blake go?"

"Getting me water," I explained, studying her appearance for any signs of distress.

"He's very OK, you know," Rachel said with a meaningful look. "If you spend enough time with him, you might not be able to resist."

I ignored her comment, focusing instead on her well-being. "You look fine. Stand up and do a little jump-spin to prove you're not injured."

Rachel laughed but complied, twirling in front of the camera. "See? All good. I'm with Uncle Alaric now. We'll be back in two days."

"Uncle?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Long story," she replied with a dismissive wave. "But Emma, don't be too hard on Blake. He almost sacrificed himself to bring down an international trafficking ring. He saved a lot of people."

The video suddenly cut off mid-sentence. I immediately texted her: "Your uncle's signal jammers?"

Her reply came quickly: "Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to give you two some privacy. BTW, tell Blake his combat skills need work. 😏"

Blake, who had returned with my water, glanced at the message over my shoulder. "Tell her I let them win."

I typed another message: "Why did you hang up so abruptly?"

"Bad signal," came Rachel's reply. "Gotta go. Pregnant ladies need their sleep!"

Blake gently took the phone from my hands and set it aside. He was still shirtless, his body hovering over mine without touching.

My heart rate accelerated. Was he trying to prove something about his "combat skills"? I wasn't ready for that. But before I could voice my concerns, Blake simply pressed a kiss to my forehead and gathered me into his arms.

"Sleep," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble against my ear.

"You're silly," he added after a moment. "Keeping our baby when you didn't even know if I was alive or dead."

I traced patterns on his chest, considering my words carefully. "This baby came to find me," I finally said. "I'm going to love her properly. I never thought of her as something to share with anyone else."

Blake's arms tightened around me. "From now on, we'll love her together," he promised, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Emmy."

As I drifted toward sleep, a strange sense of peace settled over me.

I woke to bright morning light and an empty space beside me. Panic gripped my chest.

"Blake?" I called out, my voice pitched high with fear.

"Here," came his immediate reply from somewhere nearby.

I exhaled in relief but kept my eyes closed, reaching out blindly until I found his hand. I pressed it against my cheek. "I was afraid you'd disappeared again."

Blake's pupils contracted sharply. "Never again," he promised, his voice low and fervent.

I hooked my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "From now on, I want to see you every time I open my eyes."

Blake scooped me up effortlessly and carried me to the bathroom, where he'd already prepared my toothbrush with paste and a cup of mouthwash. He treated me as if I couldn't manage on my own.

Later, in the kitchen, I discovered Blake had prepared a feast: fluffy pancakes, a colorful fruit salad, creamy oatmeal, and freshly squeezed orange juice—my favorite.

"Did you stay up all night cooking?" I asked, taking a seat at the table.

"Just woke up a bit earlier," he replied with a modest shrug.

I took a bite of pancake, savoring the perfect sweetness. "Are you going to see Lily next?" I asked.

"Not urgent," Blake replied, surprising me. He had always prioritized his sister above everything.

"You've already seen her?" I guessed.

"No," he shook his head. "You were the first person I came to see when I got back."

"Then who's next?" I asked, curious about his priorities.

"The person you trust most," Blake replied cryptically.

I understood immediately who he meant and couldn't help but smirk. "Are you jealous?"

Blake's expression turned serious. "I lied to you before because I had no choice. From now on, I won't lie to you about anything."

I lowered my gaze to my plate, pushing a piece of pancake around with my fork. "Let's not talk about the future between us anymore," I said quietly. "Let's just focus on the present. I don't believe in 'future' promises anymore. Let's just cherish what we have right now."

Blake's eyes darkened, but he nodded. "Okay," he agreed simply.