Chapter 50 Collection Success
The Fashion Show is a triumph.
Standing ovation. Critics raving. Orders pouring in without delay.
The Lionel-Castellane collaboration line is a huge success.
Behind the curtain, Isabelle hugs Zephyra. Real joy.
"We did it." She says. "Together."
"We did." Zephyra smiles. However her thoughts are somewhere else.
Pregnant. Maybe. Possibly. Almost Genuinely.
She needs to know if she is positive.
The celebration party is at a rooftop venue. Champagne flowing. Designers networking.
Zephyra makes an excuse. Slips away quietly.
Finds a pharmacy. Buys a test. Returns to the lodge.
In the bathroom, arms shaking, she takes it.
Three minutes feel like eternity.
Then. Traces appear. Two lines
Positive.
She's pregnant.
Zephyra stands watching the test. Emotions are overwhelming.
Happiness. Terror. Disbelief. Hope.Worry. Surprise.
How did this take place? When? Does it remember?
It is real. Developing in her.
A child. Their toddler.
She wraps the test carefully. Puts it in her purse.
Returns to the party. Appearing normal.
But everything has changed . The whole thing.
She saw Kairo networking with designers. Guffawing. Fascinating.
She pulls him apart to a quiet balcony. Away from crowds.
Hands him the test without saying a word. Could not talk.
He stares at it. Confused in the beginning.
Then understanding dawns. His eyes go extensive.
"We are...?" His voice breaks.
She nods. Crying. "We are having a baby."
He pulls her right into a fierce embody. Both of them are crying now.
"I can not believe this." He whispers. "A baby. Our baby."
She laughs through tears. Relief flooding. "Neither can I. Are we ready?"
He kisses her deeply. Pouring everything into it.
"No." He says absolutely. "Whatever it is, we will figure it out. Together. Like everything else.
They hold each other tightly. The metropolis lighting fixtures glowing below.
Paris celebrating around them. However they're in their very own world.
"When?" He asks. Voice mild.
"I do not know exactly." She admits. "Perhaps eight weeks? I want to see a medical doctor."
"We're going to go as quickly as we are home." He says. Already protecting.
"Kairo." She looks at him. Seriously. "We can not tell anyone yet. Not until we are certain the whole thing is okay."
"Agreed." He nods. With understanding. "This moment is ours alone."
His hand moves to her belly. Rests there lightly.
"Hi baby." He whispers. "We are your mother and father. We are terrified. However, we already love you a lot."
Zephyra cries tougher. Happy tears. Crushed tears. Perfect tears.
They go back to the party. Acting normal. Keeping the secret.
But the whole thing has changed. Basically. Fantastically.
Zephyra watches Kairo across the room. She caught him looking at her. Smile.
They are having a baby
The idea is surreal. Terrifying. Just perfect.
The next few days are a whirlwind.
Press meetings. Interviews. Order conferences.
The collaboration exceeds all expectations. Record-breaking sales.
But through all of it, Zephyra and Kairo share secret glances.
Knowing look. Personal smiles. Gentle touches.
They are creating life together.
Flying home, Zephyra rests her hand on her abdomen.
Already protective of the tiny existence growing inside her.
A secret too new. Too fragile. Too treasured to call yet.
"What are you thinking?" Kairo asks softly.
"The whole thing." She admits. "How this changes matters. The League. The program. Our lives."
"We will adapt." He takes a hand. One day at a time"I am scared." She whispers. Honest. Vulnerable.
"Me too." He kisses her knuckles. "But additionally excited. Happy. Overwhelmed. All of it."
"All of it." She has the same opinion. "."
The plane lands at JFK. Reality returning.
They collect baggage. stroll through customs. Normal routine.
But nothing is normal anymore. Everything is different.
The sliding doors open to arrivals.
And Dalia is ready. Fashionable as ever.
She pulls Zephyra into a tight hug.
"Congratulations on Paris." She says warmly. "I saw the coverage. Absolutely lovely."
"Thank you." Zephyra hugs back. Careful not to reveal something.
They chat briefly. Making plans for dinner quickly.
Then head home. Exhausted. Glad. Changed forever.
That night, lying in bed, Kairo's hand rests on Zephyra's belly.
Her stomach is still flat. No visible changes yet.
However life is growing inside. Cells multiplying. Future forming.
"We are in reality doing this." She says. wonder in her voice.
"We absolutely are." He kisses her. Gentle. Sweet. "And we are going to be amazing."
She wants to believe him. Attempts to.
However fear lingers. Uncertainty too.
How does she compete inside the World Creator's League pregnant?
How does she run this system? The company? the entirety?
Questions for tomorrow. For later. For when she's geared up.
Tonight, she simply holds Kairo. Feels his warm temperature. His love. His reality.
The next day brings demanding situations. Tonight brings peace.
Miles away, in a silent jail cell, Gerald watches.
News coverage of Zephyra and Isabelle's Paris triumph sparkles on a small TV.
Their faces. Their success. Their joy.
His jaw tightens. His eyes darken.
He whispers to no one.
"This isn't over."
His hand clenches right into a fist. Knuckles white.
Jail gave him time. Time to suppose. Plan. Scheme.
Zephyra thinks she's won. Thinks she's secure. Thinks she destroyed him.
But Gerald knows better. He has allies. Resources. Connections she doesn't have knowledge about.
And when the time is right, he will remind her.
You can not break a man like him and stroll away unscathed.
The screen suggests Zephyra smiling. Effective. Glowing. Satisfied.
Gerald's smile is cold. Calculating. Patient.
"Enjoy it while it lasts." He mutters. "Because I am coming for everything you adore."
The TV sparkles. Zephyra's face fills the screen. Lovely. A success. Pregnant.
Even though Gerald did not know she was pregnant yet.
He leans in the direction of the TV screen. Reading her. Planning his revenge with meticulous elements.
The guard walks beyond. Gerald does not acknowledge him. Too focused on the pictures.
On destroying the daughter who dared to smash him fir
st.
However, when he finds out about the baby, will that understanding make Zephyra extra prone in his eyes, or will it deliver her something well worth preventing, tougher than she's ever fought before to guard?