Chapter 210 Chapter 84

Chapter 210 Chapter 84
ASHLEY'S P.OV

I was starting to get scared.

I didn't tell Kellan, though; he's been a constant support these past few days while we stayed at the hospital. He has never left, not even once; he made sure I ate all my meals on time and assured me that our daughter would be born fine and healthy.

But I was worried still, before now, my daughter usually kicked a lot, I could feel her most of the time because she was mostly awake, but for the past three days we've been here, her movements are slow, not the sharp kicking pain that makes me wince

Kellan didn’t know about this yet. He was already taking on so much on his shoulders, and I couldn't add this bit. Between planning with July on how to stop Genevieve and receiving calls from Lockar about how his presence was desperately needed, he was already taking too much

Kellan was doing everything to make sure our daughter was born into safety. Every time I look at him, my heart aches in my chest, at the faint exhaustion always clouding his features, the way he tried to be unbothered about the management crisis back at Lockra, and his strong will to protect us from my witch of a mother.

But more so, my heart bleeds whenever he talks of our daughter. Right now, our little girl seems to be the only ray of sunshine in our world. Every time, every single time we talk about her, his eyes light up with a brightness that makes my heart turn to liquid

The love Kellan has for our unborn daughter is incomprehensible, and it makes me regret not telling him sooner. I know now with bone-deep certainty that he would do anything to keep our child safe

My thoughts and worries skidded to a halt when Kellan stepped out from the bathroom, all dressed in the change of clothes Seb had brought for him, but his hair was still damp

The soft smile that stretched on his face was brighter than the morning sun. “You're awake" he murmured, coming over to my side

Kellan had paid for a private room, which was so spacious and relaxing that I could almost forget I was in a hospital. We had a private bathroom by the side, a single reclining chair beside my bed. That was his corner now.

He kissed the top of my head, his scent of shower gel making me let out a soft sigh. “Hey"

He settled himself into the bed with me, sitting by my side, and intertwined our fingers together. “How are my girls doing?"

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him about my recent worry, but something shifted in his face. “Great" I answered, plastering a small smile on my face

Kel was going through too much right now, adding this wouldn't help matters. Besides, the doctors and nurses checked in on me at every short interval. If they said my daughter was fine, then she is

Kellan's body was rigid when we ordered breakfast and ate, even while the nurses came in to check my vitals and run the fetal monitor, I could see in his face that something was wrong, even as he asked the nurses question after question.

“Is my daughter's heart rate steady?”

“Does the movement count still fall within range?”

“What else can Ashley eat?”

The nurses adored his genuine care. I did too.

“Kellan," I called imploringly when I caught him checking his wristwatch. “Are you going somewhere?" I asked.

His shoulders slumped, and he took my wrist and raised it to his lips, dropping a feather-light kiss on the back of my palm. “My dad will be here soon”

My brows dipped in confusion, but I let him speak.

Kellan briefly closed and opened his eyes “I have to go...somewhere with July today”

My mind began racing. The look of exhaustion and somewhat guilt in his face, the tightness in his voice...my heart skipped a beat.

“Kellan," my voice rose a notch, “Where are you going?"

His weary smile only made me more anxious. “Tell me."

A knock immediately sounded on the door and Seb popped his head in. “Hey, son. Hi Ashley." He beamed at us, carrying a large pink ready bear

I tried to summon a smile of my own. “Good morning Seb.”

Kellan turned to his Dad, and seemed to have a nonverbal communication of their own because the brightness on Seb's face turned into worry. “I'll be outside,” he said and dismissed himself as quickly as he came

The air was immediately thicker again, my heart was racing behind my chest, and I heard the monitors' beeping sound quicken.

“Calm down Ash. Breath in and out," he whispered softly, but I wasn't having any of it.

“Tell me where you're going first”

Kellan dragged a hand over his face, heaving out a sigh. “I have to do something... something to keep you and our daughter safe from Genevieve."

My throat dried, my mind raced. “What Is that?”

Another one of those weary smiles stretched across his lips.“It's not something I want you to worry yourself over. But I promise that I'll be back before you know it"

I was quiet for a minute, silently contemplating. Whatever Kellan and July intended to do, I was certain he wouldn't tell me, so I wouldn't be worried, and there was no way I could be of help in my condition. Fretting over it wouldn't help Kellan either and Genevieve needed to be stopped as soon as possible.

I reached out to touch his cheek, Kellan leaned into my touch, his scruff scraping against the inside of my palm.

“Be careful" I pleaded

The shadows in his eyes disappeared, and his smile turned bright, real. Beautiful. “I'm going to be a Dad, now. "His voice carried that awe and pride as if he still couldn't believe it.

“I have you and our little girl to be careful for" he turned, kissing the inside of my palm. I'll be back soon"

I nodded, holding on to his promise as I watched him leave.

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