Chapter 283

Chapter 283
 Stella's POV

Sitting in the examination room of New York's most prestigious private obstetrics hospital, I stared at the blank wall, absentmindedly listening to the nurse explain various prenatal examination procedures.

"Mrs. Lancaster, please change into this examination gown. The doctor will be here shortly."

I quickly changed, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my chest. This was my first official prenatal checkup, and although I was putting on a calm exterior, inside I was a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

Damn, I'm really going to be a mother.

The examination began with routine measurements—blood pressure, weight, medical history. While the kind-eyed but thoroughly professional female doctor in her fifties was asking about my lifestyle and dietary habits, my phone suddenly rang.

Under normal circumstances I would have ignored it, but the specific ringtone made me pause.

"I'm sorry," I said to the doctor.

She smiled reassuringly. "It's fine, we're not in a hurry. You can take the call if you need to."

I pulled out my phone, frowning at the name displayed on the screen: Adrian Black. We hadn't been in contact for months, so why call now of all times?

"Hello?" I deliberately kept my tone neutral.

"Miss Winston, how have you been?" His voice carried that quality I could never quite describe—warm yet somehow distant, familiar yet formal.

"I'm fine," I answered cautiously, curious about the purpose of his call.

"I need to have several outfits custom-made and wanted to ask for your advice," he continued calmly. "Your aesthetic sense is truly extraordinary."

I hesitated, remembering my promise to Adam about reducing my workload. "I'm sorry, Mr. Black, I'm rather... busy these days."

This is so fucking awkward, how do I turn him down without sounding too harsh?

There was silence on the other end for a moment, and I thought the line had dropped, then his voice came through again, still gentle: "That's perfectly fine, I completely understand."

Before I could respond, he added, "By the way, Miss Winston, please be careful when going out recently. Try not to be alone."

The comment made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "What do you mean?"

"Just a precautionary measure," he replied in a tone impossible to interpret. "Take care."

The call ended, leaving me staring at my phone screen, thoroughly confused. This strange warning combined with his sudden call after months of no contact felt... unsettling.

What exactly did he mean? Should I be worried?

"Mrs. Lancaster? Ready to continue?" The doctor's voice pulled me back to reality.

I nodded, lying back on the examination table, trying to refocus my attention as the doctor applied cold gel to my still-flat abdomen.

"This might feel a bit cold," she smiled in warning. "Now, let's see what we have here."

 Adam's POV

I've always hated waiting rooms. I dislike being forced into idleness, life continuing while I can only pace aimlessly. But as I sat in the private family area of the obstetrics ward, I found myself unusually at peace with waiting.

Stella is carrying our child. This knowledge changes everything. For the first time in my life, I'm not just waiting—I'm preparing. Each passing minute brings us closer to seeing our child, closer to creating the family that neither Stella nor I truly had in our childhoods.

A commotion in the hallway caught my attention. The voices were too loud, the footsteps determined as they headed in my direction. I looked up just in time to see three figures round the corner.

Liam Davis strode toward me, his height and presence immediately marking him as the eldest son. Behind him followed Emma and Robert Davis, both with barely concealed anxiety on their faces.

They found their way here. Interesting.

"Lancaster," Liam Davis addressed me directly, his voice tight with concern, "what's wrong with my sister? Is she sick?"

I met his gaze calmly, noting the genuine worry behind his authoritative tone. "Prenatal checkup."

The effect was immediate. Robert's jaw nearly hit the floor. "She's pregnant?"

Emma frowned, clearly disapproving: "She's only twenty-one."

How ridiculous, as if they know Stella better than I do.

Their reactions were predictable. Finding their recently discovered sister already pregnant would naturally trigger protective instincts among siblings. But there was something deeper in their collective response—a disappointment directed at me, as if I had taken advantage of their precious sister.

Fuck that, I love Stella and she loves me, it's none of their business.

Liam's expression turned hard. Without breaking eye contact with me, he took out his phone and stepped slightly away, speaking quickly and quietly to whoever was on the other end.

I could read his intentions clearly. The Davis family patriarchs were accustomed to solving problems through acquisition and control. He was trying to place this hospital under his influence, ensuring his sister received the best care—or perhaps to have some control over her medical decisions.

I watched him make the call, allowing myself a small smile. Once the call ended, Liam immediately dialed another number, his expression growing increasingly frustrated.

When he turned back to me, there was a new wariness in his eyes—the look of someone who had just realized they were facing a worthy opponent.

"You bought this hospital this morning," he stated flatly.

I neither confirmed nor denied, simply meeting his gaze.

Emma and Robert exchanged surprised glances, clearly impressed by my foresight despite themselves.

"You knew we would come," Liam continued, studying me more carefully.

"I considered it a possibility," I admitted. After all, the Davis family had been searching for their missing sister for years. Once they found her, something like pregnancy wouldn't keep them away.

Robert cleared his throat uncomfortably: "So Stella is really pregnant? How far along is she?"

"That's her information to share," I answered calmly.

Emma stepped forward, her professional coolness momentarily giving way to genuine concern: "Is she healthy? The pregnancy, is everything... going well?"

The question held no pretense, only sincere concern for a sister. It softened my response slightly: "Both Stella and the baby are doing very well."

Visible relief spread across the faces of all three siblings. Whatever their feelings about me or the pregnancy, their concern for Stella was real.

At least on this, we stand on common ground.

The subtle shift in atmosphere was interrupted by the sound of a door opening at the end of the hallway. Stella emerged from the examination area, still looking at something on her phone. She looked up, stopping in her tracks when she saw the unexpected gathering.

"Emma? Robert?" She approached cautiously, confusion evident as her gaze moved between the Davis siblings and me. "What are you doing here?"

Her gaze settled on Liam, whom she had never formally met. I carefully observed her expression, noting how she instinctively took a step closer to me when she sensed the intensity of his scrutiny.

She still trusts me. Whatever happens, I will protect her.

Before I could introduce them, Liam stepped forward. "Little sister," he said, his voice suddenly gentle, "I'm your brother."

Stella's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, her body language immediately becoming defensive. She moved closer to me, her hand finding mine in an automatic gesture seeking reassurance.

I squeezed her fingers gently, understanding the overwhelming nature of this moment. The crowded hallway of an obstetrics ward was clearly not the appropriate setting for such a revelation.

"I think," I said, keeping a careful eye on Stella's reactions, "we should continue this conversation somewhere more private. Perhaps over coffee?"