Chapter 2

The luxury baby store had completely dissolved into chaos.

Gia was still carrying on dramatically in the center of the aisle while employees rushed around nervously with water bottles and chairs nobody asked for.

“I can’t breathe!” “My stomach hurts!” “Why is nobody helping me?!”

Montez looked two seconds away from losing his damn mind.

“Gianna, if you scream one more damn—”

Then suddenly—

Johnathan glanced toward the bench area.

And froze.

His entire body went cold instantly.

“Malia?”

No response.

Johnathan’s eyes widened violently.

“MALIA.”

Everything around him disappeared.

The noise. The arguing. The people.

All he saw was his wife slumped sideways against the bench unnaturally still, her oxygen tubing slightly crooked against her cheek.

The color drained from his face immediately.

“Oh fuck.”

He rushed toward her so fast he nearly knocked over a display shelf.

“Malia!”

Her body didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

Nothing.

Fear hit him so hard it almost made him sick.

Johnathan dropped to his knees in front of her instantly, hands shaking as he touched her face gently.

“Malia, baby—”

Still nothing.

Her breathing was shallow.

Too shallow.

Johnathan’s panic exploded immediately.

“MALIA.”

Around them, the family finally noticed.

“Oh my God—” “She passed out!” “Call emergency services!” “Move!”

Gia’s dramatic act immediately got overshadowed.

And for once…

Nobody was looking at her anymore.

Montez turned sharply toward the scene.

The second he saw Malia unconscious—

His expression changed completely.

Cold. Deadly. Focused.

Unlike the others, Montez didn’t panic outwardly.

But internally?

Rage exploded inside him.

Because he knew exactly why this happened.

Stress. Overexertion. Constant emotional exhaustion.

All while everybody kept revolving around Gia’s bullshit.

Montez walked over quickly.

Johnathan was already checking Malia frantically.

“Baby, wake up…come on…please…”

His voice cracked badly near the end.

That terrified everybody.

Because Johnathan Westlend almost never sounded afraid.

Montez crouched beside them.

“She breathing?”

“Barely.”

“Fuck.”

Malia remained limp in Johnathan’s arms, completely unconscious now, her head resting against his shoulder weakly.

And somehow…

She looked peaceful.

Like her body had simply shut down to escape everything around her.

Johnathan looked devastated.

“What the fuck happened?!”

Montez gave him a hard look.

“She’s exhausted.”

The statement carried deeper meaning than anybody wanted to acknowledge.

Behind them, Gia suddenly spoke weakly:

“My stomach still hurts…”

Montez stood immediately.

“Rafael,” he barked sharply. “Get the damn cars ready.”

Everything moved instantly after that.

Security swarmed the area. Employees panicked. Family members shouted over each other.

Montez pointed toward Johnathan.

“You go with Malia.”

Johnathan looked up sharply.

“What about Gia?”

Montez’s jaw tightened.

“I said I’ll handle my wife.”

The wording hit differently this time.

My wife.

Not yours to manage. Not yours to rescue. Not yours to prioritize.

Johnathan looked back down at Malia unconscious in his arms.

And suddenly…

Guilt slammed into him so hard he could barely breathe himself.

Because while Gia screamed dramatically for attention…

Malia had literally collapsed quietly in the background.

Again.

Montez motioned toward the exit sharply.

“Move.”

Johnathan didn’t waste another second.

He carefully lifted Malia fully into his arms and rushed out of the store with the family surrounding them.

Her long hair spilled down his arm like silk. One hand rested weakly against her stomach. The oxygen tubing shifted softly as she breathed faintly.

Too faintly.

Johnathan’s heart pounded harder with every second.

“Baby, wake up…”

Nothing.

No response.

The sight alone terrified him.

Because Malia always responded.

Even quietly. Even weakly.

She always answered him.

Now she just laid there completely still.

Outside the mall, security hurriedly opened the limo doors while paparazzi across the street immediately started taking pictures.

“What happened?!” “Is Mrs. Westlend okay?!” “Is someone in labor?!”

“MOVE THE FUCK BACK!” Damien roared instantly.

Security shoved the crowd away aggressively while Johnathan climbed into the limo carefully holding Malia against his chest protectively.

Montez climbed into another vehicle with Gia, who immediately started complaining again.

“I think something’s seriously wrong with me—”

Montez looked at her blankly.

“Girl, read the damn room.”

The door slammed shut.

Inside Johnathan’s limo, silence settled heavily.

The only sounds were the engine and Malia’s faint breathing.

Johnathan sat frozen beside her.

Still holding her.

Still staring at her face in complete disbelief.

She looked exhausted even unconscious.

Dark circles beneath her eyes. Lips pale. Body limp against him.

Johnathan’s chest tightened painfully.

“How the fuck did I miss this…”

Nobody answered him.

Because honestly?

Everybody knew.

Malia had been quietly deteriorating for a while now.

And somehow nobody fully stopped long enough to see how bad it had gotten.

Johnathan brushed shaky fingers through her hair carefully.

“Malia…”

No response.

His throat tightened hard.

For the first time in years…

He genuinely looked terrified.

Not stressed. Not frustrated.

Terrified.

Because suddenly all he could think about was every single moment he dismissed her exhaustion.

Every: “I’m okay.” “It’s fine.” “Don’t worry about me.”

Every moment he let Gia pull his attention away. Every time he assumed Malia would understand. Every damn time he left her emotionally standing alone.

And now she was unconscious in his arms.

Montez’s earlier words replayed in his head violently:

Go get your fucking wife.

Johnathan shut his eyes briefly.

“Fuck…”

Across from him, Evelyn Chensworth dabbed at tears nervously.

“She’s always been too quiet when she’s hurting…”

Damien looked out the window darkly.

“Yeah. That’s kinda the damn problem.”

Nobody argued.

Because they all knew it was true.

Malia suffered silently.

Always had.

And people got too comfortable with that silence.

Meanwhile—

Deep inside her unconscious mind—

Malia felt nothing.

No noise. No arguing. No Gia. No pressure.

Just quiet darkness.

Peaceful.

For the first time in a long time…

Nobody needed anything from her there.

No expectations. No competition. No pretending everything was okay.

Just silence.

And honestly?

Some small broken part of her didn’t want to wake up yet.

The first thing Malia heard was noise.

Loud. Sharp. Annoying.

Somebody complaining.

“…I said I don’t WANT the strawberry gelatin, I want the lemon one—”

A nurse sounded exhausted.

“Mrs. Westlend, please lower your voice—”

“I AM lowering my voice!”

Malia’s brows twitched faintly.

God.

Even half unconscious…

She knew that voice.

Gia.

Of course.

Malia slowly opened her eyes.

The hospital room lights were dimmed low, soft afternoon sunlight slipping through the large windows beside the bed. Machines beeped steadily around her while oxygen flowed softly beneath her nose again.

Everything felt heavy.

Her body. Her chest. Her stomach.

Especially her stomach.

Malia inhaled weakly.

Pain immediately spread through her ribs.

The sound made someone jerk upright beside the bed instantly.

“Malia?”

Johnathan.

His voice sounded wrecked.

Malia slowly turned her head.

And nearly startled.

Johnathan looked horrible.

Not physically hurt.

But exhausted.

His eyes were bloodshot. Dark circles sat beneath them heavily. His hair was messy like he’d been dragging his hands through it nonstop.

He looked like he hadn’t properly slept in days.

The second he realized she was awake—

Relief completely shattered across his face.

“Oh thank God…”

Before Malia could even speak, Johnathan immediately leaned over and pulled her carefully against him.

“Malia…”

His arms wrapped around her almost desperately.

Like he needed physical proof she was alive.

“You scared the fuck outta me.”

Malia blinked slowly against his chest.

Everything still felt foggy.

Her voice came out weak.

“…what happened?”

Johnathan pulled back just enough to look at her.

“You passed out at the mall.”

Malia frowned faintly.

“The mall…”

“You were unconscious for two days.”

Silence.

Malia stared at him.

Two days?

Johnathan rubbed a shaky hand over his face.

“You just…wouldn’t wake up.”

Something in his voice cracked badly again.

That was what finally broke her.

Malia’s face crumpled instantly.

Then suddenly—

She started crying.

Not loud dramatic crying.

Not screaming.

Just quiet, painful tears spilling endlessly down her cheeks.

Johnathan’s panic immediately returned.

“Baby—”

Malia covered part of her face weakly.

Everything hurt emotionally now.

The exhaustion. The pressure. The constant chaos. Her body failing her. The baby. The families.

Everything.

Johnathan held her face gently.

“Malia, hey…hey…”

She shook her head while crying harder.

“I’m tired…”

The sentence destroyed him.

Not physically tired.

Life tired.

Johnathan could hear it immediately.

“Malia…”

“I just wanted quiet for one second…”

Her voice trembled painfully.

“One second…”

Johnathan swallowed hard.

Guilt hit him so violently it made his stomach twist.

Because he knew.

He fucking knew.

His wife had been drowning quietly right in front of him.

And somehow he kept letting other people pull his attention away from her.

The noise outside interrupted again.

Gia yelling somewhere down the hall.

“WHY IS EVERYBODY TREATING ME LIKE THE VILLAIN?!”

Montez’s deep voice immediately followed.

“Because you act like one.”

“I AM PREGNANT TOO!”

“And somehow she still ended up unconscious instead of you!”

A loud crash echoed.

Probably Gia throwing something.

Malia shut her eyes tiredly.

Even here.

Even in the hospital.

Still chaos.

Johnathan noticed immediately.

His jaw tightened.

“I’ll tell security to remove them.”

Malia shook her head weakly.

“No…”

“Baby—”

“I don’t wanna hear arguing…”

Johnathan immediately softened again.

“Aight.”

He gently wiped tears from her face with his thumb.

Then quieter—

“You gotta stop scaring me like this.”

Malia looked away softly.

“I didn’t mean to…”

“I know.”

And somehow that made it worse.

Because Malia never meant to hurt anybody.

She just kept silently hurting herself instead.

A knock came at the door.

Then a doctor entered alongside a nurse carrying a clipboard.

Dr. Elaine Harper.

Their OB doctor.

Her expression immediately softened seeing Malia awake.

“Well finally.”

Malia managed a weak little smile.

The doctor walked closer.

“You gave us a scare, sweetheart.”

Johnathan straightened beside the bed instantly.

“How bad is it?”

The doctor sighed carefully.

“Malia’s body is under extreme stress right now.”

Malia lowered her eyes.

“We’ve stabilized her oxygen levels,” the doctor continued gently, “but with her chest condition and how far along she is, we really don’t want to risk waiting much longer.”

Johnathan’s expression darkened immediately.

“What are you saying?”

The doctor looked directly at Malia.

“I think we need to schedule the C-section as soon as possible.”

Silence filled the room instantly.

Malia’s hand slowly moved over her stomach protectively.

The baby shifted beneath her touch.

Johnathan immediately grabbed her other hand.

“Is the baby okay?”

“Yes,” the doctor reassured quickly. “Baby’s heartbeat is strong.”

Johnathan exhaled shakily.

“But,” the doctor continued carefully, “Malia’s body is struggling now. If we continue waiting naturally, there’s a risk her heart and lungs won’t tolerate labor well.”

Malia’s breathing hitched softly.

Fear crept into her eyes instantly.

Johnathan squeezed her hand tighter.

“Hey.”

She looked at him.

“You hear me?” he said softly. “You not doing this alone.”

The nurse stepped forward carefully holding paperwork.

“These are the surgical consent forms.”

The room suddenly felt too quiet.

Too serious.

Malia stared at the clipboard for a long moment.

C-section.

Surgery.

Birth.

Everything suddenly became real all at once.

Her eyes immediately filled with tears again.

Johnathan’s face softened painfully.

“Baby…”

Malia looked toward him slowly.

Then quietly—

She nodded toward the papers.

Giving him permission to sign.

Johnathan froze for half a second.

Because somehow…

That small nod carried so much trust behind it.

Trusting him with her body. Her safety. Their baby.

Even after everything.

Johnathan took the clipboard slowly.

His hand actually shook while signing.

The nurse quietly left afterward while the doctor explained surgery details softly in the background.

But Johnathan barely heard any of it.

Because the entire time…

He kept staring at Malia.

At how small she suddenly looked in that hospital bed. How exhausted her eyes were. How she kept rubbing her belly like she was apologizing to the baby silently.

And for the first time in years…

Johnathan felt truly terrified of losing her.

The first thing Malia heard was noise.

Loud. Sharp. Annoying.

Somebody complaining.

“…I said I don’t WANT the strawberry gelatin, I want the lemon one—”

A nurse sounded exhausted.

“Mrs. Westlend, please lower your voice—”

“I AM lowering my voice!”

Malia’s brows twitched faintly.

God.

Even half unconscious…

She knew that voice.

Gia.

Of course.

Malia slowly opened her eyes.

The hospital room lights were dimmed low, soft afternoon sunlight slipping through the large windows beside the bed. Machines beeped steadily around her while oxygen flowed softly beneath her nose again.

Everything felt heavy.

Her body. Her chest. Her stomach.

Especially her stomach.

Malia inhaled weakly.

Pain immediately spread through her ribs.

The sound made someone jerk upright beside the bed instantly.

“Malia?”

Johnathan.

His voice sounded wrecked.

Malia slowly turned her head.

And nearly startled.

Johnathan looked horrible.

Not physically hurt.

But exhausted.

His eyes were bloodshot. Dark circles sat beneath them heavily. His hair was messy like he’d been dragging his hands through it nonstop.

He looked like he hadn’t properly slept in days.

The second he realized she was awake—

Relief completely shattered across his face.

“Oh thank God…”

Before Malia could even speak, Johnathan immediately leaned over and pulled her carefully against him.

“Malia…”

His arms wrapped around her almost desperately.

Like he needed physical proof she was alive.

“You scared the fuck outta me.”

Malia blinked slowly against his chest.

Everything still felt foggy.

Her voice came out weak.

“…what happened?”

Johnathan pulled back just enough to look at her.

“You passed out at the mall.”

Malia frowned faintly.

“The mall…”

“You were unconscious for two days.”

Silence.

Malia stared at him.

Two days?

Johnathan rubbed a shaky hand over his face.

“You just…wouldn’t wake up.”

Something in his voice cracked badly again.

That was what finally broke her.

Malia’s face crumpled instantly.

Then suddenly—

She started crying.

Not loud dramatic crying.

Not screaming.

Just quiet, painful tears spilling endlessly down her cheeks.

Johnathan’s panic immediately returned.

“Baby—”

Malia covered part of her face weakly.

Everything hurt emotionally now.

The exhaustion. The pressure. The constant chaos. Her body failing her. The baby. The families.

Everything.

Johnathan held her face gently.

“Malia, hey…hey…”

She shook her head while crying harder.

“I’m tired…”

The sentence destroyed him.

Not physically tired.

Life tired.

Johnathan could hear it immediately.

“Malia…”

“I just wanted quiet for one second…”

Her voice trembled painfully.

“One second…”

Johnathan swallowed hard.

Guilt hit him so violently it made his stomach twist.

Because he knew.

He fucking knew.

His wife had been drowning quietly right in front of him.

And somehow he kept letting other people pull his attention away from her.

The noise outside interrupted again.

Gia yelling somewhere down the hall.

“WHY IS EVERYBODY TREATING ME LIKE THE VILLAIN?!”

Montez’s deep voice immediately followed.

“Because you act like one.”

“I AM PREGNANT TOO!”

“And somehow she still ended up unconscious instead of you!”

A loud crash echoed.

Probably Gia throwing something.

Malia shut her eyes tiredly.

Even here.

Even in the hospital.

Still chaos.

Johnathan noticed immediately.

His jaw tightened.

“I’ll tell security to remove them.”

Malia shook her head weakly.

“No…”

“Baby—”

“I don’t wanna hear arguing…”

Johnathan immediately softened again.

“Aight.”

He gently wiped tears from her face with his thumb.

Then quieter—

“You gotta stop scaring me like this.”

Malia looked away softly.

“I didn’t mean to…”

“I know.”

And somehow that made it worse.

Because Malia never meant to hurt anybody.

She just kept silently hurting herself instead.

A knock came at the door.

Then a doctor entered alongside a nurse carrying a clipboard.

Dr. Elaine Harper.

Their OB doctor.

Her expression immediately softened seeing Malia awake.

“Well finally.”

Malia managed a weak little smile.

The doctor walked closer.

“You gave us a scare, sweetheart.”

Johnathan straightened beside the bed instantly.

“How bad is it?”

The doctor sighed carefully.

“Malia’s body is under extreme stress right now.”

Malia lowered her eyes.

“We’ve stabilized her oxygen levels,” the doctor continued gently, “but with her chest condition and how far along she is, we really don’t want to risk waiting much longer.”

Johnathan’s expression darkened immediately.

“What are you saying?”

The doctor looked directly at Malia.

“I think we need to schedule the C-section as soon as possible.”

Silence filled the room instantly.

Malia’s hand slowly moved over her stomach protectively.

The baby shifted beneath her touch.

Johnathan immediately grabbed her other hand.

“Is the baby okay?”

“Yes,” the doctor reassured quickly. “Baby’s heartbeat is strong.”

Johnathan exhaled shakily.

“But,” the doctor continued carefully, “Malia’s body is struggling now. If we continue waiting naturally, there’s a risk her heart and lungs won’t tolerate labor well.”

Malia’s breathing hitched softly.

Fear crept into her eyes instantly.

Johnathan squeezed her hand tighter.

“Hey.”

She looked at him.

“You hear me?” he said softly. “You not doing this alone.”

The nurse stepped forward carefully holding paperwork.

“These are the surgical consent forms.”

The room suddenly felt too quiet.

Too serious.

Malia stared at the clipboard for a long moment.

C-section.

Surgery.

Birth.

Everything suddenly became real all at once.

Her eyes immediately filled with tears again.

Johnathan’s face softened painfully.

“Baby…”

Malia looked toward him slowly.

Then quietly—

She nodded toward the papers.

Giving him permission to sign.

Johnathan froze for half a second.

Because somehow…

That small nod carried so much trust behind it.

Trusting him with her body. Her safety. Their baby.

Even after everything.

Johnathan took the clipboard slowly.

His hand actually shook while signing.

The nurse quietly left afterward while the doctor explained surgery details softly in the background.

But Johnathan barely heard any of it.

Because the entire time…

He kept staring at Malia.

At how small she suddenly looked in that hospital bed. How exhausted her eyes were. How she kept rubbing her belly like she was apologizing to the baby silently.

And for the first time in years…

Johnathan felt truly terrified of losing her.

The hospital hallways were quieter at night.

Not silent.

Never silent.

Machines beeped faintly in nearby rooms. Nurses walked briskly past with charts and medicine trays. Distant voices echoed from the maternity wing.

But compared to the chaos of the Westlend family?

It felt peaceful.

Johnathan stepped out of Malia’s hospital room slowly, gently closing the door behind him.

For a moment he just stood there.

Still.

Emotionally numb.

His hand stayed on the doorknob longer than necessary while he stared blankly at the floor.

Two days.

Malia had been unconscious for two fucking days.

And he still couldn’t fully process it.

Every time he closed his eyes, he kept seeing her collapsed against that mall bench.

Limp. Silent. Too still.

Johnathan exhaled shakily and dragged both hands over his face.

“Fuck…”

His chest still felt tight.

Not panic anymore.

Something worse.

Guilt.

The kind that crawled under your skin and stayed there.

Eventually he forced himself to move, walking down the hallway toward the private hospital lounge area.

The Westlends practically owned half the damn hospital, so naturally they had access to the executive family suites and lounges.

Johnathan stopped at the coffee station and grabbed two drinks automatically.

One black coffee for himself.

One warm vanilla tea for Malia.

Because even unconscious…

He still thought about what she liked first.

That realization almost hurt.

As he stood there waiting quietly, a deep familiar voice spoke behind him.

“She awake?”

Montez.

Johnathan glanced back.

His older brother looked exhausted too.

Dark dress shirt sleeves rolled up. Tie loosened. Expression permanently irritated.

But underneath all that?

Montez looked worried.

Johnathan nodded once.

“Yeah.”

Montez visibly relaxed slightly.

“How she doing?”

Johnathan leaned heavily against the counter.

“She cried.”

That answer alone said everything.

Montez went quiet.

Because Malia almost never cried openly.

Not in front of people.

Not even when she was hurting badly.

Johnathan laughed bitterly under his breath.

“She woke up apologizing.”

Montez’s face hardened instantly.

“Of course she did.”

Johnathan shook his head slowly.

“She kept saying she was tired.”

“That girl been tired for years.”

The statement sat heavily between them.

A nurse passed nearby pushing equipment while the brothers stood in silence for a moment.

Then Johnathan finally asked:

“What about Gia?”

Montez immediately looked annoyed again.

“False fucking alarm.”

Johnathan sighed.

“Seriously?”

Montez nodded once.

“Heartburn. Gas. Drama. Pick one.”

Despite himself, Johnathan snorted tiredly.

Montez rubbed his forehead.

“She damn near had three nurses crying just for the doctor to tell her ass she ate too much spicy seafood.”

Johnathan muttered:

“That sounds about right.”

Montez looked completely drained now.

“I swear to God, John… I walked into that hospital room ready for bad news, and this woman talking about her ‘energy feeling off.’”

Johnathan laughed weakly despite everything.

Then the laughter faded quickly.

Because suddenly all he could think about was Malia unconscious again.

Montez noticed instantly.

His expression shifted slightly.

“You almost lost her.”

It wasn’t a question.

Johnathan looked down at the coffee cup in his hands.

“…yeah.”

The word came out rough.

For the first time since the mall…

He actually admitted it aloud.

Montez leaned against the wall beside him quietly.

“I’ve never seen you look scared before.”

Johnathan swallowed hard.

“I was terrified.”

His voice cracked again slightly.

Montez stayed quiet.

Johnathan stared ahead blankly.

“She was just laying there, Montez.”

His grip tightened around the cup.

“She wouldn’t wake up. Doctors rushing around. Machines going off. Everybody yelling…”

He laughed bitterly again.

“And all I could think about was every single time she told me she was fine when she fucking wasn’t.”

Montez looked away briefly.

Because honestly?

He’d been thinking the same thing.

Johnathan rubbed his jaw hard.

“I kept leaving her standing alone.”

“No,” Montez corrected flatly. “You kept assuming she’d wait for you emotionally while everybody else took pieces outta her.”

That hit harder than a punch.

Johnathan shut his eyes briefly.

“…damn.”

Montez crossed his arms.

“Malia don’t complain enough for people to realize when she reaching her limit.”

Johnathan nodded slowly.

“I know.”

“No,” Montez replied more sharply this time. “I don’t think you did.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Then quieter—

“You know what the fucked up part is?”

Johnathan looked over.

Montez stared ahead coldly.

“She still trusts you.”

Johnathan froze slightly.

Montez laughed once under his breath.

“That girl woke up scared and still nodded for YOU to sign those surgery papers.”

Johnathan looked down instantly.

His chest tightened again.

Because Montez was right.

After everything…

Malia still trusted him completely.

Montez suddenly looked irritated again.

“You better not fuck this up.”

Johnathan glanced up.

“What?”

“I’m serious.”

Montez’s tone deepened.

“You got a wife that genuinely loves your ass. That’s rare in families like ours.”

Johnathan frowned slightly.

“You talking about Gia?”

Montez looked dead inside immediately.

“Who else the fuck would I be talking about?”

Johnathan almost laughed again.

Almost.

Montez shoved his hands into his pockets roughly.

“At this point I don’t even know what my marriage is anymore.”

The statement surprised Johnathan.

Because Montez almost never opened up emotionally.

Ever.

“You regret marrying her?” Johnathan asked carefully.

Montez went silent for a long moment.

Then finally—

“…yeah.”

No hesitation.

No pretending.

Just honesty.

Johnathan looked stunned.

Montez exhaled slowly.

“I thought maybe she’d mature eventually. Thought maybe becoming a wife, becoming a mother…maybe something would change.”

He laughed humorlessly.

“Instead it got worse.”

Johnathan leaned against the counter quietly listening.

Montez looked exhausted now.

“She competes with Malia constantly and Malia don’t even be competing back.”

“That’s what I don’t understand,” Johnathan muttered.

Montez scoffed.

“Gia’s been jealous since childhood.”

Johnathan frowned slightly.

“Jealous of what?”

That actually made Montez laugh.

“You serious?”

“Yes.”

Montez stared at him like he was slow.

“John… Malia got the one thing Gia never managed to keep.”

“What?”

“Peace.”

The word hung heavily.

Montez looked toward Malia’s hospital room direction.

“Your wife don’t need attention every damn second to feel important.”

Johnathan went quiet.

“She’s soft,” Montez continued. “Real soft. The kind of woman people either protect…or destroy.”

Johnathan’s stomach twisted painfully.

Because lately?

It felt like everybody—including him—had slowly been destroying her without realizing it.

Montez pushed off the wall finally.

“Anyway,” he muttered, “I’m going back before Gia accuses the nurses of conspiracy again.”

Johnathan snorted weakly.

Montez started walking off.

Then stopped.

Without turning around, he said one last thing quietly:

“If Malia disappears emotionally for real one day… don’t act surprised.”

Johnathan’s entire body stilled.

Montez walked away after that.

Leaving Johnathan standing alone in the hallway.

Still holding Malia’s tea.

And suddenly realizing something horrifying.

His brother might’ve been right.

Montez already had a headache before he even reached Gia’s hospital room.

The private maternity hallway was calm for once.

Too calm.

Which usually meant Gianna was about to destroy the peace somehow.

A few exhausted nurses walked past him looking emotionally defeated already. One of them visibly relaxed when she saw Montez approaching.

“Mr. Westlend,” the nurse said carefully, “your wife has been…upset.”

Montez kept walking.

“She alive?”

“…yes.”

“She bleeding?”

“No.”

“Then she fine.”

The nurse blinked awkwardly.

Montez continued toward the room carrying two drinks in one massive hand: An iced coffee for himself. A stupidly expensive fruit smoothie Gia had demanded twenty minutes ago.

Before he even opened the door—

He heard yelling.

“I SAID I DON’T WANT THOSE PILLOWS!”

A nurse sounded strained.

“Mrs. Westlend, those are the only maternity support cushions available right now—”

“Well they’re ugly!”

Montez shut his eyes briefly.

“Lord give me strength…”

Then he opened the door.

Chaos.

Gia stood near the hospital bed wearing a silk maternity robe while angrily pointing at three nurses like a rich dictator about to fire an entire kingdom.

Flowers covered every available surface in the room. Designer bags littered the couch. A television played quietly in the background.

And Gia herself looked perfectly healthy.

Montez instantly looked annoyed.

“What the fuck is going on now?”

All three nurses visibly looked relieved seeing him.

Gia whipped around dramatically.

“There you are!”

Montez walked further inside slowly.

“You screaming loud enough for the whole damn hospital to hear you.”

Gia crossed her arms.

“Because nobody in this place listens!”

One nurse looked deeply offended.

“We have done everything you requested, Mrs. Westlend.”

Gia pointed dramatically at the pillows.

“Those are hideous.”

Montez stared blankly.

“…you terrorizing medical staff over pillows?”

“They’re making me uncomfortable!”

“You know what making ME uncomfortable?” Montez snapped. “The fact I can hear your ass yelling from two hallways away.”

Gia rolled her eyes.

“You’re being dramatic.”

Montez almost laughed.

“ME?”

He handed her smoothie over roughly.

“Here. Drink this and stop cussing people out.”

Gia snatched it instantly.

“I don’t even want this anymore.”

Montez looked toward the ceiling slowly.

“God testing me today…”

One of the nurses quietly slipped out while she had the chance.

Smart woman.

Gia sat down dramatically on the edge of the hospital bed.

“I still think something’s wrong.”

Montez grabbed his coffee calmly.

“The doctor literally told you nothing wrong.”

“Well I don’t FEEL right.”

“You pregnant.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

Montez took a slow sip.

Then noticed something immediately.

“Where your monitor?”

Gia blinked.

“What?”

“The fetal monitor.”

Gia looked away for half a second too long.

Montez narrowed his eyes instantly.

“…Gianna.”

She looked defensive immediately.

“I took it off!”

Montez stared at her in disbelief.

“You did WHAT?”

“It was irritating my stomach!”

“SO YOU REMOVED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT?!”

Gia stood right back up angrily.

“Oh my God stop yelling at me!”

“I SHOULD yell at you!”

“You’re always mean to me lately!”

Montez laughed harshly.

“Because you act fucking ridiculous lately!”

Gia’s face twisted emotionally.

“I just wanted Johnathan to stay with me…”

There it was.

Montez went completely still.

The room suddenly felt colder.

“Excuse me?”

Gia folded her arms tightly.

“He actually pays attention to people!”

Montez stared at her hard.

“You wanted my brother sitting in here while HIS wife was unconscious?”

Gia immediately got defensive.

“Well she woke up already!”

Montez stepped closer slowly.

Dangerously slowly.

“And?”

Gia’s confidence visibly started shrinking now.

“Montez—”

“No,” he interrupted sharply. “Say that shit again.”

Gia swallowed.

Montez’s voice deepened low enough to make the room feel heavy.

“My brother’s wife collapsed while carrying his child and your selfish ass worried about attention.”

Gia stepped back slightly.

“I-I didn’t mean it like that…”

“Yes the fuck you did.”

His voice thundered now.

“And let me make something real clear to you, Gianna.”

Gia visibly flinched.

“When you married me, you stopped looking at Johnathan for emotional validation. I am your husband.”

The room fell dead silent.

Even the machines seemed quieter.

Gia’s breathing quickened slightly now.

Montez almost never raised his voice directly at her like this.

Not truly.

And honestly?

It scared the hell out of her.

Montez pointed toward the hallway sharply.

“That man sitting beside his wife right now terrified she might die during surgery while you in here acting like a spoiled damn child over pillows and attention.”

Gia’s eyes watered instantly.

“You hate me…”

Montez laughed coldly.

“No. I’m tired.”

Gia opened her mouth again—

Then suddenly froze.

Her expression shifted completely.

Montez immediately noticed.

“What?”

Gia grabbed the edge of the bed.

“…Montez…”

He narrowed his eyes.

“What now?”

Then he heard it.

A soft drip.

Both of them looked down simultaneously.

Clear fluid spread slowly onto the hospital floor beneath Gia.

Silence.

Gia’s eyes widened violently.

“…oh my God.”

Montez blinked once.

Then muttered:

“…ain’t this some shit.”

Gia panicked instantly.

“MONTEZ!”

Her water continued rushing suddenly.

“I THINK THE BABY’S COMING!”

Montez immediately snapped into action.

All annoyance vanished instantly.

“Sit your ass down.”

Gia started crying immediately.

“IT HURTS!”

“Because your water broke!”

“OH MY GOD!”

Montez slammed the emergency call button hard.

“NURSE!”

Everything exploded into motion instantly.

Nurses rushed inside. Machines beeped louder. Doctors began shouting instructions.

Gia cried dramatically while clutching her stomach.

Montez moved quickly toward her, holding her steady before she could panic herself into falling.

“Look at me.”

Gia cried harder.

“Montez—”

“LOOK at me.”

She did instantly.

His tone was commanding now. Sharp. Controlled.

“You breathe and stop screaming long enough to listen.”

Gia nodded shakily.

Montez turned toward the nurses immediately.

“She was full term. Water just broke.”

“How long ago?”

“Thirty seconds.”

A doctor rushed in quickly.

“We need monitors now.”

Gia whimpered loudly.

“I don’t wanna do this…”

Montez sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead once.

Then quieter—

“Well…too damn late now.”

Gia’s labor became a complete fucking disaster almost immediately.

The entire maternity wing sounded like a warzone.

Nurses rushed in and out of her room carrying equipment while Gia screamed loud enough to wake half the hospital.

“IT HURTS!” “WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE THIS?!” “MONTEZ DO SOMETHING!”

Montez stood near the wall looking emotionally exhausted already.

“You are literally in labor, Gianna.”

“WELL MAKE IT STOP!”

“I can’t stop childbirth!”

Gia gripped the hospital rails dramatically.

“I DON’T WANNA PUSH!”

A nurse tried remaining professional.

“Mrs. Westlend, your contractions are progressing normally—”

“NORMAL?!” Gia looked horrified. “THIS IS NORMAL?!”

Another contraction slammed into her.

Gia screamed so loudly someone outside dropped a tray.

Montez shut his eyes briefly.

“Jesus Christ…”

The doctor checked the monitors calmly despite the chaos.

“She’s progressing quickly.”

Gia immediately pointed at the doctor accusingly.

“DON’T SAY THAT LIKE IT’S GOOD NEWS!”

Another contraction hit.

Gia started cussing everybody out all over again.

“AHH—FUCK! I HATE THIS!” “WHY DID NOBODY WARN ME?!” “MONTEZ THIS IS YOUR FAULT!”

Montez blinked slowly.

“…my fault?”

“YOU GOT ME PREGNANT!”

Montez looked toward the ceiling.

“Lord…”

Outside in the hallway—

Johnathan immediately heard the screaming from Malia’s room next door.

At first he ignored it.

Until—

“JOHNATHAN!”

His body froze.

Again—

“JOHNATHANNNN!”

Malia looked up weakly from the hospital bed as nurses adjusted her IV carefully.

Johnathan hesitated.

The screaming continued.

“WHERE IS HE?!” “JOHNATHAN!”

Malia lowered her eyes quietly.

That tiny movement alone made Johnathan’s stomach twist.

One nurse spoke gently.

“Sir, we’re preparing your wife for surgery.”

Johnathan looked torn for half a second.

Then finally muttered:

“…I’ll be right back.”

And walked out.

The second he entered Gia’s room—

Montez looked ready to commit murder.

The older brother stared at Johnathan in disbelief.

“You serious right now?”

Gia instantly reached toward Johnathan dramatically.

“There you are!”

Johnathan looked overwhelmed immediately.

“What’s happening?”

“I’M DYING!”

“The fuck you are,” Montez muttered.

Gia glared at him through tears.

“STOP BEING MEAN TO ME!”

Another contraction hit hard.

Gia screamed loudly and grabbed Johnathan’s arm instantly.

“DON’T LEAVE ME!”

Johnathan looked deeply uncomfortable now.

“Gia—”

Montez stepped forward sharply.

“John.”

His tone was cold now.

“Go back to your wife.”

Gia immediately snapped:

“NO!”

The room went quiet.

Gia looked genuinely panicked.

“Please don’t leave…”

Montez stared at her slowly.

And suddenly?

Something in him just looked…done.

Completely done.

“Gianna,” he said flatly, “your sister is about to be cut open in surgery.”

Gia cried harder immediately.

“And I’m in labor!”

“And I’m your husband.”

The statement hit the room hard.

Gia’s face twisted emotionally.

“But he calms me down!”

Montez laughed once.

Not amused.

Not warm.

Just tired.

“Tough shit.”

Johnathan rubbed his face stressed.

“Gia, relax—”

“DON’T TELL ME TO RELAX!”

Another contraction ripped through her.

Gia screamed and nearly doubled over.

Nurses rushed around quickly adjusting monitors.

Montez stared at the scene for a long moment.

Then finally groaned deeply and dragged a hand down his face.

“You know what?” he muttered tiredly. “Do whatever the fuck y’all want.”

“Montez—”

“No.”

His voice deepened sharply.

“I’m done arguing tonight.”

And before anyone could stop him—

Montez turned and walked out.

The hallway suddenly felt strangely quiet compared to Gia’s room.

Montez exhaled heavily once.

Then headed next door.

Toward Malia.

Inside her hospital room—

The atmosphere was completely different.

Quiet.

Soft.

Tense in a painful way.

Machines beeped steadily while nurses prepared surgical equipment nearby. Malia laid against the hospital bed weakly, one hand resting protectively over her stomach while contractions rolled through her body silently.

Unlike Gia…

Malia barely made noise.

Even hurting.

Her breathing simply trembled faintly every time another contraction hit.

The oxygen tubing rested beneath her nose while tears quietly gathered at the corners of her eyes from pain and exhaustion.

The second Montez entered—

Malia looked toward the door automatically.

For a moment…

Hope flickered across her face.

Then faded slightly.

“…where’s Johnathan?”

The question came out soft.

Too soft.

Montez’s jaw tightened instantly.

He hated that damn look on her face.

That quiet disappointment she always tried hiding.

“He with Gia.”

Silence.

Malia lowered her eyes slowly.

Then sighed softly.

Not angry.

Not shocked.

Just…tired.

Again.

Montez felt something ugly twist in his chest.

Because she expected this now.

Expected to come second.

A contraction hit suddenly.

Malia’s fingers gripped the blanket weakly while her breathing stuttered.

Montez moved instantly toward the bed.

“You okay?”

Malia nodded faintly despite obvious pain.

“Mhm.”

“Bullshit.”

He pulled a chair beside her bed and sat down heavily.

A nurse glanced over nervously.

“Sir, we’re preparing her for surgery now.”

Montez nodded once.

“I know.”

Malia stared quietly at the ceiling while another contraction rolled through her body.

Tears slid silently down the side of her face.

Not loud. Not dramatic.

Just quiet suffering.

Montez grabbed a clean cloth nearby and gently wiped her forehead.

His large hand moved surprisingly carefully.

“You shouldn’t be in here alone.”

Malia looked toward him weakly.

“I’m not alone.”

That somehow made it worse.

Because she sounded grateful for scraps again.

Montez looked away briefly.

From next door, Gia screamed again:

“JOHNATHAN!”

The sound echoed through the wall.

Malia shut her eyes.

Montez immediately noticed.

His expression darkened dangerously.

“You want me to drag his ass back in here?”

Malia shook her head softly.

“No…”

“You sure?”

Malia nodded once.

Another contraction hit.

Her face tightened painfully while she inhaled sharply through trembling breaths.

Montez grabbed her hand instinctively.

“Breathe through it.”

Malia squeezed his hand weakly.

And for the first time all night…

Someone stayed beside her without being pulled away.

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