2025-11-30 23:04:45
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FALSE ALARM
The contractions woke Isabelle at 3:14 AM.Sharp, intense, wrapping around her entire abdomen. She gasped, clutching her stomach, and immediately started timing them on her phone.Five minutes later, another. Just as strong."Ethan!" Her voice came out louder than she intended, panic edging in.His footsteps pounded down the hallway. He burst through her bedroom door, already pulling on a sweatshirt. "How far apart?""Five minutes. Maybe less." Another contraction hit and Isabelle doubled over. "Oh god, it's too early. Thirty-seven weeks, that's just barely—""It's full-term. Dr. Patel said thirty-seven weeks is full-term." Ethan was already grabbing the hospital bags from the closet, his voice calm despite the fear in his eyes. "Can you walk?""I think so."He helped her stand, one arm supporting her weight as they moved toward the stairs. Another contraction hit halfway down. Isabelle stopped, gripping the railing, breathing through the pain."I've got you." Ethan's voice was steady
The New Beginning
Three months later, the verdict came down in a Manhattan federal courthouse.Victor Ashford was found guilty on forty-seven counts of human trafficking, twenty-three counts of kidnapping, eighteen counts of illegal medical experimentation, and numerous other charges that carried sentences measured in lifetimes.The judge gave him thirty years without possibility of parole.James watched from the gallery with Elena beside him and his parents behind him. When the sentence was read, his mother squeezed his shoulder. His father said quietly, "It's over."But James knew it wasn't over. Not really. Victor's network had been larger than just him.Still, twelve additional arrests had been made across five countries. Three facilities besides Nevada had been raided and shut down. Eight more survivors had been found and were receiving care.It was progress. Significant progress.James's parents had recovered remarkably well. The years of captivity had taken their toll, but the Thorne resilience
ETHAN MOVES BACK IN (TEMPORARILY)
The doctor's final instructions were clear and uncompromising."Bed rest until delivery. Not modified bed rest, not taking it easy—actual bed rest. You get up for the bathroom and to shower. That's it." Dr. Patel looked between Isabelle and Ethan. "And you need someone with you twenty-four seven. No exceptions. If something goes wrong, you need help immediately.""I understand," Isabelle said.In the hospital parking lot, Ethan stood by his truck, keys in hand, looking at Isabelle like he was calculating something difficult."I'm moving back to the estate," he said finally. "Guest room. Just until the baby comes."Isabelle's breath caught. "You don't have to—""Yes, I do." Ethan's voice was firm. "You can't be alone. The staff isn't enough—you need someone who knows the signs, who can get you to the hospital fast if contractions start again. And I can't risk something happening to you or Thomas because I was too stubborn to do what's necessary.""Ethan—""This isn't about us. It's abo
32-WEEK SCARE
The pain woke Isabelle at 2:17 AM.She'd felt cramping before—Braxton Hicks contractions, the doctor had called them. Practice contractions. Uncomfortable but normal. This felt different. Sharper. Lower. Wrapping around her entire abdomen like a vice.Isabelle sat up in bed, breathing through it. Waited for it to pass.It didn't pass. It intensified.She grabbed her phone from the nightstand with shaking hands. Pulled up the contraction timer app she'd downloaded weeks ago. Started the clock.Four minutes later, another contraction. Stronger. Making her gasp.This isn't normal. This is too early. Thirty-two weeks is too early.Isabelle scrolled to Ethan's contact. Her emergency contact. The person she'd call in a crisis even though they weren't together.He answered on the second ring, voice rough with sleep. "Isabelle? What's wrong?""Something's wrong." She could barely speak through the pain. "I'm having contractions. Real ones. Every four minutes.""I'm coming. Don't move. Call 91
BABY SHOWER (AWKWARD GATHERING)
The baby shower was Victoria's idea."You need this," she'd told Isabelle over the phone. "A celebration. Something normal and happy before the baby comes."Isabelle had resisted at first. How could she have a baby shower when she and Ethan weren't together? When the father of her child lived across the city and saw her only at doctor's appointments?But Victoria had insisted, and somehow the event had materialized. Marcus's estate, decorated with blue and white balloons. Tables laden with food. Thirty guests scattered through the living room at thirty weeks pregnant, Isabelle felt enormous and awkward as she greeted people.Ethan arrived exactly on time, carrying a wrapped gift. He wore jeans and a button-down shirt—casual but presentable. The outfit of someone fulfilling an obligation."Hey," Isabelle said when she saw him."Hey." He set the gift on the designated table. "You look good.""I look like I swallowed a beach ball.""A healthy beach ball." Almost a smile. Progress.The g
DEREK CONSIDERS TELLING ETHAN
Derek spent three days spiraling.He'd call in sick to work, which was a lie. He wasn't sick—he was unraveling. He'd sit in his apartment staring at his phone, Ethan's contact pulled up, his thumb hovering over the call button.I need to tell him.But then he'd imagine the conversation. Ethan's face when Derek said he'd slept with Isabelle. The betrayal in his eyes. The friendship shattering.And worse—what it would do to Isabelle. She was already dealing with elevated blood pressure, preeclampsia risk, the stress of the pregnancy. If Derek told Ethan now, the fallout could endanger the baby.Derek would set his phone down without calling.Then pick it up ten minutes later and start the cycle again.He made lists. Actual written lists, like he could organize his way out of this nightmare.PROS OF TELLING ETHAN:- He deserves to know there's doubt about paternity- Better to hear it from me than discover it later- If baby isn't his, he should know before bonding completely- Lying to
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