Page 37

“No,” she groaned. “Why won’t this one come out?”

“It’s only one day overdue, baby,” I crooned, rubbing her shoulders before reaching for our child, feeling her hard belly and caressing it. “Every pregnancy is different.”

“If you say that to me one more time—” she threatened but abruptly stopped.

“What are you going to do?” I said with a chuckle as I pulled out of her.

My amusement vanished as a rush of water gushed out of her. I knew I was good but not this kind of waterfall good. I froze—stood there like a statue. Not wanting to believe what had happened. What this meant.

“I think it worked,” Mariya said lightly.

I stared at my feet. There was a puddle of water surrounding my feet.

“Rurik?”

I could do this.

“Can you help me up?”

I stared at Mariya. Up. She needs to sit up. I needed to get towels. I ran to the bathroom, slipping on the amniotic fluid, but caught myself before I fell. When I reached the bathroom, I realised I needed Maksim to get the car ready and let Orla know what was happening, but I didn't have my phone on me. I turned to leave the bathroom but remembered I needed towels.

Mariya lay on her side by the time I reached her. I flung the towels on the bed but put a few on the puddle so she didn't slip on the wooden flooring.

“I don't think there are enough towels here,” Mariya said, but I frowned at the mountain of towels on the bed. “I’m joking,” she said as I turned to get more.

“Thisis not a joking matter. I told you that it didn't feel right,” I said, feeling sick and breaking out into a cold sweat. “You stay right there and don't move a single inch.”

I was at my wit's end with a nervous energy that I’d never felt before, but it was fear—fear of something happening to the only woman I loved and the fear of anything happening to our child.

The phone. I needed my phone.

I grabbed it from the nightstand, keeping an eye on Mariya. I rapidly spewed instructions for Maksim, who would ensure Artyom and Orla were informed of the current emergency. The bags were in the car. All I needed to do was help Mariya.

I could do this.

???

It turned out I couldn't do it, so Artyom did it since I fainted in the delivery room. The bastard was always there before me, but I forgave him since he recorded Liliya’s first moments in theworld while I was being bandaged up. No matter how much I insisted, they wouldn't let me into the delivery room until my cut had been seen too.

As I held my little princess, everything vanished. Mariya lay on the bed with a content smile on her face, but that could be from all the drugs she demanded. I cringed when I remembered Liliya’s head crowning. That was the point when I hit the floor. My legs felt a little shaky, and I sat beside Mariya.

“She is beautiful, Mariya, thank you,” I whispered to her, not wanting to wake Liliya up. “It still hurts that I wasn't there for the twins.”

“You're here now. Alexei and Tatiana will never know any different with the amount of time and love you’ve given them.”

I leaned over to kiss her as our golden-haired daughter protested between us.

“I love you all,” I whispered against her lips.

“We know,” she said as tears welled up in her deep blue eyes.

Chapter 28

Mariya

I ignored Maksim and Artyom, shoving one another as Orla took Liliya from me. The twins left my side, climbing over my legs to reach Orla, who held Liliya out for them. Rurik smacked Maksim and Artyom after he placed my hot chocolate on the nightstand. Apparently, it was my only treat sugary treat for the day. It was nice that he still believed he was in charge.

“When are your family arriving?” I asked before reaching for my drink.