The helicopter descended with a low, steady hum, its powerful blades cutting through the darkness. It landed smoothly on the hospital’s helipad, and the medical team rushed forward to meet it. Kasra watched anxiously as they transferred Lara’s unconscious form onto a stretcher, their movements swift and precise.

  With a quick nod to Kasra, Seven took off again, the aircraft disappearing into the pitch-black sky. Kasra remained rooted to the spot, the chill of the night sinking into him, fists clenching and unclenching as Lara was whisked away, his mind in turmoil.

  ……

  The air distance between Inova and The Cliffs is roughly ten miles; it took Seven 30 minutes to make the round trip. After landing on the estate’s expansive lawn, he quickly approached the waiting group. The atmosphere was filled with tense silence, anticipation weighing heavily in the air.

  Rising to his feet, Sadra asked evenly, “Seven, which hospital did you take Lara to?”

  Ami’s tone was gentler but edged with unease. “What’s the situation?”

  The rest of the group—Aaris, Huma, Aiden, and Louisa—stood close behind, their faces taut with worry.

  Seven met their stares with a grave expression. “Lara’s at Inova Fairfax Hospital. I don’t know her condition. I couldn’t leave the chopper on their helipad; I had to take off as soon as the medical personnel transferred her.”

  “Thank you, Seven,” Louisa murmured gratefully before turning to the Shahis, “Aaris, Huma, Sadra, and Ami, we’re so sorry for ruining the evening. Aiden and I will head to Inova now.”

  Sadra inclined his head. “Louisa, Aiden, we’ll meet you there.”

  ……

  At Inova, the air felt suffocating. Kasra paced the sterile hallway, dread gnawing at him. Every second felt like an eternity; each step along the corridor seemed to echo louder than the last.

  Minutes dragged on until the sound of hurried footsteps broke the disquiet within him. Aiden, Louisa, Ami, and Sadra emerged from the elevator, their expressions clouded with apprehension. Spotting Kasra’s restless figure, they closed the distance quickly.

  Sadra laid a comforting palm on his shoulder. “Son, it’s going to be okay.”

  Kasra nodded dumbly, though he felt a mix of anguish and trepidation. “She’s been in there a while now,” he said hoarsely. “They rushed her in as soon as we arrived, but no one’s come out to give me an update.”

  Louisa’s stoic mask crumpled, her chest constricted, overcome by guilt. She stepped forward and admitted, “Kasra, I… I said something cruel to Lara. I accused her of disgracing us—of using a pregnancy to marry into your family.”

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  Shock rippled through the trio. Kasra’s anger flared, but because Louisa was Lara’s mother, he had to keep his temper in check. “Mrs. Wolfe, you’ve wronged your daughter. I’ve known Lara since she started working for Sana. She’s never sought advantage or overstepped boundaries. It was I who pursued her persistently.”

  He drew a breath, steadying himself before continuing. “We only found out about her pregnancy when Seven took her pulse after she fainted. He detected an anomaly and discreetly informed me. I had the housekeeper run out for some pregnancy tests.

  “Lara was shocked when I told her. She took the test. It confirmed Seven’s suspicion. She was distressed, unsure if she was ready to be a mother. After some persuasion on my part, she eventually calmed down and accepted it. And since we were getting married, we thought we’d share the news at dinner.”

  The revelation hung between them like a charged silence. Louisa recoiled, her throat tightening. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words could absolve her.

  Before anyone could say more, a doctor appeared. They turned toward her, hearts pounding. The doctor’s demeanor gave nothing away.

  “Are you the family of Ms. Lara Wolfe?”

  “Yes. How is she?” Kasra answered with a nervous edge.

  “Follow me,” the doctor instructed.

  Inside a consultation room, the doctor introduced herself and delivered the news. “Good evening, I’m Dr. Ellis. Ms. Wolfe’s condition has been stabilized for now. She experienced a threatened miscarriage, likely brought on by severe emotional distress. We administered progesterone to support the pregnancy and mitigate complications. She’ll require close monitoring in the coming days and must avoid further agitation.”

  The words washed over them like sunlight breaking through after a storm. They thanked the doctor profusely before hurrying to Lara’s side.

  ……

  Inside the VIP ward, the medical monitors beeped in rhythm to Lara’s pulse. She lay pale and motionless, her lashes fluttering restlessly.

  But as she heard footsteps approaching, she stirred. Her heavy eyelids flitted, and she blinked into the light, confusion clouding her until she recognized the faces gathered around her. In that moment, panic seized her; she clutched her stomach, fear spiking through her core. “My baby!”

  Kasra instinctively reached for her, placing a steadying hand on her arm—but Lara flinched, pulling back before she could stop herself. The reaction sliced through him like glass, yet he forced himself to remain gentle. “Lara, the baby’s fine,” he said softly. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  Her tears welled, spilling over as she tried to sit up, pain flashing across her features. Louisa edged closer, her heart leaden with remorse. She lowered herself beside the bed, her voice trembling. “Sweetheart, how are you feeling?”

  Lara reached for her mother, speaking through sobs. “Mom, I’m sorry! I already broke up with Kasra. Can you and Dad forgive me?”

  Louisa gasped, the sound catching in her throat. “Oh, darling… I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said those things. It’s Mom’s fault.”

  Lara shook her head weakly, her vision still cloudy. “No, Mom, it was mine! I—”

  “Shh… It was me. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. Kasra explained everything. Don’t cry, honey. You mustn’t get upset—the doctors said it’s not good for the pregnancy.”

  Louisa’s reminder did the trick. Lara nodded obediently, her mind snapping back to the tiny life inside her. Yes, I mustn’t get worked up. It’s not good for the baby.

  As mother and daughter clung to one another, the cracks in their rift began to mend. Kasra stood back, silent, his gaze lingering on Lara’s averted face. The distance between them ached—but beneath the hurt, nothing mattered more than that Lara and their child were safe. Sadra, Ami, and Aiden looked on, their hearts heavy yet thankful for this fragile moment of redemption.

  A/N 1:

  Next upload, we’ll be shifting our focus back to the MMC.

  A/N 2:

  It’s amazing seeing how far this story travels.

  A/N 3:

  And if you’d like to read ahead, there are advance chapters over on my