Hazel's POV
“Push,” the nurse said firmly, “one more, Hazel, you're almost there,” and I gripped Julian's hand so hard I heard him gasp instead of me.
Seven months of careful rest, of doctors monitoring every heartbeat, of a court case finally closed and a marriage finally, completely secure, all of it collapsed down into this single, overwhelming moment, the delivery room bright and loud and utterly unlike anything I had imagined it would feel like.
“You're doing incredibly,” Julian said against my ear, his voice steady even though I could feel his whole body shaking beside mine. “I've got you. I'm not letting go.”
And then, after one final push and one endless, suspended second of silence, a thin, furious cry filled the room, and I watched Julian's face crumble completely, the same u
