The hospital room smelled of sterile bleach and lilies—a bouquet Cassian had demanded be replaced daily. Arabella lay in bed, pale but glowing, her hair loose around her shoulders like a golden halo. Her arms were empty, but her eyes kept drifting toward the clear incubator near the window.
Their daughter—tiny, pink, and perfect—slept inside, tubes assisting her breathing, but her heartbeat strong.
"She's a fighter," Arabella whispered again, voice trembling. "Like us."
Cassian sat beside her, fingers laced with hers. "She's more than that. She's the reason I'm breathing."
Arabella tilted her head toward him. "You've changed."
He let out a quiet sigh, brushing a soft kiss on the back of her hand. "You changed me, Bella. You made me realize love isn't weakness—it's power. It's what kept me sane when you were gone."
Tears welled in her eyes. "I thought I'd never see you again."
"I thought I'd never hold you again," he said, voice hoarse. "And when I saw you in that chair, afraid, helpless… I swore I'd never let anything hurt you again. Ever."
She squeezed his hand. "But Victor—"
"Victor's done," he said, expression darkening. "But that's not all…"
Arabella sat up slightly. "What do you mean?"
Cassian leaned forward, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "While you were unconscious, we uncovered something. A trail of emails. Bank transfers. Everything pointing back to Desmond."
Her heart skipped. "Your uncle?"
He nodded grimly. "He orchestrated Victor's attempt. Funded him. Supplied him. All so he could weaken the company and force a takeover."
Arabella's lips parted in disbelief. "He tried to destroy us."
Cassian stood, pacing. "He's been against our marriage from the start. Said I lost focus. Said you were a distraction."
"I am," she whispered with a small smirk. "I'm Barbie with a boardroom."
He smiled faintly. "That's exactly what I love about you."
Arabella exhaled, rubbing her belly as if still expecting their daughter to kick. "So what now?"
"We go after him," Cassian said. "Legally. He underestimated you—but especially us together. QuinVale is ours. And he'll never threaten our daughter's future again."
Arabella turned her gaze to the window, where soft afternoon light bathed the incubator in gold. "She's already stronger than we ever imagined."
A nurse entered with a soft knock. "Mr. and Mrs. Vale... would you like to hold your daughter?"
Arabella gasped. "Is she—can we?"
The nurse smiled. "She's stable. Just for a few minutes."
Cassian helped Arabella sit upright, pillows fluffed behind her. The nurse gently placed the tiny bundle into her arms.
Arabella burst into tears. "She's so small…"
Cassian stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "But she's all ours."
They both stared at the baby girl—barely the size of a doll, but alive and beautiful.
Arabella sniffled. "What should we name her?"
Cassian smiled. "Something powerful. Something unforgettable. Like her mother."
Arabella looked down at the baby, who opened her eyes briefly—clear and bright. "Aurora," she whispered. "Because she's our dawn. Our light after the dark."
Cassian kissed her temple. "Aurora Vale. Perfect."
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