Amelia lounged on the chaise, the sun warming her skin. She lowered her sunglasses, adjusted her position lazily, and rubbed a hand over her round, pregnant belly.
"This is the life," she murmured with a satisfied sigh. One minute passed. Then five. Just as she began to drift toward sleep, the sunlight vanished from her skin.
Her brows furrowed. "What the hell?" she muttered, opening her eyes—only to see Genesis standing in front of her, blocking the sun, with Daisy beside her, hands planted firmly on her hips.
Amelia groaned. "What do you want, weirdo?"
Daisy gasped, scandalized. "Lily's not a weirdo—you are!"
Amelia turned her head slowly toward her. "Shut it, brat. Someone needs to teach you some manners. You don't—"
Genesis cut her off, her voice cool but sharp. "You're the one who lacks manners here."
"Excuse me?" Amelia scoffed.
"You heard me," Genesis said, standing tall. "It's one thing for you to sneak into my kitchen and eat half the food I make for my men—I let that slide because you're carrying my husband's child, which means that baby is also part of me. But it's another thing entirely to treat everyone here with such disrespect."
Daisy nodded firmly, earning an eye roll from Amelia, who rubbed her belly again and winced as she tried to sit up straighter.
"And what disrespect is that?" Amelia snapped, her tone sharp and defiant.
Genesis tilted her head slightly, jaw tightening. "You shout at everyone, throw tantrums, make a mess, and expect others to clean up after you. Yes, we have staff, but that doesn't give you the right to treat them like garbage."
Daisy piped in, "You even yelled at Grandma Eliana yesterday! And she was just trying to bring your breakfast!"
Amelia scoffed. "Oh, please. That old woman needs to learn to mind her own business."
Daisy frowned. "She was minding her business! You said walking downstairs was too tiring because of how fat you are!"
Amelia's lips curled into a smirk. "You little brat, I'm not fat—and maybe I should teach you not to interrupt when adults are speaking."
"Enough!" Genesis snapped, her voice ringing through the air. Even Daisy flinched. "You're the one out of line, Amelia! Pregnant or not, you don't get to treat people like they're beneath you."
Amelia rolled her eyes dramatically, reached for a small glass bowl beside her—the one she'd been spitting into—and spat into it again, loud and wet.
Daisy grimaced and stepped back. "Eww, gross!"
Amelia looked up with a mocking smile. "What? Never seen spit before, kid? You'll get used to it when you grow up."
Genesis's nostrils flared, but her tone stayed calm. "Yes, you're pregnant," she said tightly, "but that doesn't give you permission to be cruel."
Amelia tilted her head with a smirk. "Of course you'd say that. You'll never know what pregnancy feels like, will you?"
The words sliced through the air like a blade. Silence fell. Daisy's eyes widened. Genesis's lips parted, her breath trembling, then, without warning…
THWACK!
The sound cracked through the pool like thunder.
Amelia's head snapped to the side. Her hand flew to her cheek, eyes wide in stunned disbelief.
Genesis's hand trembled as she lowered it, her chest rising and falling quickly. Her voice, though soft, shook with anger and pain. "Don't you ever speak to me like that again."
Then she turned, grabbing Daisy's hand. "Come on," she said hoarsely, and began walking away.
But before they could take three steps, Amelia let out a sharp, guttural scream.
Both of them froze.
Daisy turned, startled. "She's just being dramatic, Lily," she said quickly, trying to brush it off.
But the second scream tore through the air, louder, rawer, filled with pain. "Ahhh…!"
Genesis spun around, eyes wide. Amelia was clutching her stomach, her face twisted, sweat already breaking across her forehead.
"Amelia?" Genesis breathed, running toward her. "What's happening, what's wrong?"
Amelia's hands trembled as she gripped her belly. "It hurts, oh, God, it hurts, my stomach.." she gasped, her voice shaking.
Genesis dropped to her knees beside her, panic flooding her face. "Daisy, go…go call someone! Now!"
Daisy's eyes widened as she turned and bolted for the door, screaming, "Help! Somebody help! Miss Amelia's screaming!"
Genesis grabbed Amelia's shoulders, trying to steady her. "Amelia, breathe. Breathe with me…"
Amelia sobbed, shaking her head. "It's not stopping, oh, God, it won't stop!"
Genesis's heart pounded. She didn't understand what was happening, was this what they called labor? Was it something else? All she knew was that Amelia's cries were growing weaker, her breaths shorter, and she was terrified.
"Hold on, okay? Hold on. Just..just stay with me."
But Amelia's next scream was so loud it made Genesis flinch. And all the while, Genesis kept whispering over and over again..
"Please don't lose the baby… please don't lose the baby…"
****
Amelia lay pale on the hospital bed, her body weak and trembling, chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. Genesis stood beside her, clutching her hand tightly, and Amelia clung back just as hard—both of them having long forgotten the argument from earlier.
Daisy stood off to the side, her small eyes darting between the machines and blinking lights. The rhythmic beep, beep of the monitor filled the air, and her nose scrunched up at the sharp, sterile smell. She had never been in a hospital before—and she hated it.
The doctor adjusted his glasses and studied the monitor, then looked at Genesis, then Amelia. His tone was calm, but there was weight behind his words that made Genesis's stomach drop.
"She's experiencing preterm contractions," he said gently. "Miss Cole, you're already dilated four centimeters. You're going into labor."
Amelia blinked rapidly, her voice cracking. "No, no, that's not possible," she rasped. "I'm only seven months pregnant. Seven months, you hear me?"
The doctor nodded slowly. "I know. That's what makes this dangerous."
Amelia's lips quivered as her eyes darted to Genesis. Panic broke through the cracks of her usual defiance. "No… please. This can't be happening."
Genesis tightened her grip. "Just breathe, okay? They'll take care of you. You and the baby will be fine."
But Amelia only shook her head, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. "I never wanted this baby," she sobbed. "Not at first. I hated everything—this house, this life, even myself—but it… it's all I have." Her voice broke completely. "My baby is all I have, Genesis. Please don't let anything happen to him."
The doctor motioned for the nurses to prepare. "We're setting up for an emergency preterm delivery," he said quickly but gently. "We'll do everything we can to stabilize the baby once he's born. His lungs may not be fully developed, but we have the right equipment. There's a good chance he'll make it."
But his reassurance barely registered. Amelia's sobs filled the room, her body shaking uncontrollably. "No… no, please. My baby's not ready."
Daisy stood frozen by the wall, her tiny hands clasped together, eyes wide with fear. "Lily," she whispered, "is she going to die?"
Genesis swallowed hard, keeping her voice steady even though her heart ached. "No, sweetheart. The doctors will help her." But even as she said it, she wasn't sure she believed herself.
Amelia gasped, her trembling fingers gripping Genesis's wrist. "Nothing should happen to my baby," she pleaded, voice raw. "Please, Genesis. I know I've been horrible. I know you hate me. But I can't lose my baby."
Genesis's throat tightened painfully. "I don't hate you," she said softly. "Just breathe. I'm right here."
Amelia turned back to the doctor, tears streaming into her hair. "Is it a girl… or a boy?" she asked between shaky breaths. "I never wanted to know before. I didn't want to get close. But tell me now… please."
The doctor hesitated, glancing at the screen. His voice softened. "It's a boy."
A sound tore from Amelia's chest—half sob, half gasp—raw and full of regret. "A boy," she whispered. "My baby boy."
Genesis couldn't hold back her own tears anymore. She leaned forward, squeezing Amelia's hand, brushing the damp hair from her forehead.
And for the first time in a long while, they both cried—for fear, for love, and for the fragile little life that was about to enter the world too soon.
Amelia's breathing came in shallow gasps now. "Is this my punishment?" she choked. "For the things I've done… for how I treated you?" She tried to sit up, clutching Genesis's hand tighter. "Please, I'm sorry. I can't lose him. I won't work with the Bishop again, I swear. Just don't let my baby die, please…"
Genesis froze at the name the Bishop, confusion flickering in her eyes, but she didn't ask. Now wasn't the time. She just kept holding her hand, whispering, "You'll both make it. I promise."
And then the door burst open.
Knight rushed in, breathless, his eyes wild with fear. He froze at the sight of Amelia on the hospital bed, the machines, the nurses moving quickly around her.
"Kieran…" Amelia whispered, her voice barely audible. Tears streamed down her face as she reached out a trembling hand toward him. "Our baby…"
Knight's chest heaved as he stepped closer, his jaw tightening, emotion flashing behind his eyes. Genesis moved aside, letting him near her. He took Amelia's shaking hand, his own trembling as he looked down at her.
"Hey," he said softly, voice low but strained, "you're going to be okay. Both of you."
Amelia's lips quivered. "Promise me," she breathed.
Knight swallowed hard. "I promise."
The doctor gave a sharp nod to the nurses. "We need to move her to delivery, now."
As they rolled the bed away, Amelia's frightened eyes stayed locked on Knight's, and his hand didn't let go until the last possible moment.
The hallway swallowed the sound of the rolling wheels, the beeping monitors, and Amelia's choked sobs, leaving Genesis and Knight standing in silence.