Chapter 9 - The Birth of Hope
Roman arrived by helicopter, landing on the estate’s lawn in record time, breathless and terrified that he had missed the moment. He burst into the master suite's customized medical wing just as the final stage of labor began.
He didn't care about Arthur. He didn't care about the police cars parked outside. He threw off his jacket, scrubbed his hands, and rushed to my side, grabbing my hand tightly.
"I’m here, baby. I’m here," Roman whispered frantically, sweat running down his forehead, kissing my knuckle over and over. "I’m so sorry I wasn't here when that bastard showed up—"
"Save the speech, Roman," I gritted through my teeth, gripping his hand so tight my knuckles turned white. "Just help me push!"
For the next forty minutes, under the bright, warm lights of our coastal home, with the roaring Atlantic ocean crashing gently against the cliffs outside, we fought together.
I pushed through the unbearable pain, holding onto Roman's dark blue eyes—the same eyes I had fallen in love with in that filthy alley five years ago. He was my anchor, my rock, and I was his strength.
At 6:14 PM, as the golden rays of the setting sun painted the room in shades of warm amber, a loud, healthy cry echoed through the room.
"It’s a girl!" the doctor announced joyfully, lifting a beautiful, healthy baby into the air.
Tears streamed down Roman’s face as he watched our daughter being cleaned and wrapped in a soft white blanket. He took the tiny bundle into his arms, his hands shaking—the powerful CEO of Kane Capital looking completely humbled and undone by six pounds of new life.
He walked over and sat beside me on the bed, gently placing our daughter into my arms.
She had a head of fine, dark hair, skin as soft as velvet, and when she opened her tiny eyes, they were the same striking, brilliant blue as her father’s.
"She’s beautiful," I whispered, crying soft tears of absolute joy. "She’s perfect."
"What should we name her?" Roman asked softly, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
I looked at my daughter, then looked up at Roman.
May you like
"Hope," I said. "Hope Victoria Kane. Because she represents everything new we are going to build."
Roman smiled, a genuine, radiant smile that reached all the way to his eyes. "Hope it is."
