ETHAN'S POV
I had faced crises that could destroy empires. Boardroom battles, betrayal, legal wars, death threats from competitors.
But nothing, nothing, prepared me for the moment Ava gripped my hand in that hospital room, her entire body trembling, as she went into labor.
"Ethan" she gasped, her forehead damp with sweat, her eyes wide with pain but never defeat.
"I'm here. I'm right here, Ava," I whispered, brushing strands of her hair from her face. My voice cracked as I kissed her hand. "You've got this. I swear. You're not alone."
Time slowed. Seconds stretched. Hours became a blur of nurses, doctors, the sharp scent of antiseptic, and the sound of Ava's low groans as her strength was pushed beyond reason. And yet, she never broke.
She clenched my hand like it was the only thing anchoring her to earth.
And when the cry pierced the air, our baby's first sound, it shattered something in me.
