The doctor sighed, the weight of the news heavy on his expression. "She's out of danger."
Nick sagged against the wall, relief crashing over him so hard his knees nearly buckled.
"But," the doctor continued, "she took a significant amount of sleeping pills. It could have been fatal."
Nick swallowed hard, his pulse still racing. "And?"
"She was lucky. And so was the child."
Silence.
Nick's breath caught in his throat. "What... what did you just say?"
The doctor's expression softened. "She's pregnant."
The world tilted.
Nick felt the air leave his lungs, felt the ground slip beneath him. "Pregnant?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"She didn't know, did she?" Nick's voice was raw.
The doctor shook his head. "No."
Before Nick's mother could ask the question, the doctor answered it.
"The child belongs to you, Mr. Nick."
Nick's heart clenched.
"I treated her before," the doctor continued, as if sensing the unspoken doubt in the room. "I saw the media frenzy. There's no mistake. The child is yours."
Nick felt his knees hit the floor, his hands gripping his face as a sob tore through him.
A child.
His child.
Hours passed.
Jane had been moved to a private room, her body still weak from the overdose.
Nick sat beside her bed, his fingers wrapped around hers, unwilling to let go.
Her face looked peaceful now, her chest rising and falling in steady breaths. But he had seen her lifeless in his arms once, and the image wouldn't leave his mind.
He had almost lost her.
Guilt gnawed at his insides.
His thumb brushed over her hand, a silent promise to never let this happen again.
Then—
A small movement.
Her fingers twitched.
Nick sat up instantly, his breath catching.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
Then, slowly—so slowly—her eyes opened.
At first, she looked disoriented, her gaze darting around the room. Then, her eyes found his.
Her lips parted in a shaky breath.
"Nick..."
A sob broke from him as he surged forward, pulling her into his arms.
Her body was weak, fragile, but she clung to him just as desperately.
"I thought I lost you," he whispered into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. "God, Jane... I thought—"
She let out a soft, broken cry. "You saved me?"
His arms tightened around her. "Of course, I did."
She pulled back slightly, searching his face. "Why?"
Nick's heart clenched. "Jane—"
"No, Nick." Tears welled in her eyes. "Why did you save me?"
Everything inside him ached at the question.
Because she mattered. Because he loved her. Because he couldn't imagine a world where she didn't exist.
Instead, he cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away her tears.
"Because I love you, Jane.
Her lips trembled. Her eyes, glassy with unshed tears, held his.
Then she whispered, "Everything is over now?"
He nodded. "Yes. It's over."
Paul was gone. The nightmare was over.
Her fingers moved down, resting lightly against her stomach.
Nick followed her gaze, his breath catching.
She didn't know yet.
Nick swallowed hard, his heart hammering as he covered her hand with his own.
The soft creak of the door made Jane glance up just as a nurse entered, followed closely by Maria and a few of her friends.
Maria's face crumpled the moment she saw Jane awake. "I'm so sorry," she choked out, rushing forward and wrapping her arms around her.
Jane let out a broken sob, clinging to her friend. "No... I'm sorry. He hurt you because of me."
Maria pulled back, shaking her head fiercely. "It's not your fault, Jane. Don't ever think that."
Jane sniffled, her gaze searching Maria's bruised face before shifting to Nick. "What... what happened?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Nick let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Paul got arrested," he said, his tone firm but laced with exhaustion.
Jane's breath caught. "What?"
Nick crouched beside her, taking her hand in his. "I brought the cops with me to the wedding," he explained, his grip tightening as if to reassure her. "I gathered everything—every piece of evidence I could find. The videos he had of you while you were captive... it was all solid proof. He can't escape this time, Jane. I made sure of it."
Her lips parted, disbelief washing over her like a tidal wave. "He's really... gone?"
Nick nodded. "He's in custody. He won't hurt you again. It's over."
Jane let out a shaky breath, her body sagging in relief. The weight she had carried for so long—the fear, the helplessness—slowly started to lift.
Maria squeezed her shoulder gently. "You're free now, Jane."
Free.
Jane's lips trembled, but before she could say anything, the nurse gently interrupted.
"You need to be careful, Miss Jane," she said, her voice kind but firm. "No more tears. It's not safe for your child."
Silence.
Jane froze.
The words felt like they didn't belong in the moment, like she had misheard.
"My... child?" she whispered, her heart pounding.
The nurse nodded, smiling softly.
Jane turned to Nick, eyes wide, searching his face.
Nick was already looking at her, his entire expression lighting up like the sun breaking through a storm. He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently.
"Yes, Jane," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "We're having a baby."
Her breath hitched.
Her heart, so heavy for so long, suddenly felt light, soaring with a feeling she hadn't known in so long.
A child.
Their child.
Tears welled in her eyes again, but this time, they weren't from sadness. She covered her mouth with her hand, overwhelmed.
Nick grinned, his own eyes glistening as he pulled her into his arms. "You're pregnant," he whispered again, as if saying it out loud would make it more real. His arms tightened around her, as if he could protect both her and the tiny life growing inside her forever.
Maria gasped, breaking into laughter through her own tears. "Jane! Oh my God, you're going to be a mom!"
The room shifted, sorrow melting away as joy took its place.
One by one, her friends joined in, embracing her, their words of love and excitement filling the air.
Near the doorway, Nick's mother clasped her husband's hand, her face glowing with pride. "We're going to be grandparents soon," she said, her voice filled with a contagious happiness.
Nick's father gave his son a firm clap on the back. "Looks like you have an even bigger reason to protect her now."
Nick nodded, his chest swelling with emotion.
Just then, the doctor re-entered, smiling at the warmth in the room. "It's good to see everyone so happy," he said. "But let's not forget—Jane needs rest. Keep her stress levels low."
Jane wiped at her tears, nodding. "I will," she promised.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't just hoping for happiness—she could feel it.
There was a future ahead.
Not just for her and Nick.
But for the little life they had created.
And this time, she knew—she was finally free.
One Month Later
Jane stood in front of the mirror, breathless. The woman staring back at her hardly felt real. The wedding gown hugged her curves perfectly, delicate lace tracing over her shoulders like a whisper of dreams finally coming true. A soft glow radiated from her face, happiness shimmering in her eyes.
Behind her, laughter filled the room. Richard's wife, Emily, fluffed Jane's veil, fussing over every last detail. "You look like a queen," she said, snapping pictures on her phone.
Jane let out a nervous laugh, smoothing her hands over the fabric of her dress. "I still can't believe this is happening."
"It is happening," Maria grinned, stepping beside her. "And you deserve every second of it."
A week before, Nick had flown across the country to meet Jane's parents. It had been a nerve-wracking moment—her parents, still hesitant after everything that had happened, weren't easily convinced. But Nick had sat across from them, looked them in the eye, and told them exactly what was in his heart.
"I love your daughter," he had said, voice unwavering. "And I will spend the rest of my life making sure she knows it."
Her mother had teared up. Her father had studied Nick for a long, quiet moment before finally sighing. "You better keep that promise," he had said, and Nick had simply nodded.
Now, as Jane stood surrounded by love, she felt a sense of peace she never thought possible.
The wedding venue was a dream—soft golden lights strung across the ceiling, flowers cascading down the aisle, the scent of roses and fresh linen in the air. When the music started, Jane took a deep breath, linking her arm through her father's.
"You ready?" he whispered.
She swallowed hard, nodding. "More than ever."
As she walked down the aisle, her eyes locked onto Nick's. He stood at the altar, dressed in a sharp black suit, his expression filled with nothing but pure adoration.
And when she reached him, when he took her hands in his, she knew—he was the one.
They exchanged vows beneath a canopy of flowers, their words filled with promises of forever. There were tears, laughter, and a kiss that sealed not just their marriage but a love that had fought through fire and survived.
That night, as the celebration carried on, Jane rested her head against Nick's chest, watching their families laugh and dance together.
"We made it," she whispered.
Nick kissed the top of her head. "We did."
And in the months that followed, their love only grew.
Their son was born on a rainy afternoon, his tiny fingers curling around Nick's as he let out his first cry. Jane, exhausted but glowing, watched as Nick held their son for the first time, awe written all over his face.
"He's perfect," Nick whispered.
Jane smiled, reaching for his hand. "He has the best father in the world."
Nick looked at her then, eyes filled with a love so deep it left her breathless. "And he has the strongest mother."
As the rain tapped softly against the window, they held their son between them, a new beginning cradled in their arms.
And for the first time in a long time, Jane knew—this was the life she had fought for. The love she had waited for.
And it was only the beginning.