Ethan strode into the hospital, every step fueled by adrenaline and the fierce need to see Talia and the twins. But reality hit him hard, hospital protocols weren't bypassed by billionaire status. Nurses asked for IDs, insurance details, and proof of relationship to the mother and babies. He had none of these.
Talia, in her room, exhausted and unaware that Ethan was already there, fought through contractions with Mia by her side. Meanwhile, Ethan navigated the red tape, frustration building as minutes ticked by. He couldn't just storm in; he had to play their game.
He clenched his jaw, determined not to lose precious time. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a nurse led him down the corridor toward Talia's room. Ethan's heart pounded , but Talia still had no idea he knew.
Ethan's heart hammered as he strode into the hospital lobby, a cold sweat clinging to his palms despite the controlled calm he tried to project. He had no contact with Talia , no way to prepare her for his arrival. To her, he was still the ghost who vanished after one night. Yet here he was, about to step into her world with a DNA test in hand that would change everything.
The nurse at the reception gave him a sharp look. "Sir, you need authorization to visit maternity."
He blinked, flustered. "I.... It's urgent. My wife.."
"No record of your name or relationship," she said curtly, checking the screen again. "Security will need to verify."
Ethan's jaw clenched. The last thing he wanted was bureaucratic delay when Talia was so close to delivering their twins.
Meanwhile, in her hospital room, Talia gripped Mia's hand tightly. Waves of pain crashed over her, but the fear of the unknown gnawed more. She had no idea Ethan was even here , or that he knew. She squeezed her eyes shut, whispering to herself, "You got this, Ma. Two babies. Two strong hearts."
Back in the lobby, Ethan's phone buzzed with a message from Elijah: "Let me handle the hospital. You focus on getting there."
Relief washed over him. Elijah's connections were invaluable.
Minutes felt like hours as he waited, pacing the sterile halls. The clock ticked toward the moment that would either break or build the family he never knew he wanted.
...
Talia's breaths came in short gasps, each contraction a reminder that the twins were almost here. Mia wiped her clammy forehead and whispered, "You're killing it, girl. These babies don't know what's about to hit 'em."
Talia tried to smile but instead grimaced, clutching the hospital bed rails. "Mia, remind me later never to do this again. Pregnancy is like running a marathon with an elephant on your back."
Mia chuckled softly, squeezing her hand. "You're stronger than you think. And hey, you're not alone."
Unbeknownst to them, just down the hall, Ethan's name was finally cleared. A nurse escorted him swiftly toward the maternity ward, a mix of urgency and uncertainty written across his face.
He paused outside Talia's room, the muffled sounds inside confirming he was moments too late to meet her eye. His heart clenched in frustration and something deeper , anticipation, hope.
He lingered a moment, unwilling to burst in unannounced, but knowing he had to soon.
Inside, Talia's eyes fluttered shut, pain and exhaustion battling for dominance. The twins were coming. And the world was about to change forever.
Elijah's footsteps echoed down the hospital corridor as he caught up with Ethan, who stood outside the maternity ward, restless and tense. Without a word, Elijah handed him an envelope, thick with papers.
"Proof," Elijah said quietly. "The test confirms it. She's carrying your twins."
Ethan's hands trembled as he flipped open the folder, eyes scanning the results again. The weight of reality crashed down on him, this wasn't just a one-night stand anymore. There were two lives now connected to him.
He inhaled deeply. "I have to see her."
Inside the delivery room, Talia's cries mixed with the beeping machines and the soft encouragement of the nurses. After hours of labor, two babies finally emerged , a boy and a girl, their tiny cries filling the room like music.
Mia stood beside her, tears streaming as she whispered, "You did it, T."
Talia, drained and overwhelmed, barely had time to smile.