Chapter 12: The Longest Night
Chapter 12: The Longest Night
The Grand Alcazar’s private medical suite was converted into an emergency delivery room.
A storm grounded the nearest helicopter, and the ambulance could not move through the police vehicles surrounding the hotel.
Elena’s labor progressed rapidly.
Julian remained beside her.
Doctors moved around the bed while thunder rolled beyond the windows.
“You don’t have to stay,” Elena said through clenched teeth.
“I’m not leaving.”
“You hate hospitals.”
“I hate losing you more.”
Another contraction came.
Elena crushed his hand.
Julian did not complain.
Hours earlier, the ballroom had been filled with champagne and cameras. Now Adrian was under armed guard, board members were being questioned, and every major news channel in Europe was broadcasting evidence of corruption inside Rossi Holdings.
Julian no longer cared.
At 2:13 in the morning, Elena gave birth to a baby girl.
For three terrible seconds, the child made no sound.
Julian stopped breathing.
Then a cry filled the suite.
Elena began to sob.
The doctor placed the baby against her chest.
“She’s healthy,” he said. “Small, but strong.”
Julian stared at his daughter.
She had Elena’s dark hair and a tiny crease between her eyebrows.
Elena looked at him.
“Would you like to hold her?”
His hands trembled as the nurse placed the baby in his arms.
Julian Rossi had negotiated with governments, faced hostile boards, and controlled companies worth billions.
Yet he was terrified of the five-pound child resting against his chest.
“She’s looking at me,” he whispered.
“She can barely see.”
“Then she already has excellent judgment.”
Elena laughed weakly.
It was the first time he had heard her laugh since finding her.
“What should we call her?” he asked.
Elena studied the baby.
“Isabella.”
Julian’s expression shifted.
“That was my mother’s name.”
“She loved you.”
“She would have loved both of you.”
Julian sat beside Elena.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’ve said that.”
“I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it.”
Elena looked at their daughter.
“I don’t know what happens to us after tonight.”
“I won’t pressure you.”
“I need time.”
“You’ll have all the time you need.”
“And Camila?”
“She saved our lives.”
“That doesn’t erase what she did.”
“No.”
Elena’s gaze returned to Julian.
“And Adrian?”
“He will never come near you again.”
Outside the suite, police escorted Adrian through the hotel lobby.
He paused beneath the chandelier where Julian had found Elena.
Cameras flashed.
May you like
Adrian looked toward the upper floors and smiled.
Because he still believed he had one secret left.
