Chapter 562

The mission proved far more dangerous than anticipated.

Vivian Laurent's hand drifted unconsciously to her abdomen. The tiny life growing inside unsettled her deeply.

Bullets whizzed past her ears. Her foot slipped, sending her tumbling down the steep mountainside. Jagged rocks tore through her protective gear, leaving bloody gashes across her skin.

During the fall, her arms instinctively cradled her stomach.

The protective gesture startled even herself.

No time to assess injuries. Gritting her teeth, Vivian scrambled up. The pursuers' footsteps grew louder—she had to move.

Only when the aircraft door sealed shut did her tense nerves relax slightly.

Her wounds throbbed, yet medical attention would wait. During the twelve-hour flight, she managed only two hours of fitful sleep.

"Dr. Laurent?"

Nathan Clementson intercepted her hurried steps, his gaze lingering on her pallid lips.

"You look terrible."

As he reached for her arm to examine the abrasions, Vivian jerked away.

"Just fatigue," she dismissed.

After basic first aid, Vivian headed straight to the private suburban hospital.

The OB-GYN hallway echoed with the sound of her own heartbeat.

"Vivian?"

When the nurse called her name, the examining physician glanced up.

"What a coincidence. There's a brilliant surgeon in our field with that same name."

Behind her mask, Vivian's lips twisted into a bitter smile.

The ultrasound wand glided across her abdomen. The tiny flicker on the monitor made her heart skip.

"Fetal development looks excellent. Eight weeks along."

The doctor handed her the results. "Despite your strong constitution, proper nutrition remains essential."

Sunset stretched her shadow long across the pavement outside.

This unexpected life proved more resilient than she'd imagined. Surviving that brutal fall unscathed...

Her fingers absently traced the medical report as Ethan Roscente's stern features surfaced in her mind.

Their fractured relationship was no place for new life.