Chapter 1 The Pregnant Woman

"Calista, one more time, okay?" The raspy voice of the man whispered into Calista Sterling's ear, making her already weakened body tense again. She couldn't help but let out a soft gasp. A tingling sensation started from her earlobe, teasing the desire she had barely managed to suppress. Calista's breath quickened, her voice trembling sweetly. "I really can't anymore..." She was an assistant physician in obstetrics, constantly overwhelmed by work. Recently, she'd been pulling night shifts. Today, she'd swapped shifts to spend time with Alaric Frost, who had just returned from a business trip, but her exhaustion was undeniable. She truly couldn't handle any more. "You haven't seen me in two weeks, and you don't miss me at all? You're so heartless." As her fingertips brushed against his firm abs, Calista's body softened, her resolve melting away. She could never resist him. Outside the bedroom, Alaric was composed and reserved. Whether it was with his family or his subordinates, everyone thought he was gentle and controlled. But in bed, he was a mix of seductive charm and unbridled wildness, almost as if he wanted to consume her entirely. During his two-week trip, he must have truly missed her... The last round had lasted three hours. She was too tired to even lift her arms, yet Alaric, still full of energy, had carried her to the shower and now seemed ready to continue. Tentatively, she brushed her fingers against the sensitive spot on his neck. "I missed you too." A low chuckle escaped his throat. "How much?" She knew he was teasing her, trying to make her shy. She bit her lip and refused to answer, her face turning crimson. Alaric leaned down, claiming her lips while his hands pressed harder against her. Instinctively, Calista bit his firm shoulder. The faint saltiness of sweat touched her tongue as Alaric kissed his way down, leaving marks on her skin. Calista's mind drifted as his voice repeatedly called her name. She couldn't help but hold him tighter. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen, pulling her back to reality. She instinctively held her stomach and let out a muffled sound. Alaric stopped immediately, sweat dripping from his forehead, his eyes filled with concern. "Did I hurt you?" "A little..." Calista broke into a light sweat from the pain and struggled to sit up. Alaric frowned slightly and got up to grab some clothes. "I'll take you to the hospital." Seeing how worried he was, Calista couldn't help but smile. She and Alaric had met through an arranged date. Their families weren't exactly a perfect match. The Frost family was among the elite, and Alaric himself was exceptional—his character and abilities beyond reproach. And, of course, he had a face so handsome it felt almost unfair. At their first meeting, she'd felt a little nervous, convinced someone like him wouldn't be interested in her ordinary middle-class background. To her surprise, at their second meeting, he proposed. Alaric said he didn't need a partner who worked for him. Marriage, to him, was about compatibility. After they married, he proved to be the perfect husband—attentive and considerate, without any bad habits. He avoided unnecessary social gatherings and always updated her with video calls whenever he traveled. Except for his... overwhelming enthusiasm in bed, which often left her struggling to keep up. Just as she was about to tell him it wasn’t necessary to rush to the hospital, likely because they'd been too rough earlier, Alaric's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered with a furrowed brow. "What's wrong?" Whatever he heard made his expression darken further. Calista rarely saw him like this. He was always so composed, no matter how big the issue. Her worry grew as she watched him. Once he hung up, she asked, "What happened?" "...Something came up." Alaric took a deep breath. "I'll have the butler call a private doctor for you." The pain had lessened, but seeing his tension, Calista grew more concerned. Frost Corp was preparing a significant project for listing recently—she'd heard it was crucial. Is it a problem with the company? She tried to reassure him. "Don't worry about me. Go handle your business." Alaric nodded, grabbing his phone and rushing out. "Put on something warm, and don't—" Before she could finish, he'd already shut the door. His hurried footsteps left her feeling uneasy, and her lower abdomen began to ache again. Instinctively, Calista touched her stomach. The pain was coming from her uterus, but she didn't usually suffer from cramps. A thought suddenly struck her, one she found hard to believe. Her period hadn’t come in two months. She'd been so busy lately that she hadn’t paid attention. If she was pregnant and hadn’t been careful earlier, it could explain the pain! She quickly found a pregnancy test, opened it, and went into the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, she stared at the two red lines, her hands trembling. She was pregnant. Both families had been urging them to have children, but nothing had happened until now. And now, her child had arrived so unexpectedly. She instinctively reached for her phone to call Alaric but stopped herself. It wasn’t confirmed yet, and she didn’t want to get their hopes up prematurely. Cleaning the test and putting it away, she decided to visit the hospital for a proper examination tomorrow. Just then, her phone rang. "Come to the hospital immediately and prepare for surgery." The voice of the attending physician was grave. "A 24-week pregnant woman fell from a building and is bleeding heavily. She's on her way in an ambulance!" Calista's heart sank. "Understood. I'll head there now." At 24 weeks, the fetus was already viable. Any mistake could mean the patient might lose her baby—or worse, her life. She rushed to the hospital and changed into her scrubs at the OR entrance. A midwife ran over, handing her the consent form. "Take this to Dr. Yaden. The husband just signed it and is downstairs paying." Calista glanced at the form and froze when she saw a familiar signature. Alaric. The handwriting was usually bold and elegant, but now it looked shaky. There was even a smear of blood on the corner of the paper. How could it be Alaric? Clutching the thin sheet, her fingers trembled. Voices urging her forward snapped her out of her daze. Forcing herself to focus, she changed and entered the OR. The pregnant woman was covered in blood, her pale face almost unrecognizable. "Blood oxygen is 72. Blood pressure is 70/40. Too low. Stabilize it first." The lead doctor gave quick orders. "Check if cerclage is an option. If not, consider inducing labor. Prepare for surgery!" The team worked methodically. Calista pushed aside her thoughts and held the scalpel, sweat pouring down her forehead. After seven hours, the lead doctor finally stitched the last wound and hoarsely announced, "Mother and baby are safe. Move them to observation." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The lights dimmed as the patient was wheeled out. A colleague noticed Calista’s pale face as she removed her mask and quickly steadied her. "Are you feeling unwell? You're sweating buckets." Calista's legs felt weak, her lower abdomen aching again. She almost thought she might pass out. But she needed answers about that signature. Steadying herself, she shook her head and asked calmly, "I'm fine. Where's the patient's family? I need to give some instructions." The colleague pointed outside. "They left. I think they sent an assistant." Calista walked out and froze when she saw the person. It was Alaric’s assistant, Rhydian Snow.