Ethan and Olivia were on their way to the hospital, the air filled with anticipation. As they drove, Ethan made a quick call to Emma and Alex to update them on their plans.
"Hey, we're heading to the hospital now for the pregnancy confirmation check and blood tests," Ethan said, keeping his eyes on the road. "Carry on with the daily meetings, and only call if there's anything urgent. Also, Emma—if you need anything, call me. Don't disturb Olivia."
Olivia, sitting next to him, raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "I'm right here, you know. I'm fine, Ethan. I can handle a few calls," she said, annoyed but with a smile tugging at her lips. "Emma, if you need me, call me directly. Don't let *him* scare you."
On the other end of the line, Emma chuckled. "Got it, Olivia. I'll call you if anything comes up."
Before they ended the call, Olivia casually added, "Oh, and Emma? If you happen to pass by that bakery we love, can you grab me some croissants?"
Ethan shot her a sideways glance, dumbfounded. "Croissants? Really? Now?"
"Yeah," Olivia replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She turned to look at him, a playful glint in her eyes. "What's the problem?"
Ethan laughed, shaking his head. "I guess the cravings have officially begun."
When they reached the hospital, Ethan and Olivia walked in hand-in-hand, making their way to the patient waiting area. Olivia's hand tightened around his, a mixture of excitement and nervousness brewing in her chest. After what felt like hours, they were finally called in by the doctor. As the ultrasound began, the room filled with an unfamiliar sound—the soft, rhythmic beat of their baby's heart.
Ethan's eyes widened, his hand instinctively going to his phone to record the moment. "That's our baby," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Olivia's eyes filled with tears, her heart swelling with joy as she gazed at the screen showing the tiny life growing inside her.
After a long chat with the doctor, Ethan made sure to collect all the pictures and videos of the ultrasound, his excitement barely contained. He then guided Olivia to the lab for her blood work and waited in the hall while it was being done.
As Olivia stepped out of the blood collection room, she bumped into none other than Martha and Jenna—two faces she wished she'd never see again. Their sneers were immediate, and their toxic energy filled the hallway.
"Well, well, well," Martha said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "How dare you get pregnant with Ethan's child. You don't deserve to be a mother."
Olivia's expression remained calm, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tilted her head. "And you don't deserve to be standing here wasting my time, but here we are."
Jenna chimed in, her voice biting. "Ethan made a mistake with you. You're nothing."
"Actually," Olivia said with a smirk, "Ethan's mistake was probably even letting you two stay in his life for this long. But that's none of my business anymore."
Jenna, enraged, stepped forward and raised her hand to slap Olivia. But before anyone could blink, Jenna was the one who ended up with a stinging red mark on her face. Olivia's hand had moved swiftly, and the slap echoed through the hall.
At that exact moment, Ethan, who had been on a call with Alex, heard the commotion and rushed over. His eyes flicked between Olivia's calm expression and the clear handprint on Jenna's cheek. He smirked, clearly proud of his wife, before pulling out a small bottle of hand sanitizer.
He handed it to Olivia with a smirk. "Might want to clean up after that."
Olivia took the sanitizer with a smirk of her own, while Jenna and Martha stood fuming, their faces red with anger.
Martha, desperate to land a final blow, hissed, "You don't even know if that's really your child, Ethan. You're making a huge mistake."
Without missing a beat, Ethan turned to her, his voice dangerously calm. "I know my wife. I know that baby is mine, and neither of you have any right to question that. And while we're on the subject, you owe Olivia an apology."
When Martha and Jenna refused, storming off instead, Ethan turned to Olivia, his expression softening immediately. "Are you okay?"
Olivia nodded, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Better than okay."
Ethan pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I can't believe you slapped her. I've never been more in love with you," he whispered.
Olivia laughed softly, leaning into him. "She had it coming."
As they left the hospital, hand-in-hand, Ethan couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and love for the woman by his side—and the little life growing inside her. He knew that no matter what challenges came their way, they'd face them together.