The Tyrant's Wife

Chapter 363: Holden Fort

SIX MONTHS LATER

"What are you making?" Zaria asked, being led by her nose to the kitchen. Her husband had four burners going on the stove, cooking four different things at the same time.

"Breakfast for my wife." He kissed her lightly before getting right back to work.

She eyed said breakfast and laughed. "Don’t let anyone hear you or they will take me for a glutton. That’s way too much food." She joked, though she knew he was making an entire week’s worth of breakfast like he’d been doing for the past few months.

The fact that Desmond, of all people, was cooking like a 5-star chef, was not lost to her. Apparently all he needed was a myriad of recipes and a wife whose hormones decided everyone else’s food tasted like crap—oh and a ’kiss the chef’ apron that gave him an excuse to ask for a hundred kisses a minute. She often had dinner meals for breakfast and breakfast meals for dinner, and slept during the day because she would be up all night—her sleep schedule was messed up.

"I would help you chop the vegetables but..." she sighed. She couldn’t chop anything over the counter when she had to stand at least two feet away from it.

"I got this, my love." He said, and the way he said it sent heat pooling in her core.

Damn hormones. She cursed. If she wasn’t getting emotional and upset for insane reasons, she was so horny she couldn’t keep her hands off him for a minute.

"I’ll check on Rosaly." She said. She’d only taken the first step when she stopped and clutched her round belly. Desmond was by her side in an instant.

"Are you okay?"

She smiled and swatted him playfully. "Relax, I’m okay. Though I think my water broke."

It took seconds for Desmond to turn off the burners and grab his car keys. They had been planning for this day for months but now that it was here, they were so riddled with a mixture of excitement and anxiousness they could barely think.

"Daddy?" Rosaly left her room while he rushed around gathering the hospital bag they had been preparing for weeks. That reminded him.

"Morning, princess. Grandma Lucy will take you to school, okay?" He grabbed his phone to call Lucy, but Rosaly didn’t budge.

"What’s wrong with mommy?" She asked, noticing how anxious they both looked.

"Nothing, princess. I’m taking her to hospital." He realized that made it sound like Zaria was unwell so he added, "the baby may be here today."

Rosaly’s eyes bulged and she squealed excitedly. "My baby brother?"

"We don’t know that yet, sweetie, it could be a sister too." Zaria smiled. They had decided not to find out. She turned to Desmond. "There’s no way she’s going to school now. Let’s take her with us."

He was staring at her like she had two heads. "How are you still talking and walking while in labor?"

"I’m not in pain." She assured him, but that didn’t calm him down in the slightest.

______

Holden Fort announced his arrival in the world with a wail that made the nurses and everyone waiting outside to meet him burst into laughter.

"Strong little one you have here." The nurse smiled at her as she placed the baby at her chest. "Congratulations, it’s a little prince."

She smiled, too weak to say a word but her eyes welled up and she let her tears fall freely. They’d been waiting for this day for months but now that it was here, it felt surreal. Desmond, who had been holding her hand the entire time, poked the little boy’s face, as if that would make it all real.

This tiny boy had stolen their hearts and he hadn’t even been here for five minutes.

He was a little charmer. As soon as he let their friends and family in to see him and Zaria, they couldn’t wait for their turn to hold him and once they did, they didn’t want to let him go.

For days after Zaria and Desmond returned home with their newest family member, their friends spent so much time in their house they may as well move in. Alas, they didn’t get much chance to be with Holden. Not when his overprotective sister spent all her free time by the crib, wading off her brother’s admirers.

Aside from her parents, the only person she let close to the crib was Ximena.

"I knew I was Rosaly’s favorite." She winked, leaving the nursery with Holden in her arms.

"How did you..." Zeus gasped and glanced down at Rosaly who had followed closely. "I thought I was your favorite uncle, Rosaly."

The girl clung onto Ximena, not to hide away from Zeus but because she didn’t want Zeus to take her brother away.

Zaria laughed. "Sweetheart, you cannot stop everyone from loving your brother. He’s just too lovely."

Rosaly pouted reluctantly but moved aside for Zeus to take Holden from Ximena’s arms. But that only lasted a few seconds before she was hovering over Zeus to take her brother back.

Everyone laughed. Who would blame her? Holden had charmed his way into everyone’s hearts and his sister was no exception.

"Are you staying in Imperium for a while?" Zaria asked Ximena when the latter sat next to her on the couch.

Although her parents and Liam’s family no longer posed a threat to them, they had decided to stay in Humville permanently and had bought a house by the beach. As soon as Zaria’s water broke, they rushed back to Imperium on the first take off slot and made it in time for Holden’s arrival—which they would have missed if they arrived five minutes later. The little lad had been in such a hurry to arrive.

Ximena eyed the boy currently in Lucy’s arms. "You’re not getting rid of me that fast."

"Good," Zaria said. "Because I need you now more than ever. I mean I’m already a mother, but..."

"I get it. And you know I’ll be there for you as long as you need me." Ximena held her hand. Having a newborn for the first time had to be overwhelming.

_______

That evening.

Natalie’s hand trembled as she reached for the box of pregnancy tests that she had stacked a few weeks ago and never had to use.

Holden’s arrival had reminded her how late her period had been. She picked up one of the test kits, checked that it was alright, and took the test. The seconds felt like they lasted forever as she sat on the toilet seat, waiting for five minutes to elapse before she could flip it around and check. Could this be the month when it finally happened?