Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Julian: POV

The appointment was scheduled for two-thirty on a Thursday.

I’d cleared my entire afternoon-cancelled a board meeting, pushed back a call with Tokyo, told Marcus to handle the Phillips merger without me. None of it mattered. Not today.

Elena had been nervous all morning. I could tell by the way she kept touching her stomach, that unconscious gesture she’d developed over the past few weeks. Four months along now, and she was just starting to show-a gentle curve beneath her oversized sweaters that made something tighten in my chest every time I looked at it.

“You don’t have to come,” she’d said at breakfast, stirring her tea without drinking it. “I know you’re busy.”

I’d reached across the table and taken her hand. “I want to.”

Somewhere along the way, they’d started mattering to me too.

Now, sitting in the driver’s seat of my Bentley-I’d scooped Elena up and deposited her in the passenger seat when she’d tried to drive herself, refusing to let her get behind the wheel when she was this anxious-I kept one hand wrapped around hers while steering with the other.

“Hey.” I covered her hand with mine. “It’s just a routine checkup. Everything’s going to be fine.”

She glanced at me, and for a second, that old wariness flickered in her eyes. Like she was waiting for me to take it back. To say something cruel.

1 leaned over and kissed her forehead instead.

“I’m here,” I murmured against her skin. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Her breath hitched. Then she nodded, and some of the tension bled out of her shoulders.

“Okay,” she whispered.

The hospital smelled like disinfectant and industrial coffee.

Elena checked in at the front desk while I stood beside her, one band resting on the small of her back. The receptionist gave us that knowing smile.

We were called back after ten minutes.

The exam room was small and sterile, decorated with pastel posters about fetal development and breastfeeding. Elena sat on the paper covered table, her legs swinging slightly, and I took the chair beside her.

“Nervous?” I asked.

She nodded. “A little.”

I reached for her hand again. She let me take it.

1/3

2:08 pm

Chapter 98

MA

The door opened, and Dr. Rachel Morgan walked in-r

put most patients at ease.

“Elena, Julian.” She smiled. How are we feeling today?”

“Good, Elena said quickly. Too quickly.

-mid-fifties, silver-streaked hair pulled back in a neat bun, the kind of calm competence that probably

Dr. Morgan pulled up her chart on the computer. Any issues since your last visit? Nausea? Spotting?”

‘No. I mean the nausea’s better. And no spotting.”

“Good. Let’s take a look at this baby, shall we?”

Elena lay back, and I moved to stand beside her. Dr. Morgan squirted gel onto her stomach-Elena flinched at the cold-and pressed the ultrasound wand against her skin.

The monitor flickered to life.

And there it was.

A tiny, flickering heartbeat. Arms and legs, curled in on themselves. A head, a spine.

“There’s your baby,” Dr. Morgan said.

I stared at the screen.

I’d seen ultrasounds before-at the twelve-week appointment, when I’d barely been able to process what I was looking at. But now…

Now it looked like a person.

My chest tightened.

“Everything looks good developmentally,” Dr. Morgan continued, moving the wand. “Heartbeat’s strong. Measurements are right on track for sixteen weeks.

Elena’s hand found mine. Her fingers were warm now, relaxed.

‘That’s wonderful,” she breathed.

Dr. Morgan smiled and wiped the gel from Elena’s stomach. I’ll print out some images for you. Mr. Sterling, could I have a word with you in my office? Just some paperwork regarding the next appointment.”

I felt Elena’s hand tense slightly.

“It’ll just take a minute, Dr. Morgan said easily. “Elena, you can get dressed. We’ll be right back.”

Elena nodded, though her eyes searched my face.

I squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right outside.”

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