Don't apologize

The room was quiet except for the soft beeping of the machines that monitored Mia's vitals. Alexander sat by her side, his hand still gripping hers, never wanting to let go. His heart was heavy with worry and guilt, though he knew he had done everything he could to get her to safety.

Mia's pregnancy, once a source of joy, now felt like a fragile thread that could snap at any moment. The doctor's words echoed in his mind, the concern about premature labor looming over him like a dark cloud.

As the hours passed, Mia remained unconscious, the strain of the night's events taking their toll on her. Alexander's mind raced, but he couldn't focus on anything other than her. She was the most important thing in his life, and the thought of losing her—of losing their child—was unbearable.

"Mia, wake up," he whispered, leaning closer to her. His voice was rough, laced with fear and tenderness. "You've fought so hard. Please don't give up on us now."

His words were a plea, a desperate prayer for her to wake and reassure him that everything would be okay. That they would get through this, like they always had before.

But there was no response, no movement from her. Alexander's heart sank as the weight of the situation settled deeper into his bones. He had always prided himself on being in control, on protecting those he loved. But tonight, he had felt powerless, unable to prevent the danger that had come crashing down on them.

Minutes turned into hours, and still, Mia didn't stir. The silence in the room was oppressive, a constant reminder of the fragility of life and the unknown path that lay ahead.

Just as Alexander began to wonder if he could endure another moment of uncertainty, the softest squeeze of his hand brought him back to reality.

"Mia?" he whispered, his voice barely a breath. "Are you awake?"

Her eyelids fluttered, and then, slowly, she opened her eyes. The hazy gaze she gave him was full of exhaustion, but there was also something else—something that brought a flicker of relief to his chest.

"I'm here," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "You're safe."

Mia's lips parted, but the words came out as a whisper. "How… how's the baby?"

Alexander's heart clenched. The question was the one he had been dreading, but also the one he couldn't avoid. He leaned closer to her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"The baby is fine," he reassured her, his voice steady but filled with the weight of everything they had been through. "You're both going to be okay. The doctors are taking care of you."

Mia gave a small, exhausted smile, her eyes still glazed with the remnants of pain and fear. "I'm… I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice shaky. "I didn't mean to…"

"Don't apologize," Alexander interrupted softly, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "This isn't your fault. None of it is."

He could see the guilt in her eyes, the same way he felt it in his own heart. They had both been dragged into Marco's web of deceit and violence. And now, all they could do was wait—wait for the storm to pass, wait for the pieces to fall into place.

"I know," Mia whispered, squeezing his hand back. "But it's just so much. I feel like… like everything's falling apart."

"It's not falling apart," Alexander replied, his voice firm. "You and I—we're going to get through this. Together."

The words were simple, but they carried the weight of a promise. A promise that he would keep, no matter the cost.

Mia nodded slowly, her eyes drifting closed again as exhaustion overtook her once more. Alexander sat beside her, never letting go of her hand, his mind racing as he thought of what lay ahead. Marco's reign of terror had not ended with the attack. Whatever "Project Paragon" was, it was still out there—still a threat to their future, to their lives.

And Alexander knew that he would stop at nothing to uncover the truth and protect the woman he loved and their child. No matter the cost.

As the night stretched on, the quiet hospital room was filled with the hum of machines and the soft breath of two people who had been through hell and back—and who still had a long road ahead of them.

---

The next morning, the sun rose over the horizon, casting a golden light over the world. But for Alexander and Mia, the world still felt dark. Despite the promise of a new day, the weight of what had happened hung heavily over them.

Mia had woken a few hours later, her strength slowly returning with the care of the medical team. She was exhausted, but the worst of the physical pain had subsided. Still, her mind was restless, replaying the events of the past days, the fear for her baby, and the knowledge that Marco's plans were far from over.

"Alexander," she whispered as he stood by the window, staring out at the city below. She could feel the tension in him, the uncertainty about what to do next. The moment she spoke, he turned to her, his eyes softening.

"I'm right here," he said, moving to sit beside her on the bed. He brushed her hair back gently, his touch tender. "How are you feeling?"

Mia looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of the man who had always been her strength. She knew he was just as scared as she was, though he tried to hide it.

"I'm okay," she said quietly, though the words felt hollow. "But… what now, Alex? What are we going to do?"

Alexander didn't answer right away, his mind consumed by the thoughts of Marco, of everything that was still at stake. But he knew one thing for certain: whatever came next, he would face it with Mia by his side.

"We take this one step at a time," he said finally, his voice steady but filled with an intensity that Mia knew all too well. "We keep moving forward. Together."

Mia smiled weakly, her heart swelling with love for him. "Together."

And in that moment, despite the uncertainty and the challenges ahead, they knew one thing: as long as they had each other, they could face anything.