Chapter 213

Maya's POV One Month Later You can almost forget the pain when you’re holding your baby for the first time. Every second of it was worth it. It wasn’t even as bad as I’d feared. Yes, it hurt, but the joy outweighs it all. Now, as I cradle our daughter in my arms while she tries to nurse again, her tiny fingers wrapped tightly around my pinkie, my heart feels like it might burst from happiness. Oliver sits beside me on the hospital bed, mesmerized, gently stroking her soft hair. I hope I never forget the expression on his face. He’s completely captivated by her. I know how long he’s dreamed of this. He’d tried before, carefully chosen partners from strong bloodlines, but nothing ever came of it. When Joan got pregnant with Henry’s child, it rekindled a small flicker of hope in him. But when we found each other, that hope grew into belief. He’s loved our daughter from the moment we found out I was pregnant. I was still in shock at the time, but he was radiant with joy. Now, holding her i