His greatest love.

Chapter 24.

Gio paced the polished corridor like a caged lion, the soles of his shoes echoing against marble floors. For thirty minutes, every tick of the wall clock was a hammer to his chest. When Dr. Malik came rushing down the hall, slightly breathless, Gio was on him instantly.

"How is she?" Dr Malik said worried as he caught a breath.

"I don't know they haven't said anything to me!" Gio said trying to control his agitation.

"And the baby? "

"I've just checked on her she's okay. The doctor said once the mother is stable they'll bring her to the room with her."

Dr Malik walked away either way to go see the baby leaving him there silently recognizing the unfamiliar pain his heart was going through with the fear of loosing Diana. He knew exactly what he needed to do to win her heart over but he saw the baby. She was the prettiest tiny human being he'd ever seen. He had taken the father milestones in her life already without him even having biological claims on her. Cutting the umbilical cord, holding her tiny body against his muscular body was the best feeling he had ever had. He had never considered the thought of being a father to anyone but at that moment he wished more than anything that it was his baby in his arms. The thought of him and Diana having a baby together relaxed his thoughts. He was going to be for that baby what his father had not been for him but first things first, he had to prove to Diana that he is worthy enough to be a father to her baby. This is the only way to make her fall in love with him.

Suddenly the doctor stepped outside, and Gio straightened at once, every muscle on alert.

"How is she, Doc?" Gio asked, his voice clipped but betraying the fear beneath.

"She had a few after-birth complications, but she's stable now," the doctor said calmly.

"Thank God..." Gio exhaled, his relief so sharp it nearly buckled his knees.

"We've started her on fluids, and she's resting."

"What made her pass out earlier?" Gio pressed, his jaw tight.

The doctor adjusted his glasses, patient in tone. "She came in already nursing a severe migraine. Labor is an incredible strain on the body—pain, dehydration, blood pressure fluctuations. That combination likely triggered what we call a vasovagal response, essentially her body shutting down briefly. It made her faint. We're also monitoring her closely because migraines in pregnancy increase her risk of postpartum hemorrhage."

Gio's brows furrowed. "Can she die from it?"

"Not if it's caught early," the doctor reassured, though his tone was grave enough to leave no doubt of the danger. "That's why she'll be under close watch. If you notice any sudden weakness, heavy bleeding, or if she seems unresponsive, call us immediately."

The doctor excused himself, leaving Gio rooted at the doorway, his hand pressed against the cool frame as he forced the air back into his lungs. For a moment, he didn't move. The silence pressed in on him, heavier than any courtroom deal or gunfight he had ever survived. He wasn't the man people feared here. He was just... helpless.

When the nurses finally slipped out, he stepped inside, shutting the door softly as though afraid even the sound would disturb her. He pulled a chair close to her bed and sat, his large frame suddenly awkward in the small space. He took her limp hand, holding it as though it were fragile glass, brushing his lips against her knuckles.

Her eyes stayed closed, but her voice came in a whisper. "Don't you have a home?"

"A house, yes," Gio murmured, his voice lower than usual, almost uncertain. "A home? Not so much."