Meant to be yours

baby is here!

The garden of Modi Mansion had gone deathly silent.
Even the breeze seemed to stop.
Melanie Rose stood beside Jazz, her notebook forgotten on the table, her expression colder than anyone had ever seen.
Across from them-
still on her knees-
Rebecca Wilson looked smaller than usual.
More human.
More afraid.
But the moment she admitted-
"My father gave me an ultimatum."
Something in Melanie snapped.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Slow.
Controlled.
Terrifying.
Her laugh came first.
Soft.
Disbelieving.
Then louder.
Sharper.
Almost cruel.
Rebecca looked up nervously.
Melanie wiped an imaginary tear from her eye.
"Oh..."
She laughed again.
"That's..."
Another laugh.
"Unbelievable."
Her eyes hardened instantly.
"Absolutely unbelievable."
Rebecca swallowed.
"Melanie-"
"No."
Melanie's voice sliced through the air.
"Don't."
She pointed at Rebecca.
"For once in your life..."
Her jaw tightened.
"...listen."
Rebecca fell silent.
Melanie took another step.
Her voice became colder.
Dangerously calm.
"You disappeared."
"You ignored her calls."
"You ignored her messages."
"You ignored doctor appointments."
Her voice rose.
"You ignored your child."
Rebecca looked away.
Melanie's laugh came again.
Dark this time.
And painful.
"And now..."
She spread her arms.
"...you walk into this house-"
Her eyes flashed.
"-our house-"
And that word didn't go unnoticed by anyone.
Rebecca visibly flinched.
Melanie smiled bitterly.
"You walk in..."
"...kneel down..."
"...shed a few tears..."
"...and suddenly remember you're in love?"
Rebecca opened her mouth-
But before she could answer-
A calm voice interrupted.
"Mel."
Jazz.
Just one word.
Soft.
Quiet.
Yet Melanie stopped immediately.
The anger was still there-
burning-
but for Jazz...
she stopped.
Slowly-
Melanie stepped back.
Still glaring.
Still ready to destroy.
But silent.
And then-
another voice entered.
Cool.
Sharp.
Precise.
Anamika Modi.
Nobody had even noticed her arrive.
She stood near the garden doors.
Arms crossed.
Expression unreadable.
Beside her-
Ishika, watching quietly.
Anamika walked forward.
Every step deliberate.
Her eyes never leaving Rebecca.
Then she spoke.
Calmly.
Deadly.
"Because..."
She stopped directly in front of Rebecca.
"Do you even hear yourself?"
Silence.
Rebecca looked up nervously.
Anamika's eyes narrowed.
"You came because your father pressured you."
A pause.
Then colder-
"What exactly..."
She leaned down slightly.
"...was your intention?"
Silence.
Rebecca looked around.
At Jazz.
At Melanie.
At Anamika.
At Ishika.
At everyone.
And for some reason-
that honesty she should've used months ago-
came now.
"My dad..."
Her voice was small.
"...told me to end things with Jazz amicably..."
She swallowed.
"And..."
She looked toward Melanie.
"...reconcile with you."
Silence.
Then-
Melanie laughed.
Loud.
Uncontrollable.
Unbelievable laughter.
She bent slightly.
Actually laughing.
"I'm sorry-"
She laughed harder.
"Wait-"
She pointed at Rebecca.
"Your father..."
Another laugh.
"...sent you here..."
She wiped her eyes.
"To patch things up with me?"
Rebecca flushed.
Melanie's smile disappeared.
Instantly.
Her voice dropped.
Ice cold.
"Tell your father..."
She stepped closer.
"...I'm not a merger."
Rebecca looked down.
Unable to answer.
Then-
Slowly-
she looked back at Jazz.
And for the first time...
there was no corporate mask.
No rehearsed apology.
Just ugly truth.
"Jazz..."
Her voice shook.
"I'm not here to end things."
Silence.
Jazz said nothing.
Rebecca continued.
"I..."
She swallowed.
"I want you to wait for me."
Melanie's expression darkened.
Rebecca kept talking.
Almost desperately.
"I need my father."
A pause.
"I can't..."
Her voice dropped.
"...leave my lifestyle."
Silence.
Utter silence.
Even Melanie stopped reacting.
Because that-
was worse than lying.
That-
was honesty.
And it hurt more.
Rebecca looked at Jazz hopefully.
As if expecting understanding.
As if expecting patience.
As if expecting-
the old Jazz.
But the woman sitting in that chair...
wasn't the same woman she'd abandoned.
Jazz slowly removed the blanket from her lap.
Slowly stood.
One hand instinctively over her stomach.
Her eyes-
calm.
Too calm.
And that made everyone hold their breath.
She walked toward Rebecca.
Stopped directly in front of her.
Looked down.
For a long time.
Then-
she smiled.
Small.
Sad.
And devastating.
"So..."
Her voice was soft.
"You came back..."
A pause.
"...because you ran out of options."
Rebecca's face fell.
"Jazz-"
"No."
Jazz's voice remained calm.
But sharper now.
Stronger.
"You need your father."
A nod.
"You need your money."
Another nod.
"You need your lifestyle."
She smiled again.
Painfully.
"And somehow..."
Her eyes glistened.
"...I'm supposed to wait?"
Rebecca's lips trembled.
"Please-"
Jazz's voice rose for the first time.
Not screaming.
But powerful.
Enough to silence everyone.
"Where were you..."
She stepped closer.
"...when I was throwing up alone?"
Rebecca froze.
"Where were you..."
Another step.
"...when I couldn't sleep?"
Another.
"...when I was scared?"
Rebecca's eyes filled.
Jazz's voice cracked.
But she didn't stop.
"Where were you..."
Her hand tightened over her stomach.
"...when your child's heartbeat was heard for the first time?"
Rebecca broke.
Completely.
But Jazz wasn't done.
Her eyes hardened.
And for the first time-
Melanie looked genuinely stunned.
Because Jazz-
gentle, funny, soft Jazz-
looked absolutely unshakable.
"I don't want..."
She looked straight into Rebecca's eyes.
"...a woman like you..."
A pause.
"As my partner."
Rebecca trembled.
Then-
the final blow.
Jazz's voice dropped.
Cold.
Certain.
"And I don't want a woman like you..."
Her hand moved protectively over her stomach.
"...as the mother of my child."
Silence.
Rebecca's tears finally fell.
Jazz pointed toward the gate.
And said the words that ended everything.
"You can leave."
And for the first time in her life-
Rebecca Wilson realized-
love had moved on.
Without her.
Silence still hung heavily over the garden of Modi Mansion.
The words-
"You can leave."
-still echoed in everyone's mind.
Rebecca Wilson remained frozen for several seconds.
Her eyes were red.
Her hands trembling.
Her breathing uneven.
Slowly...
painfully...
she pushed herself up from the ground.
For the first time in her carefully constructed life-
Rebecca Wilson looked completely stripped of pride.
No designer confidence.
No practiced elegance.
No sharp comebacks.
Just loss.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Across from her-
Jazz stood with one hand over her stomach, breathing hard from everything she had just said.
And instantly-
movement.
Anamika Modi was the first to react.
She crossed the garden in seconds.
Ishika right beside her.
"Ishi-water."
Before the sentence was even finished-
Ishika was already handing over a glass.
Anamika gave Jazz a firm look.
"Sit."
Jazz opened her mouth.
Anamika raised an eyebrow.
Jazz sighed.
"...Yes, boss."
Even now-
Ishika smiled faintly.
"Good girl."
Jazz glared weakly.
"Wrong couple."
For half a second-
the tension broke.
Even Melanie's lips twitched.
Anamika helped Jazz back into the swing chair while Ishika gently tucked the blanket around her again.
Her fingers brushed Jazz's hair back.
"You okay?"
Jazz nodded.
A little shakily.
"I'm fine."
Anamika's expression made it very clear she didn't believe that.
But before she could argue-
Jazz looked past them.
Toward Melanie Rose.
Melanie still hadn't moved.
Still stood like a storm waiting to happen.
Her eyes remained locked on Rebecca.
Cold.
Protective.
Dangerous.
Jazz's voice came softer this time.
"Mel."
That was all it took.
Melanie's gaze instantly softened.
She turned.
Walked over.
Knelt beside Jazz without hesitation.
"What?"
Jazz looked at her quietly.
For a moment-
everyone thought she might cry.
But instead-
she smiled faintly.
Tired.
Gentle.
Still Jazz.
"Don't."
Melanie frowned.
"Don't what?"
Jazz glanced briefly toward Rebecca.
Then back at Melanie.
"Don't pull out of the Wilson Group because of me."
Silence.
Melanie's jaw tightened.
"Jazz-"
She raised a hand gently.
"Please."
Melanie went quiet immediately.
Jazz continued.
"There are hundreds..."
She corrected herself.
"No."
"Thousands."
Her hand rested over her stomach.
"Thousands of employees working there."
She looked directly into Melanie's eyes.
"People with families."
"Kids."
"Bills."
"Dreams."
A small pause.
"People who had nothing to do with what Rebecca did."
Melanie's expression shifted.
Softer.
But conflicted.
Jazz smiled sadly.
"You taught me something, remember?"
Melanie frowned slightly.
Jazz's voice softened.
"That love means showing up."
A pause.
"Not just for the people we love..."
She glanced around at everyone.
"...but for the people who depend on us."
Silence.
Even Anamika looked impressed.
Ishika smiled proudly.
Rebecca...
looked shattered.
Jazz reached for Melanie's hand.
And squeezed gently.
"So please..."
Her voice dropped.
"Don't destroy an empire..."
A tiny smile.
"...on my sake."
Melanie stared at her.
Long.
Carefully.
As if trying to understand how someone could be this kind...
after being hurt so deeply.
Her laugh came quietly.
Soft.
Disbelieving.
"You..."
She shook her head.
"...are ridiculously inconvenient."
Jazz grinned faintly.
"I've been told."
Melanie's fingers tightened around hers.
And for the first time-
Melanie's walls cracked completely.
"You do realize..."
Her voice dropped.
"...this is exactly why people fall in love with you."
Jazz blinked.
And from behind-
Anamika smirked.
"She's not wrong."
Ishika immediately nudged her.
"You're one to talk."
Anamika looked offended.
"I married mine."
Ishika grinned.
"By force."
Anamika glared.
"...Details."
Even Rebecca let out a broken laugh through her tears.
But Melanie's eyes remained on Jazz.
Completely on Jazz.
Finally-
she nodded.
Slowly.
"Fine."
Rebecca looked up.
Melanie stood.
Her expression became unreadable again.
Professional.
Controlled.
But no longer cruel.
"I won't destroy the Wilson Group."
Rebecca exhaled shakily.
Then Melanie continued.
Ice.
"But don't mistake mercy..."
She stepped closer.
"...for reconciliation."
Rebecca's face fell again.
Melanie's voice lowered.
"The contracts stay frozen."
"The board stays under pressure."
"And your family..."
A pause.
"...earns back trust."
Rebecca swallowed hard.
Then nodded.
She had no right to argue.
No right left at all.
As she turned toward the gates-
she stopped.
Looked back at Jazz one last time.
And quietly said-
"I'm sorry."
Jazz didn't answer.
Didn't smile.
Didn't cry.
She simply held Melanie's hand a little tighter.
And that...
was answer enough.
**
Eight months.
Eight long months.
And somehow...
everything had changed.
And somehow...
nothing had.
Jazz was now eight months pregnant.
Her baby bump had become impossible to miss.
Her cravings had become legendary.
At two in the morning-
she wanted mango pickle.
At four-
blueberry pancakes.
At six-
spicy noodles.
And somehow-
every single time-
Melanie Rose showed up.
Without complaint.
Without hesitation.
Without fail.
If Jazz wanted ice cream-
Melanie got ice cream.
If Jazz hated the smell of something-
Melanie removed it.
If Jazz had nightmares-
Melanie sat beside her until sunrise.
Doctor appointments.
Vitamin reminders.
Late-night back massages.
Mood swings.
Morning sickness.
Fear.
Silence.
Tears.
Melanie handled all of it.
Quietly.
Steadily.
Lovingly.
And exactly as promised-
she never destroyed the Wilson Group.
She rebuilt it.
Debt restructuring.
Board reform.
Investor confidence.
Employee protection.
Within months-
the same company on the verge of collapse...
was breathing again.
And because of that-
Rebecca Wilson began seeing the truth.
Not the corporate truth.
Not the convenient truth.
The painful one.
She began counseling.
Weekly.
Then twice a week.
She cut off toxic board members.
Started attending prenatal parenting sessions alone.
Read books.
Wrote letters she never sent.
And every now and then-
she would cross paths with Melanie.
Brief.
Professional.
Cold.
Melanie never humiliated her.
Never mocked her.
Never gave hope either.
And that...
hurt more.
At Modi Mansion-
everyone noticed.
Anamika Modi.
Ishika.
Riya.
Payal.
They all saw it.
Saw how Melanie looked at Jazz.
Saw how Jazz relaxed around Melanie.
Saw how naturally Melanie fit.
As if she had always belonged.
As if-
she was home.
And that...
terrified Jazz.
Because home...
could leave.
Just like before.
And if home left twice-
she wasn't sure she'd survive it.
So-
Jazz decided to do what wounded people often do.
Push first.
Before being pushed.
Sunday Morning
At Melanie Rose Residence...
sunlight spilled across polished wooden floors.
The house smelled of fresh coffee.
And cinnamon.
Melanie stood in the kitchen-
wearing loose black trousers and a simple white shirt-
looking more human than corporate.
More warm than untouchable.
The doorbell rang.
She frowned.
It was early.
Too early.
She opened the door.
And froze.
Rebecca.
Rebecca stood there.
No designer arrogance.
No perfect makeup.
No masks.
Just tired eyes.
And honesty.
For once.
Melanie's expression became unreadable.
"Rebecca."
Rebecca swallowed.
"Can I come in?"
Long silence.
Then-
Melanie stepped aside.
Wordlessly.
Rebecca walked in slowly.
Looking around.
At the books.
The photographs.
The half-knitted baby blanket lying on the couch.
Her chest tightened.
"Still knitting?"
Melanie's voice came flat.
"Why are you here?"
Rebecca looked down.
Then-
for the first time-
she reached out.
And gently took Melanie's hand.
Melanie froze.
Not from affection.
From memory.
Rebecca's fingers trembled.
"I'm sorry."
Silence.
Rebecca's voice cracked.
"For all of it."
"For leaving."
"For being selfish."
"For using you."
"For not seeing..."
Her eyes filled.
"...that you were the best thing that ever happened to me."
Melanie's jaw tightened.
Rebecca squeezed her hand.
Just slightly.
"Please..."
Her voice broke.
"Give me one chance."
"One chance to redeem myself."
"One chance to become someone worthy."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Melanie looked down at their joined hands.
Her expression unreadable.
And then-
A voice.
From the doorway.
Sharp.
Cold.
Shaking.
"...Go ahead, Mel."
Both women froze.
Jazz stood at the entrance.
One hand on her eight-month belly.
One hand gripping the doorframe.
Her face pale.
Her eyes...
shattered.
Melanie's face drained of color.
"Jazz-"
But Jazz kept talking.
Her laugh came first.
Soft.
Bitter.
Broken.
"Say yes."
She stepped inside slowly.
Her eyes never leaving Melanie.
"This is what you always wanted."
Rebecca's face fell.
"Jazz-"
"Don't."
Jazz's voice cut through the room.
Her eyes stayed on Melanie.
Only Melanie.
"Didn't you?"
A pause.
Her lips trembled.
"You said..."
Her voice cracked.
"...you don't lose."
Melanie's breathing became uneven.
"Jazz, listen to me-"
But Jazz smiled.
And somehow-
that smile hurt more than screaming.
"Oh."
She nodded.
"Now I get it."
Another step.
Closer.
Tears gathering.
"This..."
She gestured around the room.
"All the care."
"All the concern."
"The doctor visits."
"The food."
"The cravings."
"The sleepless nights."
Her voice rose.
"Was all fake."
Melanie went completely still.
Jazz's tears finally fell.
"You were just waiting."
Another step.
"Waiting for this."
She pointed at Rebecca.
"This opportunity."
Her voice broke completely.
"Weren't you?"
Silence.
Utter silence.
Rebecca looked horrified.
"Jazz, stop-"
But Jazz wasn't looking at her.
Only Melanie.
Only the woman she had fallen for.
Only the woman she was terrified of losing.
And Melanie-
Melanie Rose-
the woman who hadn't cried in years-
stood absolutely still.
As if she'd been shot.
Her lips parted.
But no words came.
Then-
A tear.
One single tear.
Slid slowly down her cheek.
Jazz froze.
Because somehow-
that hurt more than anger.
More than shouting.
More than silence.
Rebecca instinctively stepped closer.
"Mel-"
Melanie stepped back instantly.
As if burned.
Never taking her eyes off Jazz.
Another tear fell.
Then another.
And suddenly-
all those years of control...
of discipline...
of carefully built walls-
collapsed.
Melanie's knees hit the floor.
Her breathing broke.
Her hands trembled.
Rebecca stared in shock.
Because she had never-
ever-
seen Melanie Rose break.
Melanie looked at Rebecca.
Voice shaking.
Broken.
"...Leave."
Rebecca blinked.
"Mel-"
Melanie's voice cracked.
Louder.
"Leave."
Rebecca looked between them.
Heartbroken.
Guilty.
And slowly...
she walked out.
Closing the door quietly behind her.
And now-
it was just them.
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
Melanie slowly looked up.
At Jazz.
At the woman she loved.
At the woman who had just shattered her.
Her voice came barely above a whisper.
Broken.
Raw.
Unprotected.
"Is that..."
A shaky breath.
"...what you really think of me?"
Jazz's breath caught.
Melanie's eyes glistened.
Her voice cracked again.
"I cooked for you."
Another tear.
"I memorized what made you sick."
Another.
"I learned your cravings."
Her hand shook as she touched the half-knitted baby blanket.
"I stayed awake through every nightmare."
She looked up again.
Completely broken.
"I fell in love with your child..."
Her voice shattered.
"...before I even held them."
Jazz's tears came harder now.
But Melanie wasn't done.
Her voice dropped.
Soft.
Devastating.
"And after all that..."
A pause.
"...you think I was with you..."
Her voice trembled.
"...for strategy?"
Jazz's legs nearly gave out.
Melanie looked at her.
Like her entire heart was sitting in Jazz's answer.
And whispered-
"Tell me..."
A tear slid down.
"Was I ever..."
Her voice broke completely.
"...that easy to doubt?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Inside Melanie Rose Residence, nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Jazz stood frozen near the doorway, tears streaming down her face.
Her accusations still hung in the air like shattered glass.
Across from her-
Melanie Rose remained on her knees.
Broken.
Tears silently rolling down cheeks that hadn't known vulnerability in years.
Her hands trembled.
Her eyes...
never leaving Jazz.
And Jazz-
for the first time-
looked truly horrified by what she had done.
Her lips parted.
"Mel... I..."
Nothing came out.
Her throat tightened.
Her chest hurt.
She took one step forward-
Then-
The front door opened.
A familiar voice entered cheerfully.
Riya.
"Mel!"
Her voice echoed through the house.
"Your garden behind is awesome, I mean-"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Completely.
Her eyes moved from Jazz...
to Melanie on the floor...
to the tear tracks on Melanie's face...
to the suffocating silence.
Riya blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"...Oh."
Nobody answered.
Riya's expression changed instantly.
The teasing disappeared.
The smile vanished.
"What happened?"
Still-
nobody answered.
Riya looked at Jazz.
Jazz's face was pale.
Too pale.
And suddenly-
Riya's instincts kicked in.
She took a step closer.
"Jazz?"
Jazz opened her mouth-
but before words came-
her body suddenly froze.
Her hand shot to her stomach.
Her entire face twisted.
And then-
a sharp cry.
"Ah-!"
Melanie was on her feet instantly.
Every tear.
Every heartbreak.
Every accusation.
Forgotten.
"Jazz?"
Jazz doubled slightly, gripping her belly.
Her breathing turned uneven.
"Mel..."
Her voice shook.
"Something's-"
She gasped sharply.
"Wrong-"
Riya's face drained of color.
"Oh god."
Then-
A warm rush.
A splash.
Silence.
All three women looked down.
Water spread across the polished wooden floor.
For half a second-
nobody moved.
Then-
Riya's eyes widened.
"Oh my god."
She pointed.
"Your water-"
Jazz looked down.
Then back at Melanie.
Absolute panic in her eyes.
"Mel..."
Her voice broke.
"I-"
Another contraction hit.
Harder.
Jazz cried out.
And before she could even lose balance-
Melanie was already there.
One arm around her back.
One under her knees.
Lifting her effortlessly.
As if Jazz weighed nothing.
As if nothing in the world mattered except getting her safe.
Jazz instinctively clutched Melanie's shirt.
Her breathing ragged.
Her eyes terrified.
And despite everything-
despite the accusations...
despite the heartbreak...
Melanie's voice came calm.
Steady.
Certain.
"Look at me."
Jazz's eyes found hers instantly.
Melanie adjusted her hold and started moving toward the door.
"You're okay."
Another contraction.
Jazz whimpered.
Melanie's jaw tightened.
But her voice never shook.
"You hear me?"
She looked straight into Jazz's eyes.
"You."
Step.
"Are."
Another step.
"Okay."
Jazz's trembling fingers tightened around Melanie's collar.
"Mel..."
Her voice cracked.
"I'm scared."
Melanie stopped for half a second.
Pressed her forehead briefly against Jazz's.
And whispered-
"I know."
Her voice softened.
"But I've got you."
Jazz broke.
Completely.
Tears fell harder.
And for the first time since arriving-
she stopped fighting.
Stopped pushing.
Stopped doubting.
And simply held on.
Tightly.
Behind them-
Riya snapped into action.
Phone already in hand.
"Hospital."
She looked at Melanie.
"I'm driving."
Melanie shook her head sharply.
"No."
She kept walking.
"I drive faster."
Riya blinked.
Then nodded immediately.
"Fair."
As they rushed out-
Riya was already dialing.
First call-
Anamika Modi.
The call connected instantly.
"Riya?"
Riya didn't waste a second.
"Emergency."
Silence.
Then-
Anamika's voice dropped dangerously.
"What happened?"
Riya looked toward Melanie carrying Jazz toward the car.
And smiled despite her own panic.
"Your future honorary niece or nephew..."
A pause.
"...apparently picked today."
Silence.
Then-
"What hospital?"
Riya rattled off the name.
Then another call.
Payal.
Then-
Ishika.
Within seconds-
the entire family was moving.
Because somewhere between heartbreak...
and accusations...
and tears...
life had decided-
it was time to arrive.
The maternity floor of St. Gabriel Hospital had never felt louder.
Or quieter.
Hours of panic.
Hours of pacing.
Hours of whispered prayers.
Hours of cold coffee.
And now-
Everyone stood outside the delivery room.
Anamika Modi.
Ishika.
Payal.
Riya pacing with her.
Even Rebecca Wilson had arrived quietly-
staying at the far end.
Saying nothing.
Daring to say nothing.
And in the middle of it all-
Melanie Rose.
Still.
Silent.
Sitting alone.
Her shirt still carried the marks of Jazz's tears.
Her mind still carried the words-
"It was all fake."
But her eyes...
never left the delivery room.
Never once.
Then-
A cry.
Sharp.
Tiny.
Powerful.
The hallway froze.
Silence.
Then-
another cry.
Louder.
And suddenly-
everyone breathed again.
Payal grabbed Riya's arm.
"Oh my god."
Riya was already crying.
"I'm not crying."
Payal looked at her.
"You absolutely are."
"I'm sweating emotionally."
Anamika rolled her eyes.
But even her jaw tightened.
And then-
The door opened.
A nurse stepped out.
Smiling.
"Mother and baby are healthy."
And just like that-
the hallway exploded.
Relief.
Laughter.
Tears.
Riya actually screamed.
Payal nearly tackled her.
Even Anamika exhaled.
Slowly.
Quietly.
And then-
The nurse looked around.
"Who is Melanie Rose?"
Melanie blinked.
Everyone looked at her.
She stood slowly.
"...Me."
The nurse smiled.
"The mother asked for you."
Silence.
Every eye turned.
Including Rebecca's.
Melanie hesitated.
Only for a second.
Then walked in.
Inside the Delivery Room
The room smelled faintly of antiseptic.
Warm blankets.
New life.
And there-
on the bed-
Jazz.
Exhausted.
Sweaty.
Pale.
Beautiful.
And crying.
When Melanie entered-
Jazz looked up.
Their eyes met.
And neither spoke.
Not yet.
The nurse smiled gently.
Then placed a tiny bundle into Melanie's arms.
And for the first time-
Melanie Rose froze.
Completely.
A baby boy.
Tiny fingers.
Tiny nose.
Tiny breaths.
A tiny life.
Her hands-
the same hands that built corporations...
the same hands that fought boardrooms...
the same hands that held Jazz through nightmares-
shook.
Badly.
Her lips parted.
No words came.
Only tears.
Fresh.
Silent.
Unstoppable.
Jazz watched.
And cried harder.
Because she'd never-
not once-
seen Melanie look so... soft.
So undone.
Melanie looked down at the baby.
Then whispered-
Voice trembling.
"Hey there..."
A tiny hand wrapped around her finger.
And Melanie completely broke.
A sob escaped.
Quiet.
Uncontrolled.
Jazz covered her mouth.
Tears streaming.
Because this-
this was real.
Nothing fake.
Nothing strategic.
Nothing calculated.
Only love.
Pure.
Terrifying.
Unconditional.
After several moments-
Melanie looked up.
At Jazz.
And for a brief second-
their eyes locked.
A thousand unsaid things passed between them.
Then-
without a word-
Melanie turned.
And walked out.
Outside
The moment the doors opened-
everyone stood.
Melanie stepped out carrying the baby.
And suddenly-
the hallway fell silent.
Because nobody-
absolutely nobody-
had ever seen Melanie Rose look like that.
Red eyes.
Wet cheeks.
Shaking hands.
And yet-
somehow-
the strongest woman there.
Riya gasped.
"Oh my god..."
Payal whispered-
"He's beautiful."
Melanie looked down at him.
Then-
slowly-
walked toward Anamika.
Without a word-
she placed the baby carefully into Anamika Modi's arms.
And for perhaps the first time in her life-
Anamika looked genuinely stunned.
She stared at the baby.
Then at Melanie.
Then back.
Her expression softened.
Dangerously.
Emotionally.
"My god..."
Ishika smiled beside her.
"Careful."
She nudged her.
"You look maternal."
Anamika glared.
But didn't deny it.
Because the baby had just wrapped a tiny finger around hers.
And she was done for.
Completely.
Meanwhile-
Melanie said nothing.
Nothing at all.
She simply turned.
And walked away.
Down the hallway.
Alone.
Ishika watched her go.
And immediately-
something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
She looked at Anamika.
Who noticed it too.
Their eyes met.
No words needed.
Anamika gave the slightest nod.
Go.
And so-
Ishika followed.
Hospital Balcony
Cold night air.
City lights below.
And there-
leaning against the railing-
Melanie.
Silent.
Still.
Breaking.
Ishika stopped a few steps behind.
Then spoke softly.
"Professor."
Melanie didn't turn.
For several seconds-
nothing.
Then-
very quietly-
almost too quietly-
Melanie answered.
"Ishika..."
Her voice cracked.
And that alone-
made Ishika's heart drop.
Because Melanie Rose's voice...
never cracked.