MINE (EDITED)

Chapter 40

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The past few weeks have been nothing short of chaotic and beautiful for Layla. After all the ups and downs, there's one thing that's certain: life is never dull. Just today, Ni'imah gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and Layla was preparing herself for a trip to the hospital to meet the newest addition to the family and congratulate the new momma.

But there's a secret she's carrying—one that only Muhammad knows. Layla is pregnant. They confirmed it the day after she'd thrown up, but she's decided to keep it between them for now. Not a soul will know, at least not until she's ready to face the whirlwind of emotions that will surely follow.

As if life wasn't already busy enough, Sabrina has been giving her mother a hard time—more than usual. Whoever said raising toddlers is easy was clearly lying through their teeth. Layla's sweet little girl cries for the smallest reasons, sometimes without any reason at all. Just a year and a half old, and already mastering the art of tantrums. To make things worse, Sabrina's nanny went to visit family, leaving Layla as the only one Sabrina will tolerate. She's clingier than ever, not even allowing her father to hold her.

Sabrina's tantrums are a constant reminder of how much harder things have become. Layla, trying to stay calm, dressed her daughter in a baby pink dress with matching LV sandals—the ones that Ya Muhammad had bought for her. Sabrina's outfit was almost too adorable, and Layla couldn't help but smile as she brushed her daughter's hair with a yellow headband. She was growing up so quickly, her little features slowly starting to resemble Muhammad's.

"Sabrina, hadi, come on," Layla coaxed, extending her hand to the toddler. "Dada nerede? Where is Dada?" Layla asked, trying to teach her daughter a little Turkish as she continued to speak mostly in Turkish to her.

"Dada? Dadaa!" Sabrina shouted, her voice tiny but full of energy.

Layla chuckled, amused by Sabrina's attempt to call out her father. "Dada, we're gonna leave without you," she called out, clearly having the time of her life despite the chaos.

Muhammad came downstairs, dressed casually in black jeans, a white button-up shirt, and a camouflage New York Yankees hat. Layla couldn't help but admire how he managed to look effortlessly cool, even when he wasn't trying.

Sabrina, already on her feet, walked toward him, and Muhammad scooped her up with ease. Together, they walked to the car, Layla following behind with Sabrina's baby bag slung over her shoulder and her own maroon Prada bag in hand. The ride to Nisa Hospital in Jabi was a quiet one, with Muhammad blasting music as he drove, his voice filling the air. Sabrina giggled in the backseat, and Layla couldn't for the life of her understand why.

"Please, Dada, you're disturbing me," Layla said, covering her ears dramatically. "Your voice is literally destroying my eardrums!"

"Come on, Anne, sing with me," Muhammad teased, his grin wide and mischievous.

"No, no, no! I'm fasting!" Layla protested, laughing at how childish he was being.

Muhammad pouted, clearly upset. "You're no fun, wallahi," he muttered.

"You're such a baby! Even Sabrina is more mature than you," Layla teased him, shaking her head in disbelief.

When they finally arrived at the hospital, Layla was already feeling emotionally overwhelmed, but she pushed through. Muhammad carried Sabrina into the building, Layla following with her bag. They knocked, exchanged greetings, and entered the room, where they were met with Ya Lou, Huzaifa, and two familiar faces—Huzaifa's sisters, who looked like carbon copies of him.

Muhammad shared a hearty manly hug with Huzaifa, and Layla greeted everyone warmly, sitting next to Ni'imah, who had just become a mother once again. "Maman baby, ya jiki?" Layla asked, her voice soft and filled with care.