Chapter 12 - A Storm Over Lake Michigan
Three days later, a massive November blizzard swept over Lake Michigan, howling against the estate’s reinforced glass windows and burying the grounds in three feet of pristine white snow.
Chloe was sitting in the estate library, drinking chamomile tea by the roaring fire, when the first sharp, tightening pain seized her lower back.
She dropped her teacup. It shattered against the hardwood floor.
“Arthur!” she gasped, gripping the armrest of the leather sofa as a powerful contraction locked her abdomen into stone.
Arthur, who had been reviewing shipping manifests at his desk across the room, was at her side in half a second.
“Chloe? What is it?”
“My water...” she breathed, her knuckles turning white. “Arthur, my water just broke. It’s time.”
Arthur’s face went completely pale, his hands trembling as he helped her sit up. “Leo! Get Dr. Gabriel up here right now! The storm knocked out the main road to the city—we’re delivering here!”
The next six hours were a whirlwind of intense, primal drama.
The estate’s private medical suite was fully prepped within ten minutes. Outside, the blizzard howled like a wounded beast, cutting off all electricity and forcing the estate onto its heavy emergency backup generators.
Inside the delivery suite, Chloe was in active, agonizing labor.
Arthur never left her side. He stripped off his jacket and tie, letting her squeeze his hand with enough force to bruise his bones. He wiped the sweat from her brow with cool towels, whispering words of fierce, unwavering devotion into her ear with every contraction.
“You are doing it, Chloe. You are so strong, my love. Just a little more.”
“Arthur, it hurts!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face as another massive wave of pain ripped through her body. “I can’t do this!”
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Arthur leaned down, his face inches from hers, his eyes burning with absolute certainty.
“You can do this, Chloe. You walked across Chicago in a monsoon to save my life. You are the strongest woman on this earth. Look at me. Push for our son!”
