“You’re in labor, Valentina,” her doctor announces. “You’re too far dilated for us to attempt to delay this pregnancy. Your babies are coming tonight.”
“But it’s too early,” she cries.
“They’re heartbeats are strong, and they’re a good size. It would be worse at this stage for them to stay inside the womb.”
Valentina looks at me, terror in her eyes. I lean over and kiss her tenderly on the lips.
“They’ll be fine,” I whisper, praying that I’m right.
She nods and then turns back to the doctor and from there, it all happens so fast.
I keep telling myself that they’re too early, but when she starts pushing, the next thing I know, a tiny scream fills the air. I laugh, tears streaming down my cheeks, because I’m staring at my son. Five minutes later, my daughter is born.
After they’re checked over and given the all clear, the nurse hands me my daughter. I smile down at her, amazed at how much love I have for this little girl. I glance at V, who’s watching me, an exhausted smile on her face. She can barely keep her eyes open, but as the nurse places our son on her chest, her eyes light up like she’s found a new lease of energy. I wander over and sit beside her, carefully cradling our little girl with one arm.
“They’re beautiful,” I murmur in V’s ear. “And we don’t have names yet.”
She gives me an exhausted smile then gazes down at our little twins.
“Katerina and Vincent,” she murmurs. Sadness fills her eyes. “My mom’s name was Katerina. Vincent was my grandfather. But we don’t have to use those names—”
“No, I think they’re perfect,” I assure her.
I reach into my pocket. I’d almost forgotten about the present I’d gotten her. The idea had been to give it to her after the baby shower, but I figure she’s earned it now.
V looks confused when I hold out a small box.
“What is it?” she whispers.
“Usually you need to open a present to find that bit out,” I gently jibe.
Because she has her hands full, I carefully open it for her, making sure she has a prime view as I lift the lid on the box. My heart swells when tears start to roll down her cheeks. I was hoping I’d made a good choice.
“My mother’s ring,” she whispers. “How did you know?”
“A combination of Holly and your grandmother,” I confess.
She laughs, holding out her hand for me to slide the ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly, like it was made for her. I guess it was. When her grandmother mentioned the ring that day, I’d thought it was odd she’d lied about being on medication for fertility, so I’d asked Holly what the deal was with Valentina and her mother’s ring.
From there we’d pieced together that she’d taken Holly’s advice and pawned some of her jewels. We managed to find a photo of her wearing it and armed with that, I went searching through the few pawn shops in the district. I’d almost given up when I found it. The shop owner told me he’d been keeping it for her because he felt bad for her.
I sit on the edge of the bed, savoring every moment, while V drifts in and out of sleep. She truly amazes me. Just when I thought I couldn’t love her more that I already do, she gives me two of the most precious gifts in the world.
I look up when the door opens. A man walks in. He gives me an embarrassed smile. At first I think he’s in the wrong room, but there’s something familiar about him.
And then it hits me.
It’s Valentina’s father. I straighten up and stalk over to him. What does he think, that he can just waltz back into her life like nothing happened?
“Valentina?” he asks, nodding toward her bed.
“Who wants to know?” I give him my most menacing look.
“I’m her father—”
“You call yourself a father?” I chortle, keeping my voice low so I don’t wake her. “You abandoned her. You stole from her and betrayed her trust. She hasn’t given me one happy memory that involves you, so what makes you think she wants anything to do with you?”
“Hudson?”
I jerk around, startled to find Valentina perched on the end of the bed, her hair a wild mass of curls. Her long legs hang down as she looks at me, then her gaze shifts to him. Her father. Confusion clouds her eyes, followed with anger.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, her voice quiet.
“I came to see how you are.” His voice is strained, like he’s fighting back emotion.
“How I am?” she repeats. Her gaze heats up. “You expect me to believe that you care?”
“Of course I do.” He sighs and shuffles toward her, his hands buried deep in his pockets. “I know what happened looked bad—”
“Looked bad?” she cuts in. “What looked worse was everything that happened after it. You’re about twelve months too late for an apology. How did you even get out anyway?”
“My appeal was successful,” he murmurs. “A good lawyer makes all the difference.” His eyes fall on the crib lined up next to the bed. “Can I see them?”
“How did you know I was even pregnant?” Valentina asks, her curiosity getting the better of her.
“I might’ve not wanted to get you involved in my problems, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care what was happening to you. I followed everything you did.”
It didn’t really answer her question of how he knew, but I can tell Valentina is wavering. Her lip trembles as she watches him peer into the crib.
“They look just like you.”
“Thanks.” Valentina accepts the compliment and then crosses her arms stiffly over her body. Her eyes don’t leave her father. “Why are you here?”
He sits in the chair next to the bed and bows his head. Something is weighing on his mind, but I’d be shocked if it had anything to do with remorse over how he treated his own daughter.
“I’m sorry, Valentina. I never meant for you to end up hurt.”
Wow. They’re words I wasn’t expecting to hear, and from the dumbfounded expression V is wearing, neither did she. Her father glances at me.
“Can I have a moment alone with my daughter?”
I open my mouth to refuse, but then I see the way Valentina is looking at me. Almost pleadingly. I nod, responding to her, not him.
“I’ll be right outside if you need me,” I say, looking deep into her eyes.
I stalk outside the room and pace the hallway for a few minutes, then I venture the short distance to the vending machine to grab myself a drink. Of course it steals my money. I guess it’s just that kind of day. After I hurl some abuse at it, I walk back to her room and sit outside. More time passes, and they’re still in there. I’m frustrated she hasn’t kicked him out yet, but also relieved they seem to be working it out. I know she’s missed him, but I also know how much he hurt her, so he better be planning on making up for that.
“Hudson?”
Startled, I look up and find Holly frowning down at me. I struggle to my feet and frown at her. She’s clutching two giant teddy bears, one pink and one blue.
“Yes, I know, they looked a lot smaller when I ordered them.” She snaps at me before I even get the chance to ask.
“In ten years, the twins will actually be able to hold them,” I joke.
She gives me a dirty look, tossing the pink one at me. I catch it and laugh. At least it’s nice and soft.
“So why are you out here?” she enquires. “Are you in trouble already?”
“No, I—"
I stop when the door opens. Holly’s eyes widen, her mouth falling open in shock when V’s father walks out.
“I’ll see you around, Hudson.” He sticks his hand out. I reluctantly shake it and then watch him walk off.
“What did he want?” Holly hisses.
“Let’s go in and find out,” I mutter.
“No, you go … I forgot something.”
She races off before I can stop her. I know she’s giving me time to talk to V alone, and I appreciate it. I creep ins
ide and close the door, still holding the giant teddy in my hand.
“Holly,” I explain when V looks at it. “There’s another one.”
“Of course there is.” She giggles. “Couldn’t she find any that were bigger?”
I climb onto the bed next to her and wrap my arm around her. The babies stir in their crib, but they settle when they find each other.
“Look, they’re holding hands,” Valentina coos, the cuteness almost unbearable for her.
“It’s like they’ve already learned how to twist Mommy around their tiny little fingers,” I tease, poking fun at her. I plant a kiss on her lips to stop her defending herself, before I tactfully change the subject. “So, did you and your father clear things up?” I casually ask.
“Because that would make you so happy?”
I shrug. “You being happy is what will make me happy,” I say. “If that means having your father in our lives, then that’s the way it will be. Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know,” she says simply. Confliction fills her eyes. “I told him I needed time. He hurt me. I hate that he thinks he can just walk back into my life after refusing to see me for the last year.”
“Take it one day at a time,” I suggest. “It’s not like we won’t have our hands full looking after these two.”
It’s like they can hear me, because one starts to cry and then the other one follows. I scoop up Vincent and carefully place him in Valentina’s arms, then I pick up Katerina, gently soothing her by rocking her back and forth. I sit next to V. She smiles, looking exhausted as she rests her head on my shoulder.
“Get some sleep,” I tell her.
“I’m scared to go to sleep in case I miss something.”
“What, like a dirty diaper?” I mock her.
She nudges me. “You know what I mean. I can’t get over how lucky we are. Things keep changing so fast … what if they’re ripped away from me?”
“They won’t be, because I’d never let that happen,” I promise her, my voice raw with emotion. “We’re a family now. The four of us. I’ll do everything I can to keep it that way.”
She snuggles against me. I swear I can feel her relax. It’s like all she needed was my reassurance, because the next thing I know, she’s snoring away, her arms still tightly wrapped around the baby. Katerina settled, I place her back in the crib, then I carefully lift Vincent from V’s hands. She stirs, but only for a minute as I place him down with Katerina. Then I climb on the bed and ease my arm around Valentina.
I watch her sleep, amazed by how much love I feel for her and the twins. I meant it when I said I’d do whatever I had to in order to protect them. They’re my world now.
I couldn’t imagine life without them.
THE END
Thank you so much for reading Baby Inheritance. We hope you enjoyed Valentina and Hudson’s love story. If you did, we think you’ll also want to read Royal Inheritance.
Princess Raina’s beloved country is in trouble, and the only way for her to save it is to marry a Prince with coin to spare. Unfortunately, she’s already in love with her bodyguard Gavin…
Order Royal Inheritance today so you don’t miss it.
If you like royal romances, read our next one - Her Royal Physician.
And if you’d like a FREE story, download Bad Boy Prince now.
Also by Mckenna James
Royally Schooled
Royal Academy
The Prince’s Baby
Her Royal Physician
Baby Inheritance
Royal Inheritance
About Mckenna James
Mckenna James is the pen name for a collaborative writing duo who share an addiction to sweet tea and a love for wealthy, attractive men.
Since they don’t know enough devastatingly handsome men with boatloads of cash to spare, they decided to create some. They specialize in fairytales for today’s world featuring modern princes and heroines who speak their minds and carve out happily ever afters on their own terms.
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Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT© 2019 Baby Inheritance by Mckenna James
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
EPILOGUE
Baby Inheritance Page 18