CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 272: BEFORE THE FALL

Time blurred.

It was strange how memories could skip like stones across the surface of water—slow, fast, still, then suddenly racing again. From the moment Aeris whispered, "I’m pregnant," the world had begun to move with its own rhythm—soft, steady, and heartbreakingly beautiful.

And Liora watched it all.

Eyes wide with wonder and dread, as months bled into months like petals folding into each other.

The first flutter of a heartbeat in the scan.

The quiet tears that Aeris shed in the bathroom, then laughed through when Xu Kai kissed her growing belly and whispered, "You’re already perfect."

The doctor’s appointments.

The nausea that came and went.

The nights she couldn’t sleep unless Xu Kai played soft music against her belly.

The way they held hands in the clinic, their fingers laced tighter than fear.

And through it all, Liora witnessed all of it like she was leaving the life again.

At two months, they registered their marriage secretly, just the two of them in a government office, with trembling fingers and matching smiles. Without any drama. Just a quiet promise between two souls who had chosen love in spite of everything.

Xu Kai never left Aeris’s side. Not once.

He cooked her meals when her cravings became absurd, grilling fish at 3AM, pancakes with pickles, and many strange things. He talked to the baby before sleep, told stories, and made up lullabies on the spot.

He kissed her swollen ankles and said she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And Aeris? She bloomed. She laughed more and cried less. Her face glowed with that warm light only happiness could give.

Liora had never remembered herself looking that happy. Not until now.

And for a time, Liora let her guard down. She stopped bracing herself for pain. Stopped fearing the end of this memory. Because everything was perfect.

Maybe she was overcautious.

But time doesn’t wait for anyone. And happiness... it never lingers as long as it should.

And so came the ninth month.

Aeris was radiant with her round belly, her eyes tired but filled with expectation. They had set up a tiny nursery in their apartment, painted in soft pink, with stencils of clouds and stars.

The doctor had said everything looked good. The baby was healthy; the position was right. Aeris even joked that the baby was "too comfortable in there" and would probably show up fashionably late.

Xu Kai kissed her temple and said, "She’s just taking after you. Drama runs in the blood."

She had laughed.

That night, Aeris had fallen asleep in Xu Kai’s arms, whispering, "I can’t wait to meet her."

And neither of them saw the shadow of danger looming over them.

The morning after Aeris passed her due date, everything still seemed fine, at least on the surface.

They went to the clinic just to be sure. The doctor smiled gently and said not to worry. The baby’s heartbeat was strong, her position was good, and sometimes, they explained, babies just came late.

"It’s very common," the nurse said with a friendly voice. "Some babies take their time. As long as we’re monitoring closely, there’s no need to be concerned."

Xu Kai tried to keep the mood light. "She’s just being dramatic like her mom," he said, nudging Aeris softly. "Wants a grand entrance."

Aeris smiled, but only faintly.

Because inside, she didn’t feel fine.

The baby, who used to stretch, kick, twist, and push nearly every hour, had grown quieter over the past two days. Aeris had noticed but told herself it was just because there wasn’t much room left.

But it didn’t feel normal anymore.

At home, the worry started to creep in like a slow leak.

Aeris lay back on the couch, one hand resting on her stomach. Her face was pale, lips pressed into a line. Xu Kai sat beside her, holding her other hand tightly. The silence in the room started to feel heavy. The kind of silence that didn’t feel peaceful...it felt wrong.

Every minute that passed without movement made the fear grow stronger.

Aeris didn’t say it out loud yet, but she was starting to panic. She knew her body, and something didn’t feel right. This wasn’t just a lazy baby or a quiet day.

"I don’t feel her," Aeris said finally, her voice small. "I haven’t felt her at all today."

Xu Kai looked at her, then at her belly. His throat tightened. He stood up quickly. "We’re going back to the hospital," he said, already reaching for the car keys. "Now."

They reached the hospital just before noon.

Xu Kai didn’t remember much of the drive, only that his mind was not peaceful and Aeris had fallen silent beside him. The kind of silence that wasn’t peaceful. The kind that felt like something was being held together by force.

At one point, she’d curled forward in the seat and let out a sharp gasp.

"Pain?" he asked, trying not to panic.

She only nodded, one hand pressing into her belly. "It’s not contractions," she whispered. "It’s... different."

Xu Kai immediately changed the settings of his hovercraft so they could reach the hospital soon. His thoughts raced ahead of him...flashing worst-case scenarios he tried to shove away.

By the time they reached the hospital’s emergency bay, Aeris was trembling.

He jumped out before the car had fully stopped and ran around to her side, already calling for help.

Within seconds, staff rushed out with a wheelchair. Two nurses in crisp white uniforms helped Aeris down carefully, asking gentle, professional questions as they guided her through the glass sliding doors.

"Alright, we’ve got her," one of them said. "We’ll take her straight in."

Xu Kai moved to follow, staying close, but as soon as they passed the double doors toward the maternity ward, a nurse turned and gently blocked him.

"Sir, please wait here for now," she said with a polite but firm tone.

"But—"

"She’s stable," the nurse reassured him with a small, professional smile. "We’ll need to run a few immediate checks. Standard protocol. Someone will update you shortly."

"Can I just stay with her?"

"No, sir."

Her smile didn’t fade, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Xu Kai nodded, slowly and reluctantly.

He stepped back into the waiting area and sat down in one of the sleek modern chairs. Everything about the hospital looked perfect, the polished floors, the bright ceiling light. It was the top maternity center on the entire planet. Everything should have felt safe.

But it didn’t.

Something was off.

Suddenly, he felt a piercing gaze on him that made his hair stand on edge. His sharp senses immediately picked up on a presence.