Page 109 of Queen’s Gambit

Paul was passed out on my leather couch.

How the hell did he get the couch?

My head pounded as I picked up my phone, trying to see who it was. Giving up, I signed in and went to the text messages. I immediately sobered up at the sight of Ana’s smiling contact photo.

A: I love you, and I’m okay.

E: God, it’s so good to hear from you. I love you so much.

A: That’s not what you’re supposed to say.

I laughed even though it hurt my head and my heart.

E: I love you more.

A: Impossible.

Eight Months Later

Yulianna

It had been the longest eight months of my life, but the first three weeks were the worst. Every time Christov had touched me, I wanted to recoil in disgust. Keeping my hatred at bay was hard to conceal, but I’d never been so happy that Christov had a mistress. We got back from the worst honeymoon I ever could’ve had a nightmare about, and Christov announced that Alina was moving in with us. Thank God. I’d almost cheered.

Not that I’d wanted the conniving pair who wanted to kill me so close, but this meant he didn’t touch me after I confirmed I was having a baby. Apparently, Alina and I had a similar thought because she was pregnant as well. It had to have happened around the same time because she was due in a week or two. We’d managed to stay in separate wings of the house, and Vlad and Mylo took turns standing vigil at my door, but there was no escaping him being at the hospital with me today.

Luckily, my mother forced him out of the delivery room, and only she and Frida were allowed in with me.

“Ahhh,” I screamed as the doctor told me to push.

Flopping back against the bed, I was panting hard and dripping sweat. I was so tired. I didn’t even know there was this level of exhaustion.

“I can’t…I can’t push anymore,” I said as my head lolled to the side.

“You’re almost there. The baby is crowning,” the doctor said, and I whimpered. If Eddie was in the room right now, I might have punched him in the face. “As soon as you feel the contraction start, push as hard as you can.”

“You’ve got this, darling. Think of how strong you’ve been. This is nothing in comparison.”

“Mom…I can’t.”

She squeezed my hand tighter. “You can and you will. Your baby is coming, now get ready. Look into my eyes.”

I nodded at her firm tone.

I can do this. I can do this.

“Now push,” the doctor said.

I gripped my mother and Frida’s hands as a blood-curdling scream left my mouth. Only God knew where I got the strength, but a moment later, the pressure eased, and a loud cry filled the room.

“You did it,” Mom said, hugging me before letting Frida have her turn.

Smiling, I looked up at the two women with me, both of them bawling like it had been them on the bed.

“It’s a girl,” the doctor said.

He walked over and placed the baby on my chest. I’d never thought I could love someone as much as Eddie, but from one beat of my heart to the next, I loved this little soul we’d made with every fiber of my being.

“Oh my god, she’s beautiful,” I whispered, gently running my fingers over her coal-black hair, just like her father’s.