Page 90 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
She nodded, her eyes shining with emotion.
"Yes..."she replied, a gentle smile on her face."I'm just...impatient."
I didn't answer, just looking at her, absorbed by that light radiating from her that made my heart beat a little faster.Our bond was deepening day by day.The shadows and doubts now belonged to the past, and I would do everything to keep it that way.
The office door opened, and the midwife signaled us to enter.
"Ms.Mercier, Mr.de La Tour, please get settled for the ultrasound," the midwife said with a warm smile.
Eva lay down on the examination table, and I positioned myself on the other side.She slid her hand into mine as the midwife applied cold gel to her barely rounded belly.Her eyes met mine, and I leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead.
Then our gaze turned to the monitor, and the tiny silhouette of the baby took shape before our eyes.A small being, still so fragile, but already so real.
"There's your baby," announced the midwife, pointing to the screen."See, here...that's its heart beating."
I thought my own heart would explode.The heartbeats resonated in the room, and a violent emotion shook me entirely.I squeezed Eva's hand tighter; her eyes were shining with contained emotion.
"Wow..."I breathed, my voice choked with emotion.
"Yes..."Eva whispered."That's...our baby."
She turned her head toward me, amazed.I brushed her cheek with my fingertips.
"Thank you," I said quietly."Thank you for giving me this baby.I love you."
I leaned in to kiss her tenderly.She responded to the kiss, her hand sliding into my hair, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
54.You did it!
EVA
We were gathered for a simple dinner among friends, on the eve of my meeting with Area Venture.Leila, Steve, and Satoshi had insisted on spending this evening with us, so Tristan wouldn't feel left out.We sat around a Thai hot pot, savoring this moment together despite the pressure of tomorrow.
The previous days had been a true endurance test.Every decision had to be made with surgical precision.I spent hours analyzing figures, reviewing contracts, refining my arguments to convince investors.Not only was Community Pilot's future at stake, but also my professional credibility.Everything we had built...our projects, our dreams...everything risked collapse if I couldn't find a way to convince the key investors.
After all this stress, this break before the big day was welcome.
"How are you doing, Tristan?"Leila asked solicitously.
"Better.The headaches have almost completely disappeared, but my ability to concentrate and work is still limited.It's frustrating sometimes," he replied with a forced smile.
"You definitely look much better," Satoshi added with a smile.
"What do the doctors say?"Steve continued, his expression serious.
"They're optimistic.They say everything's going well and that, normally, I shouldn't have any lasting effects," Tristan answered.
"That's great news!"Steve exclaimed, relieved.
After a moment, Steve put down his wine glass and turned his gaze toward me.
"So, how are the final discussions with Area Venture going?"
I filled my basket with shrimp and mushrooms and dipped it into the tangy broth before answering.
"Pretty well, but I'll admit I'm eager for everything to be signed," I said, shrugging slightly.
A silence fell around the table, everyone measuring the importance of what was at stake.Satoshi, playing distractedly with his chopsticks, finally broke the ice.
