Killian had never allowed himself to feel—never this deeply, never this quickly. He had spent his life behind high walls, never letting anyone close enough to matter. Vulnerability and protectiveness were foreign to him, emotions he hadn’t known until Amara entered his life. He was always cold, distant, untouchable.

But now, with this fragile life cradled in his arms, everything felt different. Why did he feel this fierce urge to shield her, to protect her from a world that could harm her? Her tears pierced through the barriers around his heart, and her tiny, soft cries shattered something deep inside him. Her cries, they sounded painful to him, filling him with a kind of agony he’d never known, never felt.

His daughter still clung to his hand, her tiny fingers curling around his as if refusing to let him go. Her tiny face turned red as her cries grew more shrill, and Killian's hands trembled, terrified that it was his touch hurting her. Yet he couldn’t let go. “Do something to make her stop crying! My daughter won’t shed a tear!” He growled at the nurse. But the sound only seemed to frightened the fragile life in his arms even more, her cries growing louder.

Killian paled, the colour draining from his face.

“Am I hurting her? Is my grip too tight? What do I do to make her stop crying?" Killian asked the nurse yet his eyes didn't leave his daughter's face.

“Mr. Suvillian, I need to take your daughter for a moment—”

Killian’s dark gaze snapped to her, filled with a fierce intensity that made her flinch. “You will not take her away from me,” he said in a low, deadly voice.

“I’m not taking her from you, I promise. But she needs to be fed. Babies cry when they’re hungry and need to be fed every two to three hours. Since Mrs. Suvillian is unconscious, we need to give her formula.” The nurse spoke slowly, hoping to calm him down.

Killian’s gaze shifted back to his daughter, the layer of tears shining in her innocent eyes making him clench his jaw. After a moment, he nodded slowly. “Nothing should happen to her,” he warned.

“Nothing will happen to her. I’ll ensure she’s safe,” the nurse reassured, her voice soft.

The nurse gently took the baby from Killian, and in that moment, it felt as if his entire world was being ripped away. He stood frozen as he watched his daughter being carried away. It terrified him, the strong connection he felt with her, because he knew, with bone-deep certainty, that if anything happened to her, it would destroy him completely.

His daughter became his world, and without his world, he would fall apart.

***

Two hours later.

Killian watched Amara's unconscious form lying on the bed. In the past few hours, he had endured the terrifying fear of a life without her. It was the cruellest time of his life, a living nightmare, and he would rather face a brutal death than experience that feeling again. His gaze shifted to the monitor beside her, where her steady heartbeat pulsed. It gave him peace to see life still intact within her, to witness her heart beating.

He had taken so many lives in his past, never imagining that one day he would find himself begging for her to live.

He tightened his hold on her hand, cradling it in his. "Our daughter... She's beautiful, Amara. She’s just like you, a perfect reflection of yours." he murmured, his voice softer than it had ever been. "But her eyes, they’re all mine." A faint chuckle escaped him as he remembered the dark eyes his daughter had looked up at him with, so strikingly similar to his own.

His thumb traced gentle circles over her skin. "Wake up soon, mi amor. We need you."

Just then, the door opened, and Alejandro stepped inside.

"How is Amara?" he asked, his voice quiet.

"Sleeping," Killian replied, his eyes never leaving Amara's face, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. "She'll wake up soon."

Alejandro's gaze shifted to the crib, a smile spreading across his face as he saw the baby sleeping peacefully. "She’s adorable," he said softly, his eyes gleaming with warmth. "May I?" he asked, glancing at Killian.

Killian hesitated, the conflict evident on his face. Finally, he gave a tight nod. "Don't hurt her."

"I won't," Alejandro promised, gently scooping the baby into his arms. For a moment, he looked overwhelmed, like he held the world in his embrace. "She’s so tiny... so fragile," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

A sharp, piercing cry filled the room suddenly. The baby squeezed her eyes shut, her tiny fists balled up, and her delicate skin flushed a deep red as she cried uncontrollably, the sound filled with pure distress.

Before Alejandro could even react, Killian snapped, his voice low and tight. "I told you not to hurt her," he gritted his teeth, keeping his tone controlled so as not to startle the baby.

"I didn’t mean to-" Alejandro began, but Killian’s dark, furious glare silenced him instantly.

Killian gently took his daughter into his embrace, cradling her close he tried to calm her cries. He rocked her softly in his arms, murmuring soothing words. “Shh, it’s okay. Daddy’s here. You don’t have to cry.” His voice was low and soothing. Her tiny head was nestled against his chest, right where his heart beat, and he felt her tiny body shake with sob. She blinked up at him, tears glistening in her dark eyes, and Killian swore he felt his heart constrict painfully at the sight.

Alejandro watched Killian in stunned silence. It was a sight he had never imagined. Killian looked at his daughter as if she were the very reason for his existence, his gaze softening as he cradled her in his arms. The hands that had been stained with blood and sin were now tenderly rocking her, as he tried to soothe her cries.

After what felt like an eternity, her cries subsided, and she finally fell asleep in Killian's embrace, her breathing soft and gentle against him.

“She’s asleep now. You should put her back in the crib,” Alejandro suggested gently, a heavy sigh escaping him.

Killian nodded, his expression softening as he gazed down at his daughter. Carefully, he lowered her into the crib, ensuring she was comfortable and secure before stepping back, watching her sleep peacefully.

"Father left the hospital in anger," Alejandro stated, his voice low as he observed Killian. "He’s furious that Amara gave birth to a girl. He wanted a boy, the future heir to the Suvillians."

Killian clenched his jaw at Alejandro’s words. "She carries my name, Alejandro. She’s my blood, my flesh. My daughter’s worth will never be measured by her gender." Rage simmered beneath his dark gaze, and then he looked at his daughter, the sight of her face calming him down.

"She is not a disappointment, Killian. She can never be," Alejandro shook his head. "But you know Father, he only cares about the legacy of the Suvillians, even more than family."

Killian's expression hardened. He knows how much twisted and fucked up Elijah becomes when it comes to the legacy of Suvillians.

"No one can hurt my daughter, not even Elijah."

And if he did, he would regret his entire existence.

***

Amara whimpered as the light fell on her face, striking her eyes and forcing them shut tightly. She felt a large, rough hand clasp around hers. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her gaze falling on the plain white ceiling above her. A dull throb pulsed through her head, and her throat felt dried, every inch of it desperate for water.

“W-water,” she managed to whisper, her voice raspy and weak.

Soon, a glass of water was brought to her lips, and she parted them eagerly, allowing the cool liquid to flow in, soothing her parched throat.

"Easy, Amara," Killian set the glass down on the table beside her. It was then that she truly noticed him. "You've been out for hours. You scared me so much..." His jaw clenched slightly. "Never do that again," he warned.

"Where... where am I?" Amara's voice trembled as she looked around the room, fear creeping in. The sterile white walls, the machines, the hospital bed, everything about the place made her uneasy. Hospitals had become her worst nightmare. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, a gesture she had become used to, but instead of the familiar bump, all she felt was flat skin.

Her heart lurched in terror, her eyes widening as she stared at her belly, now no longer swollen. "What happened?" she gasped, panic gripping her, her breaths growing shallow and rapid.

Killian immediately cupped her face, his large hands firm, cradling her head as though she might shatter. "Amara, stop," he commanded, his voice low but forceful. "Everything is fine. Do you hear me?" His thumbs brushed over her skin, gently coaxing her out of her panic. His eyes locked onto hers, holding her as tightly as his grip. "You did so good, mi amor."

"You’re here. You’re safe. Our baby is safe." His dark gaze bore into hers, holding her in place. "I swear on my life, nothing will happen to you, ever again."

"B-baby?" she asked, disbelief colouring her voice.

He nodded, lips stretching into a small smile that rarely graced his face. "Our daughter." He took a shaky breath, struggling to fully comprehend that his blood flowed into something so delicate and innocent. "She’s everything, Amara. She is a part of us, our daughter."

Killian didn't know if he imagined it, but he saw Amara's eyes turn blank upon hearing him, devoid of any emotion, like an endless ocean. He ignored it and let go of her cheek.

Turning away, he approached the crib, his heart swelling at the sight of his daughter’s sleeping form. He reached down, carefully lifting her into his arms, making sure not to wake her from her slumber.

"Isn't she a replica of you?" He asked. But when he glanced back at Amara, the warmth in his chest vanished.

She was watching the baby, but there was a fire in her eyes—hatred, resentment, and a deep-seated disgust directed towards the tiny soul in his arms.

Their eyes locked, and time seemed to freeze. Then she said something that shook his world, shattering all his hope.

“The contract is over. When can I leave?”

***

Thoughts on the chapter?

The way Killian is behaving with the baby? Are you guys shocked? Because, I certainly am.

Amara's reaction at the very end? Do you support her?