Chapter 26
Victoria felt the world closing in on her as she stood in the lobby, facing Zayden’s amused expression. His words, the encounter with Damian, and the relentless tension of everything happening lately were too much. The air felt thick, suffocating, and the ground beneath her seemed to shift.
Her heart raced, and her vision blurred as the dizziness intensified. She clutched at her bag, trying to steady herself, but the spinning wouldn’t stop. She felt her knees give way and braced herself for the cold, hard impact of the floor.
But it never came.
“Hey, I’ve got you,” Zayden’s voice cut through the haze, firm yet soothing. His arms wrapped around her just in time, pulling her upright before she could hit the ground.
“Victoria?” he said urgently, his tone shifting to concern. “Victoria, stay with me. Are you alright?”
Her head lolled slightly as she tried to focus on his face, but her body felt like jelly. “I… I don’t…” she mumbled, her voice faint and slurred.
“You’re pale,” Zayden said, his brows furrowing as he gently lowered her to sit on the cool marble floor. He crouched in front of her, his movements precise but quick. “Hey, someone call for emergency assistance!” he barked toward the receptionist, his commanding tone snapping them into action.
Turning back to Victoria, he spoke softly but firmly. “Victoria, listen to me. I need you to stay awake. Look at me, okay? Just keep looking at me.”
She blinked sluggishly, her breathing shallow. “I… I think… the baby…”
“It’s okay,” Zayden reassured her, his voice calm but filled with urgency. “We’re going to make sure you and the baby are fine.”
He pressed two fingers to her wrist, checking her pulse, then glanced around quickly. Grabbing a bottle of water from a nearby counter, he opened it with one hand and brought it to her lips. “Drink this, just a sip,” he coaxed.
Victoria weakly complied, the cool water easing some of the dryness in her throat.
“Good,” Zayden said, nodding as she took another sip. “That’s good. Just breathe, Victoria. You’re going to be fine.”
Her head tilted forward, and Zayden gently pressed her back against his arm. “Stay with me,” he said again, his voice softening. “You’re not going anywhere, alright?”
Through the fog, Victoria registered the warmth of his hands as he adjusted her position. His presence was grounding, even as her body refused to cooperate.
Moments later, paramedics arrived, and Zayden quickly relayed what had happened, his tone clear and efficient. “She’s pregnant. She felt dizzy and nearly collapsed, but I caught her. Pulse was weak but steady a moment ago.”
The medics nodded, taking over as they began to assess Victoria. Zayden stepped back, his jaw tight, his eyes never leaving her pale face.
Hours later, Victoria woke up to the soft hum of medical equipment and the faint smell of antiseptic. Blinking against the bright lights, she turned her head slowly to find Elena sitting beside her, her face etched with worry.
“Victoria!” Elena exclaimed, relief flooding her voice as she leaned forward. “Are you alright? How are you feeling?”
Victoria swallowed hard, her voice raspy. “I… I don’t know. What happened?”
“You fainted,” Jonathan’s voice came from the other side of the room. He stepped closer, his expression serious but calm. “Your blood sugar dropped dangerously low. That, combined with stress, caused the dizziness and nearly made you collapse.”
Victoria closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. “The baby… is the baby okay?”
Elena placed a reassuring hand on hers. “The baby’s fine. The doctor said you just need to take better care of yourself. You’re pushing too hard, Victoria.”
Jonathan nodded. “You can’t let this war with Damian and Selena consume you to the point you’re neglecting your health. It’s not just about you anymore. You know that.”
Victoria sighed, guilt creeping into her chest. “I didn’t realize… I thought I was managing everything.”
“Well, you’re not,” Elena said firmly but with a gentle smile. “And now you’re going to rest, eat properly, and let us help you.”
Victoria nodded weakly. “I’ll try.”
“Good,” Elena said, squeezing her hand.
Before anyone could say more, the door opened, and Zayden stepped inside, looking both relieved and concerned.
“Mr. Hero’s here,” Elena muttered under her breath with a smirk, earning a soft chuckle from Jonathan.
Victoria’s eyes widened slightly as Zayden approached the bed. “Zayden…” she began, her voice soft.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, his tone gentler than she’d ever heard it.
“A bit better,” she admitted. “They told me my blood sugar was low.”
Zayden nodded, his hands in his pockets as he looked her over. “You scared the hell out of me, you know. I thought…” He shook his head, his usual composure faltering for a moment.
Victoria’s chest tightened at the emotion in his voice. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “For catching me, for… everything. I don’t know how to repay you.”
Zayden’s smirk returned, though his eyes remained warm. “I can think of one way.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow, unsure of where this was going. “And what’s that?”
“I’d like to take you out for dinner,” Zayden said, his voice smooth but serious. “Nothing extravagant. Just you and me, somewhere quiet.”
Elena’s eyebrows shot up, and Jonathan let out a low whistle. Victoria, meanwhile, felt her cheeks flush, her mind racing.
“Dinner?” she echoed, her tone uncertain.
Zayden shrugged lightly, his smirk growing. “Consider it part of your recovery plan. Good food, good company—it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.”
Victoria stared at him, her heart skipping a beat. She wasn’t sure if it was the lingering dizziness or the man standing before her, but suddenly, saying no felt impossible.
