Clare tumbled down the marble staircase.

Her arms closed around her stomach.

Nathaniel ran.

“CLARE!”

He reached her at the bottom.

Her eyes opened.

“Nathaniel…”

“I’m here.”

His hands shook as he supported her.

Then he saw blood staining the pale fabric around her abdomen.

“No.”

Clare grabbed his wrist.

“The baby.”

“I know.”

“The baby, Nathaniel.”

“I know.”

He looked toward the landing.

Victoria stood frozen.

Eleanor had one hand over her mouth.

Douglas had not moved.

Something inside Nathaniel changed.

“Call an ambulance.”

No one responded.

Nathaniel's voice dropped.

“Now.”

Eleanor reached for her phone.

Victoria whispered, “It was an accident.”

Nathaniel looked up.

“No.”

“She stepped backward.”

“I saw you.”

“Nathaniel—”

“I saw you.”

Douglas moved toward him.

“Son, don't make accusations while you're emotional.”

Nathaniel stared at his father.

“My pregnant partner is bleeding on your floor.”

“Which is precisely why—”

“And you're worried about Victoria?”

“Nathaniel—”

“If Clare loses that baby, none of you walk away from this.”

The room went silent.

He wasn't threatening violence.

He meant lawyers.

Police.

Boards.

Shareholders.

Every secret the Ashcroft and Bowmont families had spent decades protecting.

He would tear open all of it.

Sirens approached outside.

Nathaniel looked down at Clare.

“Stay with me.”

“I'm awake.”

“Keep talking.”

“You hate when I talk too much.”

“I have never said that.”

“You've thought it.”

“Clare.”

She managed the faintest smile.

“Still here.”

At the hospital, Nathaniel paced until a doctor finally appeared.

“Mr. Ashcroft?”

“Yes.”

“Clare is stable.”

Nathaniel stopped breathing.

“And the baby?”

The doctor paused.

“The heartbeat is strong.”

Nathaniel closed his eyes.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then:

“Can I see her?”

When he entered Clare's room, she looked exhausted.

But awake.

Nathaniel sat beside her.

“The baby's okay.”

“I know.”

“You're okay.”

“Mostly.”

He took her hand.

Clare studied him.

“What happened after?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Yet?”

Nathaniel's eyes hardened.

“I spent my whole life protecting that family.”

“Nathaniel—”

“They watched you fall.”

“You came.”

He looked at her.

Clare squeezed his fingers.

“You came.”

Nathaniel lowered his forehead against her hand.

“Yes.”

She whispered:

“Then don't become them because of me.”

Nathaniel looked up.

“I won't.”

He meant it.

But that didn't mean he would protect them anymore.

---