GETTING THE HEART OF THE CEO

The family was once again gathered at Janna’s baby shower, children running around joyfully. While the adults conversed, Janna winced, prompting everyone to look at her in surprise as liquid trickled down, wetting her shoes.

“I think my water broke,” Janna exclaimed in panic.

Faces exchanged uncertain glances; Stefany fainted, and Maximiliano, alarmed, scooped her up, sitting with her while Cecilia fanned her.

“Freed, where’s the diaper bag?” Lindsey shouted, seeing him standing without reacting.

“I’ll find it. It must be in the baby’s room,” Luan said, rushing inside.

Kyle searched for his car keys in vain. “Lin! Help me with her. These men are scared,” Isa said, lifting Janna. She took her right hand, and Lindsey took the other, slowly helping her walk. They led her to one of the cars.

“Courney, when Luan brings the bag, meet us at the hospital,” Isa instructed, settling Janna in the back of the car and speeding off to the hospital.

Freed and Kyle looked at each other, shouting simultaneously, “What about us?”

“You can go in another car,” Lindsey responded from the front seat.

Grandmothers offered to care for the grandchildren, and Grandpa Hugo, along with Antonella, took charge of the guests, apologizing that the baby came earlier than expected.

Guests understood, clapped, welcoming the news, and left the venue.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Lindsey started yelling as she opened the car door.

“Help! A woman is about to give birth.”

Two nurses rushed over, pulling Janna out of the back seat, their voices raised. They sat her in a wheelchair and wheeled her into the delivery room.

At that moment, Kyle, Dexter, and Freed arrived, followed by Courney, Luan, and Oscar.

Freed ran after the nurses. The others walked to the waiting room.

Five minutes later, Maximiano arrived with a pale Stefany. A nurse passed by and noticed Stefany’s haggard face.

“Ma’am, you look very pale. Come with me for some tests.”

“I’ve been feeling unwell for days, with a queasy stomach, and no appetite,” Stefany said weakly. As she finished the last word, everything went black.

Maximiliano grabbed her tightly, following the nurse. He laid her on a bed and went to do the paperwork for her care. When he returned to the emergency room, he asked the nurse.

“Where is my wife?”

“She was transferred to room 10-01 on the second floor, soon to be seen by a doctor.”

“Thank you,” he said, leaving at a brisk pace.

He reached the room and saw her lying with an IV in her right arm.

“Love, how are you feeling?” he asked, standing by the bed.

“Better. It must be some virus; I’ve been feeling unwell for days,” she said calmly.

“Love, let’s wait for the blood test results; a doctor will come to check on you,” he said gently, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

In the waiting room, a nurse approached the family to deliver the news.

“Mrs. Gregen gave birth to a girl. You can meet her soon; they’re transferring her to a room.”

“And the dad?” Kyle asked, surprised not to have seen Freed.

“Mr. Gregen is regaining consciousness; he fainted when he saw his daughter’s head,” the nurse said.

Everyone burst into laughter at the sight of a pale Freed appearing after the nurse delivered the news.

In room 10-01, a doctor entered with the test results.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. I’m Dr. Frank Smile, and I have the results of the tests.”

“What’s wrong with my wife, doctor?”

“Mrs. Miller is pregnant. Congratulations to the future parents.”

“What?” Stefany blinked several times, unbelieving of what she heard. She was sure she couldn’t have children.

“We’re going to have a baby!” Maximiliano exclaimed excitedly, hugging and giving his wife a gentle kiss.

“Really, doctor? Am I going to have a child?” she asked, tears welling up.

“Yes, ma’am. We’ll do an ultrasound to determine how many weeks of gestation you are.”

“Maxi, I had lost hope of being the mother of a baby born from me. Thank you for making me happy,” she sobbed, clinging to her husband’s arms.

An orderly entered the room with a machine. When Stefany was settled, the doctor lifted her shirt, applying cold gel to her belly. Stefany and Maximiliano were nervous, watching the screen attentively but unable to see anything. Then, they focused on the doctor.

“Ma’am, you’re seven weeks pregnant, and…” The doctor paused for a moment to confirm what he saw with his own eyes.

“What’s wrong? Is something amiss?” Stefany asked anxiously, thoughts racing. ‘My happiness was short-lived.’

“Calm down; everything is fine. I’m double-checking the results.” The doctor activated the sound, and rapid heartbeats could be heard.

Stefany pressed herself against her husband, distressed. “Doctor, speak up! What’s wrong with the baby? Look at my wife, she’s anxious.”

“Calm down; what you’re hearing is the sound of three babies.”

Stefany blinked several times, unable to believe what she heard. A myriad of emotions overwhelmed her.

Maximiano smiled like a fool, surprising both the doctor and Stefany. “Little one, I’ll be right back.”

Maximiliano walked out straight to the waiting room, arriving and standing in front of his friends and family. He smiled like a fool, overcome with emotion. With Max, he hadn’t experienced this before, but this time, he planned to enjoy it threefold.

“Cousin, why do you have that goofy look?” Kyle asked, noticing his strange demeanor.

“I’m going to be a dad; we’re having triplets.”

The room fell into absolute silence for a few seconds until Luan shouted, “I’m going to be an uncle to three little troublemakers. The red outfit worked.”

Everyone turned to look at him, not understanding the comment.

“What? Don’t look at me like that. I helped them make those babies. How exciting, my little sister is pregnant,” he cheered.

Everyone burst into laughter and rushed to congratulate the future dad. A security guard approached them, asking them to lower their voices.

In the evening at the Miller house, a family and friends’ dinner was held to announce the arrival of the triplets. Everyone was excited.

“My grandfather was a triplet from Cecilia’s grandfather. That’s genetics!” proudly declared the family patriarch.

Max got off his chair, walked toward Stefany, knelt beside her, and, with his tiny hands on her face, sobbing, said, “Mom! Are you going to stop loving me now that you’re going to have your own kids?”

Stefany felt her heart squeeze. This boy had stolen her heart the first time she laid eyes on him. Tears rolled down her cheek as she replied, “My prince! Tell me, have I done something wrong for you to think that?”

“No! But when my little siblings are born, you won’t love me anymore.”

She lifted his face to look into those mesmerizing blue eyes. “Never forget what I’m about to tell you. You are my first love. With you, I knew what love is and how to protect someone. You will never, ever cease to be my first child because from the moment I held you in my arms as a beautiful baby, I fell in love with you. So, don’t think that. Besides, you’re going to be the older brother who will take care of, protect, and love these babies just like I love you.” She lifted him and placed him on her lap, giving him a tight hug. The onlookers felt a rollercoaster of emotions.