The hallway of the hospital felt colder than usual, the kind of cold that seeped into the bones and made every second feel heavier. Damiano paced back and forth, hands shaking even though he kept trying to hide it. Aaliyah sat on the bed, one hand on her belly, rubbing in slow circles to calm both herself and the tiny girl inside her.
When the doctor finally walked in, both of them snapped upright.
Doctor: "We have the results."
Aaliyah's grip tightened around Damiano's fingers.
He squeezed back—hard.
Doctor: "Your daughter is still stable, but her heart rate shows signs of stress. Nothing critical yet… but it's too close for comfort."
Aaliyah's breath trembled.
Aaliyah: "Did I do something wrong?"
Doctor: "No. But the environment around you is too hostile. You need peace. And right now… you have none."
Damiano's jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
Damiano: "Just tell us what we have to do."
Doctor: "Less media pressure. Less emotional tension. More medical monitoring. If she has another spike like today… you need to come immediately."
Aaliyah nodded, though her eyes were glassy with fear.
The doctor left.
And for a moment, neither of them spoke.
THE NEAR EMERGENCY
Later that night, as they walked toward the car, Aaliyah suddenly stopped.
Aaliyah: "Dam… something feels off."
Her wince was sharp—too sharp.
She grabbed the edge of the seat, bending over slightly.
Damiano: "Aaliyah? Talk to me."
Aaliyah: "My stomach is tightening—again—too strong—"
He felt his heart plunge.
Damiano: "We're going back inside. Now."
Another contraction-like cramp.
Her face had gone pale.
A nurse noticed and rushed over, pushing a wheelchair forward.
Nurse: "Bring her in quickly."
Inside, machines started beeping.
Aaliyah's breathing accelerated.
Damiano stood frozen for a second—then forced himself to move.
Nurse: "Mr. David, step back—let us check her."
Damiano: "No. I'm staying right here."
They placed monitors on Aaliyah's belly.
Every beep felt like a threat until—
The baby's heartbeat steadied again.
Not perfect. But steady.
Aaliyah broke down in silent tears.
Aaliyah: "Estrella… please hold on…"
Damiano rested his forehead against hers.
Damiano: "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
THE LABEL STRIKES BACK
The next morning, Damiano's phone exploded with messages from the label.
Message: We need to talk. Now.
Message: Your situation is affecting the band's image.
Message: Either fix this, or step back from public appearances.
He stared at the screen with pure disgust.
When he called them, the conversation turned sharp fast.
Label Exec: "Damiano, your girlfriend is a liability. The pregnancy, the scandals—"
Damiano: "She's not a liability. She's my family."
Label Exec: "Your family is jeopardizing millions. So we need you to distance yourself publicly—temporarily."
His entire body froze.
Damiano: "You want me to pretend she doesn't exist?"
Label Exec: "Until things calm down—yes."
The silence after that was lethal.
Damiano: "Then we're done."
Label Exec: "Excuse me?"
Damiano: "I'm walking away. From everything. The label, the contracts, all of it."
The call ended with shouting—but Damiano didn't care.
His mind was already made up.
THE DECISION THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Hours later, Damiano told Aaliyah.
Aaliyah: "You… quit?"
Damiano: "I chose you. And our daughter. Nothing else matters."
Her eyes widened with shock, then softened with something deeper—something he had never seen so clearly before.
Aaliyah: "Damiano… I didn't want you to lose everything because of me."
Damiano: "I didn't lose anything. I let go of what wasn't important."
She broke into silent tears, burying her face in his chest.
UNEXPECTED SUPPORT
Minutes later, his phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: I saw what happened. If you need protection, a new contract, media support—anything—call me.
The name that appeared made Damiano blink in disbelief.
Aaliyah leaned closer.
Aaliyah: "Who is it?"
He showed her the screen.
A global superstar.
A legend.
Someone who had zero reason to step in…
But did.
Aaliyah: "They… want to help us?"
Damiano: "It looks like it."
For the first time in days, she let out a breath of real relief.
Damiano wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead.
Damiano: "We're not alone anymore."
Aaliyah: "And Estrella…?"
Damiano: "We're going to protect her. All three of us."
Outside the hospital window, the city buzzed with chaos—
but for the first time, they didn't feel like they were drowning.
Because now…
they had allies.
And Estrella still had a fighting chance.