CLAIRE’S POV
There was no reason to reconnect.
Just as I was about to leave the hospital, a sharp, stabbing pain gripped my abdomen. A warm gush of fluid ran down my legs. My heart skipped a beat as the baby was coming.
Thankfully, I was already in the hospital, and with Alex’s quick thinking, everything went smoothly.
Lily was whisked away for a thorough medical exam right after she was born. The extra precautions made sense since she’d been a frozen embryo for five years. Alex insisted on being there the entire time, refusing to leave her side until the doctors confirmed she was perfectly healthy.
When Alex brought her back to me, his face was glowing with relief. He stared at us, his expression soft and tender–like he was a proud new father.
“Is Dr. Reed here?”
The knock on the hospital door caught us off guard. Alex and I exchanged curious glances, expecting it to be someone from the lab coming to visit.
But when the door opened, it wasn’t who we thought.
It was Ethan.
“Dr. Reed, sorry to bother you,” Ethan said, stepping inside hesitantly. “I just wanted to thank you for saving my life.”
His tone was calm and polite, but his entire demeanor changed the second he looked saw me holding Lily in my arms.
Ethan froze, his eyes wide, disbelief washing over his face.
“Claire…” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Claire… is it really you?”
up and
Tears spilled down his cheeks as he stood there, completely overwhelmed. “Do you know
how long I’ve been searching for you?”
I blinked at him, keeping my face neutral and feigned confusion. “Sir, I think you have the wrong person. How do you know my name?”
Ethan’s breath caught in his throat. He wiped his tears quickly, studying my face with
desperate intensity.
“Claire,” he said again, shaking his head. “I’d recognize you anywhere. It’s you–I’m sure of it! I’ve replayed your face in my mind every single day for five years. I knew you couldn’t have
died. You wouldn’t leave me behind!”
Ethan moved toward me like he was about to pull me into a hug, but Alex stepped in, placing himself firmly between us.
“Mr. Carter,” Alex said coolly, “I think you’re mistaken. This is my wife. She’s lived in Iceland? her whole life. She just gave birth–please don’t disturb her rest.
”
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I didn’t say a word, letting Alex handle it.
Ethan’s confidence wavered. His shoulders sagged as he forced a weak smile.
“Sorry,” he muttered, his voice breaking. “It’s just… I miss my wife so much.”
I
“My wife passed away five years ago. Every year, I come to Iceland to finish the trip we were supposed to take together.” He paused, his gaze lingering on me. “You look so much like her.”
With a broken spirit, Ethan turned and stumbled out of the room, leaving only the faint sound of his footsteps behind.
I focused on soothing Lily, cradling her in my arms as she cooed softly. After a long silence,
I looked up at Alex.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
Alex shook his head. “No need to thank me. This was fate.”
He hesitated for a moment before adding, “I’d originally planned for your old identity to ‘die‘
here in Iceland, with your belongings sent back to your home country. But I didn’t expect the
plane crash to happen.”
He gestured toward Lily, a soft smile on his lips. “Claire, this is the universe giving you a
second chance. Everyone wants you to start fresh.”
I glanced down at Lily, who opened her eyes for a brief moment before smiling in her sleep.
Her tiny, happy face filled me with a peace I hadn’t felt in years.
After Lily’s one–month milestone, I took her back to Alex’s lab for a full set of examinations.
The results were nothing short of miraculous–my body’s cellular age was still the same as
it had been five years ago. The freezing process had left minimal damage, both for me and for
Lily.
With Lily’s safe arrival, the experiment was officially deemed a success.
To celebrate, I invited the entire research team to Lily’s one–month banquet at my new
home. But before the party, I decided to head out and pick up a few groceries.
As I stepped out of the lab, I ran into someone I didn’t expect–Ethan.
“Claire!” he called, rushing toward me. “I know it’s you!”
He grabbed my hand before I could move, his grip firm and desperate.
“Why won’t you tell me you’re alive?” he demanded, his voice cracking. “Do you know how
I’ve lived these past five years? I’ve missed you every single day!”
I tightened my hold on Lily and pulled my hand free from his grasp.
“You’ve got the wrong person,” I said coldly.
But Ethan didn’t back down.
“Stop lying to me,” he said, his tone low but steady. “I’ve already investigated everything.”
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