Chapter 23(Iris P.O.V)

Three months had passed since Zayn and his cohorts were sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. That night, I went into labor, and Tori got me to the hospital just in time.

"Nurse! My sister’s water broke!" she called urgently.

I was rushed into the delivery theater. Tori had already called Dad from the office and informed her boyfriend Adrian and sister-in-law Nina. They all rushed to the hospital, panicked and anxious.

"Push," the doctor instructed.

"I’m trying!" I panted.

"The baby is almost out," she encouraged. With all my strength, I pushed, and finally, my baby was born. Relief washed over me as the nurse cleaned her up and handed her to me.

"Congratulations, ma’am. It’s a girl," the nurse announced, placing my daughter in my arms. I was exhausted, but I gazed down at her tiny face.

“She looks just like Irisa,” I thought.

Dad, Tori, Adrian, and Nina rushed to my side.

“She’s so cute,” Nina exclaimed with a smile.

“What name are you thinking of?” Tori asked, grinning.

“I was thinking Isabella,” I replied softly.

“That’s perfect,” Adrian said.

I vowed silently that Isabella would grow up surrounded by love and understanding, shielded from any knowledge of her father rotting in jail.

Everyone welcomed little Isabella into the world warmly. The next day, we were discharged and brought her home.

As we opened the door, a chorus of voices shouted, “Surprise!”

Colorful decorations lined the walls, and a banner read: Welcome Isabella! My friends had gathered to celebrate.

“Guys!” I exclaimed, rushing to them.

“Iris!” Lily and Jade hugged me tightly.

“We’ve missed you so much,” Jade confessed.

“I thought you forgot about us completely,” Lily said.

“I could never forget my childhood friends,” I told them. “I only kept away to protect everyone.”

“Look at baby Isabella!” Lily cooed.

“Let me hold her,” Jade insisted, and I carefully handed over the bundle of joy. Seeing them interact with my daughter filled me with joy.

Tori walked up to me.

“Hey sis,” she said, explaining, “They insisted on throwing Isabella a proper welcome-home party.”

“Oh, you’re the best, sis!” I said, hugging her tightly.

“I have a gift for Isabella,” Tori added, bringing out a small box. She opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond-studded piece of jewelry with the name ‘Isabella’ inscribed, a crown adorning the final ‘l’.

“Thank you, Tori,” I said, my eyes brimming with emotion.

“No crying,” she teased, mimicking my words to Nina. I laughed as she gently placed the jewelry around Isabella’s neck. The baby smiled at Tori, who kissed her cheek.

“Grow up, little niece,” Tori said affectionately.

“I’ll get you Christian Dior outfits, or Chanel… or Céline… Yves Saint Laurent… or Louis Vuitton,” she continued, listing designers rapidly. Adrian stepped forward.

“Slow down, babe,” he said with a smile. “Isabella is just two days old, and she’s already wearing jewelry worth a million dollars.”

“I plan to make her as famous as Nicki Minaj’s son,” Tori joked.

“Papa Bear?” Nina burst into laughter.

“Papa Bear is the second-richest baby in America,” she added.

“You’ll have to work hard to take that title from him,” Nina teased, smirking.

“Whatever,” Tori replied, frowning playfully.

I smiled at all of them and turned to hug Dad, who had been laughing along with everyone. It was a moment of pure joy, a celebration of family, love, and new beginnings.