The location alert appeared halfway through Ronan's meeting.
His phone vibrated once against the table.
St. Petersburg General Hospital.
His eyes narrowed.
You'd told him last night you had a photoshoot today. Nothing else.
He opened the tracker.
You hadn't moved in nearly an hour.
Without interrupting the meeting, he hacked into the hospital's security cameras. You appeared on screen, perfectly fine, checking in through Women's Health.
His jaw tightened.
Years ago, before he'd ever approached you, he'd stolen every medical record he could find. He remembered reading about your IUD buried among pages of lab work and prescriptions.
He didn't know what procedure you were having.
But he had a suspicion.
A few more keystrokes pulled up your appointment.
Removal and replacement of intrauterine device.
His suspicion had been right.
He wasn't upset that you'd replaced it. It had never been his decision to make.
What bothered him was that you'd hidden it.
By the time his meeting ended, you were already leaving the hospital.
He called one of the guards.
"What was her appointment?"
"Routine checkup, Boss."
"That's what she told you."
A pause.
"Yes."
He ended the call.
You made it through the front doors of the estate with a quiet sigh.
The cramps had started almost immediately after the procedure, settling low in your abdomen in painful waves. The nausea hadn't helped either, leaving you slightly unsteady as you slipped off your heels and leaned against the console table.
The front door opened.
Ronan walked in.
His eyes found you instantly.
"You don't feel well."
"I'm fine."
"You aren't."
He crossed the room, noticing the way one hand rested protectively over your stomach and how you shifted your weight after another cramp.
Then he spotted the forgotten hospital bracelet on your wrist.
"You had your IUD replaced."
You sighed.
"I figured you'd know."
"I had a suspicion."
"You remembered."
"I remember everything about you."
He gently removed the bracelet before looking back at you.
"You told my guards it was a checkup."
"I didn't want anyone making a fuss."
"You had a medical procedure."
"It was quick."
"You're still in pain."
Another cramp made you wince.
His expression softened immediately.
"How bad?"
"Like really bad period cramps."
"And the nausea?"
"I've been a little dizzy."
Without another word, he slid an arm around your waist to steady you.
"I would've left my meeting."
"I know."
"I would've taken you home."
"I know."
His hand rested lightly against your side.
"I've never liked the IUD," he admitted quietly. "Not because I thought it was my choice. It wasn't. I just won't pretend I haven't imagined having children with you."
You looked up at him.
"But I would never ask you to do something you don't want."
The next wave of pain hit, and your knees wobbled slightly.
That was enough for him.
He slipped one arm beneath your knees and lifted you into his arms with practiced ease.
"Ronan, I can walk."
"I know."
"You really are making a fuss."
"Yes."
He kissed your forehead as he carried you upstairs.
"And I'll continue making a fuss every time my wife comes home from a procedure pretending she's perfectly fine."