Laila's fans were all deeply worried when the news broke. Though she had been back in Hollywood for over two months, what had happened to her in South Africa still haunted them. Their biggest fear was that she had been mistreated during her kidnapping and had sustained some internal injuries that were only being discovered now.
Meanwhile, Laila and Roy were nervously waiting for the test results.
"Congratulations to both of you. Laila is three months pregnant," the doctor said with a smile. "You're expecting a lovely baby. Here's the ultrasound."
Laila numbly accepted the printed image from the doctor, still in disbelief that she had gone three whole months without realizing she was pregnant.
At the center of the image was a tiny fetus, already starting to resemble a baby, with small fingers, toes, and a little head.
"This… this is my child?" Her self-reproach could wait—right now, she was being overwhelmed by a wave of pure joy.
The doctor had seen plenty of young couples stunned and overwhelmed before, so he wasn't fazed by their frozen expressions. Smiling, he said, "Yes. You'll need to undergo a few more tests and start supplementing certain nutrients. If everything goes smoothly, in about six or seven months, you'll be welcoming your little angel into the world."
"Thank you so much! Please tell me everything I need to do and be careful about—I'll make sure to follow it all to the letter." Laila shook the doctor's hand and stood up, ready to leave.
As she turned around, she saw Roy looking like he had turned to stone. His eyes were fixed on the ultrasound photo, and nothing else in the world seemed to matter to him at that moment.
Laila knew he was still reeling. She had only just begun to accept it herself—how could Roy not be overwhelmed? Smiling, she said her goodbyes to the doctor and gently tugged Roy, who was still dazed, out of the clinic.
"Roy." Back in the car, Laila was about to snap him out of his dreamy trance, but suddenly saw his eyes flash with anger.
"Damn it! You got pregnant while we were still filming! And Martin still dared to kidnap you?!" Roy exploded with rage. The doctor had said she was three months along, which meant she had already been pregnant before she was taken by Martin. Not only had she spent over two terrifying weeks in captivity, she'd also been through the rescue operation, continued filming afterward, and then endured a long flight back to the U.S.
The more he thought about it, the more shaken he became. This child had already endured more dangers in the womb than some people faced in their entire lives.
Laila blinked. "Oh! Then that's probably when it happened." Roy had lived with her for several months in South Africa, and even though they'd brought protection, they must've run low at some point. Thinking back, that was probably the most likely time the baby was conceived.
Roy immediately realized they were not on the same wavelength. He was talking about the danger, and she was off on some tangent!
"Laila, starting today, you're staying home to rest!" he snapped. He didn't want her anywhere near danger again.
Laila rolled her eyes. "Come on, don't overdo it. Didn't the doctor say the first three months are the riskiest? I've already passed that stage. There's nothing to worry about."
But her words only reminded Roy of the worst part. She had been in danger during those first three months. That this baby had made it through everything… it was nothing short of a miracle.
"I'm serious," Roy said, his tone colder now, his eyes hard. "From now on, stay away from anything remotely dangerous. I think you should go back to New York. You'll be better cared for there. Janet and Claire both have plenty of experience, and your grandfather can keep you safe."
"You've got to be kidding! I still have work to do. I have to go to the office."
"No, you don't," Roy said firmly. "There are too many cars outside—what if there's an accident?" He had made up his mind. "Once we get back, I'm calling Janet. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to have you stay for a few months."
Laila was stunned by how adamant he was. Sure, Roy could be a little controlling sometimes—insisting she eat on time or get off work on schedule—but this was a whole new level of intense.
"You can't do this!" she protested. She was pregnant, not imprisoned!
But Roy remained unwavering. "I can. Even if I have to carry you there myself, I'll take you to New York."
Before she could argue further, Roy started the car and drove straight back to their home in Beverly Hills, already planning to pack her up and ship her off to New York.
Laila was determined to fight for her freedom over the next six months. In her past life, she had seen plenty of pregnant women still working with their big bellies. Why did she have to be locked up the moment the news broke?
Just as she was about to start arguing again, her phone rang. The caller ID showed it was her mother—Janet.
"You told my mom?!" she said, shaking the phone at him.
Roy glanced at it and kept his eyes on the road. "Do you think I had time to call her?"
"Then why is she calling me?" Laila muttered, puzzled, as she picked up.
The moment she answered, Janet's anxious voice came through: "Laila, sweetheart, are you not feeling well? Where does it hurt? Have you seen a doctor? What did they say? Is it serious?"
The barrage of questions made Laila's head spin. "Mom, how do you even know I saw a doctor today?" She was genuinely curious—was this some sort of mother-daughter telepathy?
"I saw the news online—the photos of you and Roy entering the hospital. Now tell me the truth, are you sick?"
Laila's frailty as a child had left a permanent scar in Janet's heart. She could hardly bear to think about those years. While other kids were happily playing outside, her little princess had spent her childhood battling to survive in stark white hospital rooms.
God knew how it shattered her heart to see her daughter leaning on a hospital windowsill, watching other kids laugh and play. If she could have, she would've traded her own life to give Laila a normal childhood.
So when she saw the headlines online, she panicked. She wanted nothing more than to teleport to her daughter's side, scoop her into her arms, and make sure she was alright.
That wasn't fast enough, so she had done the next best thing—called immediately. She had to hear Laila's voice. Otherwise, she might lose her mind.