After instructing Sebastian to personally take care of Mariana's security until she reaches home safely, Alexander took the baby into his arms. His heart filled with warmth as the baby's lips twitched in a tiny smile.
"You're mine now, my little angel. I'm naming you as Hera. Because that's the name chosen for you by my darling wife from the moment we learned that the baby in Mariana's womb is a girl. You know, Hera is a Greek Goddess. And the name is just perfect for you. You're beautiful like a Goddess. My daughter, Hera Hunter," he said and kissed her tiny lips. His chest swelled with pride.
He remembered the day when Mariana told him about her pregnancy. He begged her to keep the baby when she wanted to abort it. He'd promised her that day, if she agrees to give birth to the baby, then he'd take all the responsibility of the baby, and she'd be free to walk out.
Alexander had bought a house for her in another country and paid a large amount of money for the security team he'd hired for Mariana's safety. The doctor and the nurses received a lump sum too and had sworn to secrecy.
The doctors had assured Mariana of a safe, uncomplicated delivery as her pregnancy had progressed without any apparent hitch. Everything was going just fine, but call it misfortune or bad luck of Alexander because he received a call from the doctor, all of a sudden reporting him of a severe complication.
The baby flipped into a wrong position just a week before the duo labours, and it seemed impossible to bring it back into a proper position. Mariana had to experience labour that lasted too long.
Doctors had to operate and cut her womb open to save the lives of both the mother and the baby. But Alexander never thought that Mariana would abandon the baby as soon as she's born. He was expecting her to breastfeed and take care of the baby as any other normal mother would've done.
He prayed for her to accept the baby. But he couldn't blame her for not agreeing. She deserved to be happy. She'd every right to move on.
'I can't control everyone's life, after all. It's better to leave some things in the hands of fate.'
He sighed and thought it's time to think practically. He looked at little Hera in his arms. "You'll have a happy, secure, and safe life forever as Alexander Hunter's daughter. I promise to give you every happiness in the world, Hera," he said out loud, intending to keep his every word.
His phone started to ring, distracting his attention from the baby. He managed to shift the baby into one arm carefully and took out his phone from his pant pocket. His cell phone flashed his wife's beautiful picture on the screen.
"What is my Queen doing?" He asked into the phone, sounding too happy and heard her chuckle from the other end. "Missing her King," she replied. "Whenever you call me Queen, I feel like demanding tiaras to wear and a kingdom to rule," she laughed teasing him.
Alexander grinned from ear to ear. "You're my Queen, and you rule my heart. The tiaras, I could buy you as many as you want," he said, still grinning. She was his daily dose of happiness.
"When are you coming home, Alexander?" Her voice sounded desperate, and he could feel her pouting like a child. Even though it'd been just a few hours, he was already missing her. "On my way, darling," assuring, he ended the call and looked at Hera. "Let's go home to our Felicity, little one. Your mom is waiting," said Alexander, and he couldn't wait to see his wife.
As Maiana had guessed, Felicity welcomed Hera with open arms.
Alexander silently witnessed the beautiful scene unfolding in front of him while his wife admired the cuteness bundled up in a baby-blue swaddling blanket. Little Hera slept inside, wrapped snugly in purest white, softer clothes.
"She's beautiful, Alexander," Felicity said as soon as she held Hera in her arms. Alexander smiled, kissing the crown of her head. "She's yours to raise now. Anna doesn't want to come with us. She's going back to her parents," he said, releasing a helpless sigh.
Felicity felt sad when she heard that Mariana refused to stay in her daughter's life. She sat on the sofa, settling little Hera comfortably on her lap. "Anna has every right to have a happy life, Alexander. Especially after what all she went through," she looked at Hera with a warm smile playing on her lips. "And don't worry about this little one. We'll raise her like our own. I already love her," she said, and Alexander had no reason to doubt her intentions.
She removed her platinum chain from her neck and put it around Hera's neck. It had a heart pendant with Felicity written on it, a wedding gift from her husband, Alexander. "Bless you, Hera, with all the happiness in the world. Welcome home, Sweetheart," she said, kissing the tiny palm of baby Hera.
That's the reason why Alexander Hunter kept thanking God every day for bringing this wonderful woman into his life. True to her name, she turned out to be his happiness in every sense. He kissed her lips passionately, showering his love. He'd everything in life one could ask for, a loving wife, a son to rule his world, and a daughter to dote on. Felicity always wanted a daughter, but couldn't conceive after the complications she went through during their son's birth. Now with Hera, their dream to have a perfect family was completed.
"Sydney is beautiful and all, but I want to go home, Alexander. I miss my little troublemaker," she said, not taking her eyes off Hera. Alexander smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pecked her temple lovingly. His legal team had already taken care of the necessary procedures, and Hera's passport should arrive on time.
"We'll leave the day after tomorrow for New York."