As if the universe had decided to play a cruel joke on her, labor pains seized her.

She gripped her belly, focusing all her energy on calming herself. Summoning what strength she could muster, she answered Mitchel, "I can't get up. I need to rest a bit."

Mitchel's brows knitted together in concern.

"Your voice doesn't sound too good. I should come in and check." He began to tum the key in the lock, only to be stopped by Ariana's outburst.

"Don't come in! I'm not dressed yet." Pain had begun to paint a sheen of sweat on Ariana's forehead. She gently stroked her belly, hoping to calm the baby.

To Mitchel, in this predicament, gender barriers were immaterial. He'd spent so many hours studying the human anatomy in the lab, and to him, bodies were merely subjects of study.

Softening his tone, he tried to reassure her.

"Ariana, let me in. As a surgeon, I've seen countless bodies. To me, you're just another patient."

“I understand. Just wait," Ariana replied, knowing she couldn't continue in this state. Leaning against the wall, she took a deep breath, hoping to quiet the turbulence within her and soothe the baby in her womb.

As her emotions ebbed, Ariana questioned whether her pain was just in her mind.

The ache began to retreat, giving her the chance to grab her skirt. She covered her thighs with the skirt and quickly used other scattered clothing to cover her bare skin.

"['m ready. You can come in now," Ariana said.

As Mitchel moved to turn the key in the lock, a sudden gust of wind blew past him.

Before he could react, an unseen force landed a punch, sending him sprawling.

The commotion outside, coupled with Mitchel's exclamation, made Ariana straighten up.

"Dr. Chadwick, what's going on?" she called out.

Suddenly, the door swung open and in walked Theodore.

Surprise left Ariana momentarily speechless before she found her voice.

"Theodore? Why are you here? No, wait—how did you even know I was here?"

She immediately suspected Theodore was tracking her, a chilling thought. But one look at Theodore's icy countenance, and she thought better of voicing her fears.