In the blink of an eye, Eliza had been in France for over three months. Ever since she touched down, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was shadowing her every time she stepped out. This sensation had intensified over the last month. Yet, whenever she spun around to catch a glimpse, there was never a suspicious soul in sight. Could it be Manuel? She wondered what he was up to these days. If he'd been let out, it wasn't completely out of the question.

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, she decided to call Dillon. "Hey, Dillon."

"Ms. Eliza," Dillon glanced at Casper beside him and switched the phone to speaker mode, "What's up?"

"I was just curious about Manuel's situation. Weren't you handling his case? Any news?"

"He's still under police watch. No need to stress."This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

"That's a relief."

But then, who could be trailing her? Maybe it was all just in her head? Either way, she figured she should be more careful. With just over a month until her due date, the thought of anything going wrong was frightening.

After she hung up, Dillon's eyes flicked to Casper with a hint of anticipation. "Mr. Casper, Manuel's probably not going to show up in Falconridge again. Have you thought about, well, revealing your identity to Ms. Eliza?" "And do what?" His voice was cool and indifferent.

Dillon pressed his lips together, choosing his words carefully. "You've been watching over her from the shadows, which has her feeling a bit jumpy. Maybe it's time to come clean... especially since she's nearing her due date. She could really use someone by her side." "She's got Juan with her," Casper replied, still detached.

"But he's him, and you're you. It's not the same," Dillon tried to reason, but Casper waved him off. "Let's drop this."

Dillon had to swallow his words.

Over at Juan's place, Eliza was in full prep mode for the baby's arrival. Juan had gone all out, buying a ton of baby stuff-tiny clothes, bottles, diapers. He'd thought of everything, making sure Eliza was covered.

She sorted through each item

methodically, conscious of the

baby's increasing movements,

signaling the big day could come at any moment, necessitating a mad dash to the hospital. "If there's anything else you need, just let me know, and I'll grab it," Juan said, lounging on the sofa as he watched Eliza meticulously arrange the maternity items. "Don't be too

nervous. I'll be right there with you during the delivery."

"I've done this rodeo once before. What's there to be nervous about?"

When she had Brock, she had gone to the hospital solo. It was a natural birth that left her in pain for two days and a night before the baby finally arrived. With no one to keep her company or help her out, she left the hospital three days later, baby in tow, catching a cab home. Even the postpartum care was something she managed on her own.

Thinking back, she realized how tough she had been, surviving those tough, lonely days. Now, things were a whole lot better.

Juan watched her calm, serene face

and felt a pang of sympathy. He

hadn't known her situation when she was pregnant with Brock. At that time, he was knee-deep in his career, often going months without a word. He couldn't fathom how she managed on her own back then.

"Besides me, you'll soon have two little guys looking out for you. Doesn't that make you happy?" Juan's voice had a teasing, affectionate edge.

Eliza managed a bittersweet smile. Ever since she found out she was having another boy, her dream of having a daughter felt shattered. She often found herself gazing longingly at little girls in pretty dresses whenever she was out.

Only the heavens knew how much she longed for a daughter. "My dream of having a daughter is shattered," she sighed wistfully.

Juan chuckled at her expression, "If it really bugs you that much, we could always consider a sperm bank. They let you pick the gender. Just to make that dream come true."

"Are you suggesting I've been around too long?"