Rachel stood in front of the mirror in her new room, smoothing down the soft blue dress she had chosen. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the fabric over her growing belly. Another family dinner. The memory of the last one still haunted her — the cold silence, the cruel whispers, Victor’s disgusting comment, and the way everyone had looked at her like she didn’t belong.
She felt scared.
Her heart beat faster as she remembered how they had ignored her greetings, how the words had cut deep, how she had wanted to disappear. But tonight felt different. Kylian had told the servants she would sit beside him. He had promised to protect her. Still, the fear lingered.
She touched her stomach gently, feeling the small, firm curve. The baby had been moving more lately — soft flutters tha
