Ellie’s POV
A few weeks later, my body had already begun to change in ways I couldn’t hide anymore. My stomach wasn’t flat like before—it curved ever so slightly, just enough that my dresses clung differently around my waist. Every morning I caught myself resting my hand there, almost in disbelief, as if touching it would remind me this was real. A life. Our life.
That afternoon, I sat outside in the garden, the warm sun filtering through the leaves and the soft chirping of birds filling the air. The scent of fresh grass mixed with the faint sweetness of flowers. For once, I allowed myself to breathe and simply be.
Then I heard it—quick, eager footsteps pattering across the stone path. Before I could even look up, Maya came dashing toward me, her hair flying wildly behind her, her cheek
