rde mansion. Too quietly. Ariana slowly adjusted to h

, she attended dinners and business gatherings beside Damien while pretending to be the perfect wife. It was really exhausting. She c

am

y waited for her whenever she walked too slowly in heels. Or how he always made sure she ate before long events. Sometimes, he even defended her from his family's insult

ll in lov

... She was be

paper. Designing had always been her escape. Her dream. One of the few things that still made her

made t

. Damien stood near the doorw

htened awkwardly. "I-I

t permission, he picked up one of the

e are

inked. "Yo

say it if t

ange hearing compliments from someone

d to become

ed faintly.

why did

ly disappeared.

t. Ariana carefully to

s young. After that, everyt

m spoke. Rain continued pouri

ddenly asked. "

froze.

ou're stuck in this arr

ed something unusual in his eyes. Guilt

on't

ared at he

tted honestly. "You treated my br

tightened

s alive becau

library. Then Aria

not as cruel as y

mediately

're w

ne suddenly rang. The moment he saw t

el

change instantly.

another message arrived. And another. And another. Ariana

ually bother

e colder. "She doesn'

d briefly before

d she co

slow sip of w

frowned.

only love

urned emoti

hat nobody else could giv

arefully. "And if she a

laughe

ings even mone

oss his face before disappearing again

stay up

a stared at his retreating figure quietly. Her chest felt strangely heavy afterward. The

I feel so

ard the sink. A few minutes later, she stared at herself in the mirror breathing heavily. Maybe it was stress. Or exhaustion. She had been overwhelmed lately. Trying to ignore it, Ariana went downstair

charity ca

placed food in front of her. Nausea hit again. Strong and sudden.

d in surprise.

the hallway. Several minutes later, Ariana ret

look

m fi

n't soun

denly gasped

my

ana looked at her. V

me she's preg

Pregnant? The word echoed loudly inside her mind. No. I

ane

shrugged. "

ickly shoo

probably j

ing in. Later that afternoon, Ariana secretly went to a pharmacy alone. She wore sunglas

miled politely

arly choke

etely nervous. Back at the mansion, she locked herself inside the bathroo

. Not now. N

d. Every second felt endless. Painful and terrifying. Ariana

sit

weakened

No

wly filled

sit

was pregnant. Pregnant with Damien's ch

H

or the first time. He looked exhausted and broken. Ariana tried helping him to bed, but Damien suddenly grabbed her wrist and

me again...Y

elene. But somehow... That broken side of Damien shattered her

acted colder afterward. As if hd was regretting it happened at a

hat was she supposed to do now? Would Damien think she trapped him in

knocked on the be

?" It wa

ely panicked.

nside there for

the drawer. Then she washed her face repeate

ment he saw her red ey

No

ria

m fi

er. He studied her carefully. Pale f

t hap

to stay calm. She sho

er. "You've been act

beat faster

id I'm

elf. Damien's expression hardened slightly. Sil

ing's wrong

amien already made one thing clear from the start. This marriage had no room for emo

just t

several seconds longer b

some

a secretly placed one trembling hand over her stomach. And for the first time since discovering the truth- Fear mixed with something else. Something softer. Something warm. A tiny life was growing inside her. A ch