nausea so strong that she ba

e floor, hugging her kn

e unsettling feeling in her stoma

r all, her entire life had just collapsed.

home with nothing but a small bag and the little cash she

tel, stretching every dollar while

eren't getti

essly, but every door seemed t

tered to herself, staring at her pal

h, Lena decided to

but she couldn't ign

doctor's office, Lena's h

n with kind eyes, walke

," he said, looking at her char

th caught i

stammered, her eye

looks normal so far. You'll need to start prenatal c

thing else he said. H

y falling apart? She felt like the wall

istake?" she whispered, gri

unexpected, but the results are accurate. You have o

ing a shaky "Thank you," befor

streets, her hands instinc

Adrian

day she left home, to every

, Lena sat on the bed,

d no job, no support system, and

ere," she whisp

enna, Daniel, or her

r leave her alo

gings, withdrew the last of her savings

ne knew her, rented a tiny apartment,

ears

glass window, looking down a

she had just re

ompany from scratch, working under others to gain experien

ted voice pulled her

ice, holding his fa

crouching do

k? Do you like Mo

nd, his eyes wid

es this mean you

ng his forehead. "No more working f

, Lena decided it was time to return to he

ision-coming back mea

e was

self and Noah, and no one co

g some designs when he

duled with the interior suppli

," Lena

d been playing video games with his tabl

e go for ice

mile. "But only if you promise

Noah g

to visit one of the stores sh

bric samples, she heard a

en

stiffened

y, and there stood Sien

friend who'd been che

s so surreal, Lena," Sienna said, eyes wid

presence?" Lena asked coolly, keeping her guard

friend, and I still don't know why you left years ago."

ou once toyed with years ago," Lena said, smirki

before her gaze shifted to Noah, who wa

her expressio

curled into a

y bore a kid! Though,

nded, but she ke

aid, holding his hand tightly and

the store, Lena's ha

ouldn't be the

cing everything she

that lady?" Noah

d," Lena said soft

u. I hate her!" N