Kora’s POV
The next morning came with a heaviness that pressed against my chest before I even opened my eyes. The house was too quiet. No footsteps in the hallway, no faint chatter from the maids, not even the sound of Edward moving about. It was the kind of silence that made your heart pound faster because you knew something was wrong before anyone said it.
I sat up slowly, my hand instinctively resting against my stomach. The baby shifted, a small flutter that reminded me I wasn’t alone. That little movement was enough to steady me for a moment, enough to keep the shadows of my mind at bay.
I got dressed and made my way downstairs, the polished wooden floors cool against my bare feet. Edward wasn’t in the kitchen, nor in the study. When I stepped outside onto the wide porch, I finally
