Aria’s POV.
There was a brief moment of silence between us before I spoke again. This time, I was touching her knees to give her emotional and mental support.
"You won't be alone," I said firmly. "I'll help you. Whatever you need: money, support, childcare, I'm here. You know that."
"Aria, you're running a billion-dollar company. You don't have time to…"
"I'll make time." My voice was sharper than I intended. "You're my best friend. My only real family. If you decide to keep this baby, you won't do it alone. I promise you that."
Maya opened her mouth to respond, but I saw her eyes flick to the mug on the coffee table. The hunger in her gaze was unmistakable, the desperate need to drown out the fear and uncertainty in alcohol that would only make everything worse.
She reached for it q
