Aloe's POV
Dr. Sarah Chen—not Dr. Chen from the Sanctuary, but a real OB-GYN recommended by Agent Martinez—had kind eyes and gentle hands as she moved the ultrasound wand across my twenty-week belly.
"Everything looks perfect," she said, pointing to the screen where my baby moved and stretched. "Strong heartbeat, appropriate measurements, no abnormalities visible."
I stared at the image, mesmerized by the tiny human I'd created. Fingers, toes, a profile that looked almost sculptural in its perfection. My child, growing steadily despite everything we'd both endured.
"Would you like to know the s*x?" Dr. Chen asked.
I hesitated, one hand pressed to my belly. Knowing felt like making this real in a way I wasn't entirely ready for. But not knowing felt like hiding from reality.
"Yes," I
