POV: Lina
The house felt different when I woke up the next morning.
Not loud. Not quiet either. Just heavy.
It was as if every wall, every chair, every door knew that my life had changed overnight, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, my hand resting lightly on my stomach. I kept thinking of my mother’s voice on the phone, sharp and cold, telling me I would marry Ethan whether I liked it or not.
For a moment, I wondered if this was how people felt before their lives collapsed completely.
There was a soft knock on my door.
“Lina?” Clara’s voice came through.
I cleared my throat. “Come in.”
She opened the door slowly and stepped inside, her face full of concern. She sat on the edge of my bed without saying anything at first, jus
