Ruby's POV
Every day, my body reminded me that time was moving forward,even when everything else stood still.
I was heavier now. Not just the obvious swell of my stomach or the way my spine ached after standing too long, but in ways that ran deeper. My muscles didn’t move with the same lightness. My breath caught more easily. My balance was off. And stress,the kind I’d worn like a second skin for months,now carried consequences I couldn’t afford.
I had a baby to protect.
So I started adapting.
I started acting.
I smiled more when Jake walked in. Nodded when he talked about nursery colors. Let him ramble about Luna ceremonies and future heirs while I sipped tea and kept my eyes blank, soft, obedient.
I stopped flinching when he brushed my hair back.
I stopped pulling away when he k
