The bustling noise of Ranfald filtered through the thick, soundproof glass of the Fleurance windows, fading into a faint hum, leaving only the low, steady drone of the air conditioning.
Viviane stared intently at her computer screen, her desk scattered with design drafts—each one soaked in the countless hours she had poured into them. The remnants of milk in her cup had long cooled, mirroring the tense, frayed nerves that held her taut.
"Viviane, you've been glued to that screen all day. Are your eyes okay?" Mirea's voice broke through from behind her, tinged with both exasperation and concern. As a soon-to-be mother, Mirea couldn't understand why Viviane was neglecting herself. "It’s just the preliminary results, why are you so worked up?"
"You, of all people, should understand how imp
