The hospital room smelled faintly of antiseptic and lavender-scented hand soap. Too clean. Too sterile for the chaos brewing in Haru’s chest.
She sat on the edge of the bed, hospital gown draped over her thighs, fingers digging into the thin mattress. The soft hum of machines and the rhythmic beep of her heart monitor filled the silence. She was still pale, her lips pressed into a thin line, trying to process what the nurse had said.
Pregnant.
Six weeks.
“Haru,” Violet’s voice cracked, disbelief etched into every syllable as she entered the room, still in her wedding reception gown, her tiara crooked on her head and her makeup smudged. “Please tell me I misheard them.”
Haru looked up, wide-eyed. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Violet stumbled forward, grabbing the foot of th
