Elijah POV.
His mother adopted a softer tone as she leaned in, intertwining their hands and fixing him with a serious, discerning gaze that only a maternal figure could possess. "Is she pregnant?" Her question prompted a rapid thud in Elijah's chest.
Perplexed, Elijah furrowed his brow and queried, "What makes you think that?"
Arms crossed, his mother narrowed her eyes, asserting, "Elijah, I'm your mother. You can't deceive me." A pregnant pause followed, her unwavering stare locking onto his, displaying a keenness that belied her age. Elijah had always found it impossible to mask the truth from his mother, a fact she knew all too well. Finally, he relented.
Quietly, Elijah confirmed, "Yes, is it true, she is pregnant."
"I suspected as much," his mother acknowledged, a glint of trium
