Amelia’s POV
The early signs of my pregnancy crept up on me like a shadow I couldn’t escape. It started with fatigue, a heaviness that clung to my limbs and made even the smallest tasks feel insurmountable. Stomach pain followed, dull and constant, a nagging reminder of the life growing inside me. My days blurred together in a haze of exhaustion and fear, my mind always racing to keep up with Richard’s ever-volatile moods.
“Why are you so slow?” Richard’s voice roared through the living room as I struggled to keep pace with his demands.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, wiping my damp hands on my apron and straightening myself. The ache in my lower back screamed in protest, but I ignored it.
“You’re always dull these days,” he spat, his face twisted in irritation. “Do I need to teach you how to
