The next morning, Elena woke up with a newfound determination burning inside her. The pain from last night still lingered, but she refused to let it consume her anymore.
She took a warm bath, cooked herself a simple meal, and got dressed for work. For the first time in weeks, she felt a spark of purpose.
At the office, however, her mind wouldn’t stop drifting. As she worked on her design sketches, her thoughts tangled hopelessly around Damien. Twelve years of love—deep, innocent, and pure—couldn’t just vanish overnight.
Her hand drifted to her still-flat belly, and a soft ache filled her chest. I wish I could give you a complete family, she whispered silently to the life growing within her.
"Ping!"
The sound of a new message jolted her out of her thoughts.
When she glanced at her pho
