Ethan POV
I hadn’t slept since the call from the hospital. Every minute dragged by with a sickening weight, my mind filled with dark, spiraling thoughts about Julia’s disappearance. I paced our apartment, her scent still lingering in the air, the soft blanket for the nursery untouched on the couch. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her frightened, alone, calling for me in the dark. I couldn’t bear it.
I scoured Julia’s phone for any clue—old texts, missed calls, even her deleted messages. I checked with her friends, her coworkers, anyone who might have seen her or knew where she’d be after her shift. No one had answers. Desperation clawed at my chest as I replayed the night over and over, searching for what I might have missed.
When the police called to say security footage showed Juli
