The morning sun filtered through the linen curtains of my room, tinting the floor a soft gold. I lay in silence for a few minutes, feeling the weight of the duvet and, for the first time in a long time, a complete absence of that twinge of anxiety that used to wake me up in Istanbul. Kerem's betrayal had hurt, left a scar of disappointment, but the way Sebastian held me last night... there was something about the firmness of his embrace that didn't feel like a cage, but like a safe harbor.
I got up lazily, stretching the muscles in my back. As I passed the mirror, I paused to observe the curve of my belly beneath my silk nightgown. It was rounder, more prominent. I stroked the soft skin and felt a small movement, a morning greeting that made me smile.
I went downstairs barefoot, followin
