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My fingers tremble as I reach into my bag, curling around the small plastic stick. The result window is still pink, glaring back at me with undeniable truth. My breath shudders.

I glance back at the open drawer, where the tie-back rests—a symbol of the past he’s given me. Something else catches my eye just beyond it, tucked away in the shadows. A secret yet to be revealed. I want to ask about it. But not now. Not yet. Swallowing hard, I place the test inside the drawer instead, letting it rest beside his past. A sign of a beautiful future, nestled against old scars.

He watches me, frowning slightly, confusion flickering in his sharp gaze as he follows my movements. Then his eyes land on it. Onthe truth.

His breath stills.

His gaze snaps to mine, wide, unreadable. His voice is hoarse, barely a whisper. “Are you…?”

Tears blur my vision, my throat tightening as I nod.No more running. No more hiding.“We’re having a baby.”

For a second, he just stares. Then his expression breaks into something rare—pure, unguarded joy. His hand lifts, hesitant at first, then gently presses against my stomach, though it’s far too early for anything to be there. The reverence in his face makes my chest flutter.

He gathers me into his arms, holding me like I’m the most precious thing in the world. I feel his wild and unsteady heart hammer through his shirt, and my own one races to match. We stand like that, wrapped in each other, the silent weight of everything shifting between us.Our world just changed again.

When he pulls back, his eyes still shine, his thumb brushing my cheek. “Let me show you how grateful I am. Let me remind you that you belong to me, and I to you.”

Heat coils low in my stomach. I trail my fingers up his chest, my lips curving as I bite down softly. “Yes. Show me.”

He guides me toward the bed, slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring every second. My skin hums with anticipation as he lays out the tieback and blindfold. A silent question lingers in his gaze, checking and waiting. I nod, my heart pounding, knowing this is more than just surrendering. It’s trust—a vow as potent as mywedding promise.

But then he hesitates, his eyes flicking to my still-flat stomach.

I reach up, cupping his jaw. “I promise,” I whisper, reading his unspoken worry. “Nothing will hurt the baby.”

He places the blindfold gently over my eyes. Darkness blooms, sharpening every other sense. I hear the steady rhythm of his breath, feel the warmth of his hands as he lifts my dress over my head, leaving me in just my panties. A shiver runs through me—not from fear, but from anticipation.

What will he do to me?

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