He placed a large hand gently on my stomach, a gesture meant to comfort.

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. "No, not today. I got my period."

Marcus' shoulders slumped, disappointment flashing across his face. "I’ll try harder. I’ll make sure you become a mother sooner."

I couldn’t help but feel a cold emptiness at his words. No, Marcus. No.

Nine days. That’s all I had left. How could I possibly give birth to his child?

I woke up in the middle of the night, my throat dry with thirst. As I reached for the bedside, I realized he wasn’t beside me.

Marcus often worked late, choosing to sleep in the study to avoid disturbing my rest.

I grabbed my water cup and quietly made my way downstairs.

The moonlight filtered through the windows, casting everything in a soft, serene glow.

As I descended the stairs, a creaking sound reached my ears, coming from the study.

Since I’d gotten the cat, there had been no mice in the house.

I paused, taking a slow breath, and quietly made my way toward the source of the sound.

The door to the study room was slightly ajar, warm, yellow-orange light spilling out from the crack.

I approached, drawn by some invisible force, and peeked inside.