"Oh, stop! It's way too early to say anything. But the moment it's official, you'll be the first to know."
Her voice was coy, and she unconsciously shifted the bag in her hands behind her back.
It was a new designer handbag from a luxury brand—far beyond her usual budget.
A flicker of something unsettled passed through me, but the joy of successfully changing my daughter's surname pushed it aside.
"Alright, go on then." I turned to my husband, who had been standing silently nearby. "Irvin, drive Elena home. She's been such a big help."
Irvin grunted in acknowledgment, his expression still sullen. "Let's go."
The next morning, I woke early, my breasts aching with milk. That's when I heard a faint sound at the front door.
I pulled on a robe and got up just in time to see Irvin stepping inside.
Suspicion stirred in my chest, but I kept my face neutral. "You're up early. Did you go out, or are you just getting back?"
He froze for a split second, then forced a tired smile.
"Boss called an emergency meeting last night. Kept us there all night—I just crashed on the office couch for a bit. Figured I'd grab you those soup dumplings you love on my way home."
I nodded and didn't press further.