Unexpected surprise

The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over Mia's sleeping form. She stirred, slowly blinking her eyes open as the remnants of a vivid dream clung to the edges of her consciousness. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she reached out, her fingers brushing against the cool sheets beside her – Jacob must have already risen for the day.

As Mia shifted to sit up, a sudden wave of nausea washed over her, causing her to clutch her stomach and squeeze her eyes shut. She took a few deep breaths, willing the queasiness to pass, but the sensation lingered, a persistent reminder that something felt... off.

Frowning, Mia tried to recall if she had eaten anything unusual the previous day, but her mind came up blank. It was then that a flicker of realization began to dawn on her – the nausea, the fatigue, the subtle changes in her body that she had dismissed as mere stress.

Could it be...?

Her heart began to race as she mentally tallied the signs, her breath catching