Chapter 002

Maybe she’d imagined it. Maybe she was just overthinking, hallucinating even. Lyriel took a deep breath, forced the thought away, and got into her car.

When she reached her daughter’s school, Ava was already waiting by the gate, arms crossed and a deep frown on her face.

“You’re late again” Ava stomped her feet on ground before getting into the car, not even saying hello.

Lyriel forced a small smile. “Sorry, sweetheart. I got held up.”

“Mommy Sophia picks me up faster than you. She doesn’t make me wait”

Lyriel took a quiet breath. It wasn’t the first time Ava called Sophia “mom.” Honestly, Sophia had been acting more like a mother lately—especially when work kept Lyriel busy.

"I'm sorry alright? Something came up."

Ava rolled her eyes and sank into her seat. “Whatever,” she mumbled, turning to face the window.

Lyriel leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I got you your favorite ice cream,” she said, handing it over and Ava took it wordlessly, still not looking at her mother.

They drove home in silence.

Once they got home, Lyriel went straight to the kitchen to make dinner, trying not to let Ava’s attitude get to her. Ava went straight to her room without saying anything. Maybe she was upset about something , or maybe it was just one of those moody days kids have. Either way, Lyriel let her be.

As the smell of dinner filled the house, Lyriel glanced at the clock; it was already evening. She wiped her hands and turned off the stove just as the front door opened. Victor was home.

She walked over and took his bag without waiting for him to ask. “How was work?” she asked softly as they headed to their room.

“Stressful,” he said, not offering much details.

She reached to help him take off his jacket. Usually, he’d stop her, but this time, he didn’t. He let her.

It surprised her, but in a good way. Maybe the business deal she had gotten for him could really help. Maybe it could bring them back to how they used to be—like partners.

“Vic…” she began gently. “Is there something you want to say to me?”

He looked at her. "Is there something you want me to say?"

She shook her head lightly. "Not really."

A moment passed before she spoke again. "What about visiting your mom’s grave? We could take some food. Like we used to.”

Victor nodded. “Yeah. Let’s do that tomorrow. It’s already late. I’ll go take a bath.”

Lyriel stepped aside as he walked past. She stood there a moment, wondering if what she saw at the grocery store earlier was just her imagination. Either way, she pushed it from her mind.

She went to Ava’s room and knocked. “Dinner’s ready.”

“I’m busy,” Ava replied.

Lyriel opened the door slightly. “I said dinner’s ready.”

“Ugh, okay! I heard you,” she huffed, grabbing her little phone.

Lyriel didn’t respond. She returned to the dining room, sat down, and waited.

Eventually, Ava dragged herself to the table, slumped in her seat, and started picking at her food. Victor joined soon after, phone already in hand, scrolling and tapping without looking up.

They ate together like a family, at least in appearance. But Lyriel’s thoughts drifted far away, and though she sat between them, she couldn’t help but feel like she was eating alone.

…….

After dinner, once everything was cleaned up, Ava let out a big yawn and stretched her arms.

“Daddy, can you carry me?” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Without saying a word, Victor picked her up. She rested her head on his chest, already half-asleep before they reached her room. Lyriel stood back, watching quietly. There was a rare softness on Victor’s face she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Later, Lyriel returned to their bedroom in silence. She changed out of her clothes and went into the bathroom to take a bath.

A few minutes later, wrapped in a towel, she came out, only to find Victor sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees. She didn’t say anything. She simply walked across the room, planning to pass him.

But as she did, he reached out and gently held her hand.

Startled, she glanced down at him. "What are you doing?" she asked softly, unsure of his intentions.

Before she could say another word, he pulled her closer, standing to meet her halfway. Then, without hesitation, he kissed her...hard and hungry, as if he'd been holding it back for far too long.

Lyriel’s first instinct was to push him away. They hadn’t touched each other like this in over a month. What was he doing now? Why now? But her hands, instead of pushing, clung to his shoulders. Her breath caught as her body responded on its own, aching for something she had quietly missed all this time.

She didn’t know when the towel slipped away or when his hands found her waist. All she knew was that her heart was pounding and her mind was foggy. Despite the silence, despite the confusion, her body remembered him...remembered this feeling.

And so, the night slipped away without words.

*******

The next morning, Lyriel stirred beneath the covers, slowly waking. Her hand instinctively reached for Victor’s side of the bed, but it was empty. The sheets were still warm, indicating he hadn’t been gone long.

Then she heard it: the shower was running. Victor was in the bathroom.

She sighed and sat up, still tired. As she reached for her robe, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Curious, she picked it up and glanced at the screen.

A message from the hospital.

Her heart skipped.

She opened it, expecting a regular update from her last check-up.

But instead, it was a file. A short medical report.

She clicked on it, read it once… then again. Her eyes widened.

Positive. One month and one week pregnant.

She stared at the screen, stunned.

Pregnant?

After five years of marriage… five years of trying, crying, and almost giving up… she was finally pregnant?

Her hand shook slightly as she lowered the phone. A small, shaky smile formed on her lips. Tears filled her eyes, not from fear, but from joy. She had thought it would never happen. That it was too late.

But now, it was real. A life, growing inside her.

She got out of bed quickly, ready to tell Victor. She wanted to see the look on his face. Maybe—just maybe, this was the moment that would truly bring them closer again.

But just then, another vibration. Not from her phone this time.

It was Victor’s.

His phone lit up on the dresser with a message preview.

Lyriel hadn’t planned to check it. She rarely ever did. But something about the name flashing on the screen made her pause.

“My love.”

Her smile faded a little.

That wasn’t her. She hadn’t sent anything.

Victor always told her she was the only one saved with that name. Just to be sure, she picked up the phone, scrolled through his contact...yes, her number was saved as “My Love.”

Then who…?

Curiosity won. Her fingers hesitated, but eventually, she tapped on the message.

There was only one.

"Morning baby. I know you must have been happy yesterday about the deal and something I can’t start to imagine must have happened, but still hope you didn’t forget to give her the pills?"

Lyriel froze.

Pills?

Her mind raced.

Victor had always insisted she took pills after intimacy. He said they were fertility pills. That they’d help her get pregnant faster.

She had believed him. Why wouldn’t she? He was her husband.

But now…

This message wasn’t from a doctor. And it wasn’t neutral.

It was from someone close. Someone who knew exactly what was going on.

Her hands began to shake.

What had he really been giving her all this time?