[1]

“Give Anna a month to stay in our house, Love.”

Aurellia had been enjoying her afternoon snack, but her husband’s words made her turn toward him. “Stay… with us?”

“Yes.” Ethan stepped closer, taking his wife’s hand, his grip almost pleading. “Just one month. You heard her story yesterday, didn’t you? How hard her life has been. Could you really bear it if she suffered even more? What if her ex-husband shows up and hurts her again? She’s pregnant too—just like you.”

Auri looked at her husband steadily.

“Please?” he asked.

She drew a slow breath. Her hand, which had been resting on the table, slipped back into her lap. Her fingers laced together, a clear sign that she was weighing the decision carefully.

This wasn’t something she could decide lightly. Anna was Ethan’s childhood friend. They weren’t particularly close, but Auri had met her a few times before. And yes… Ethan was undeniably close to her.

“Ethan,” she said softly, her tone still gentle. “I understand Anna’s situation. I really do. But this house… this is our home. We’re also waiting for our baby to be born. I’m just afraid—”

“I promise it won’t be long,” Ethan cut in quickly, as if afraid she would finish her sentence. “Just one month. After that, I’ll find her a safe place to live.”

Auri studied her husband’s face. She knew that expression—the rare, pleading look he only wore when he truly wanted something.

“I’m not saying no,” she continued carefully. “I just need time to adjust. I’m pregnant too, Ethan. I get tired easily. I don’t want pressure in this house. I hope you understand that.”

Ethan nodded, visibly relieved that he hadn’t heard a firm refusal. “I do. I’ll make sure Anna doesn’t trouble you.”

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Auri startled, instinctively glancing toward the door before turning back to Ethan with a questioning look. “Are you expecting someone?” she asked.

Ethan was already on his feet. A flash of excitement crossed his face before he could hide it. “That must be Anna.”

“What?” Auri tried to stand, though it wasn’t easy. “She’s coming now?”

“I asked her to come. I thought… it would be better if the two of you talked directly.”

Before Auri could say anything else, Ethan had already moved quickly to the door. When it opened, a woman stood there—pale-faced, thin, her body looking fragile, though her belly was clearly rounded. A small bag hung from her shoulder.

“Ethan,” Anna’s voice trembled.

Ethan immediately pulled her into a hug. “Thank God you arrived safely.”

The sight stirred a mix of emotions in Auri—too tangled to put into words. She stood frozen, unsure how to react.

Anna slowly stepped back from the embrace and finally noticed Auri. Her eyes widened, then filled with tears. “Auri…”

Without waiting for permission, Anna stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Auri. Her body trembled violently.

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, her voice breaking. “I’m sorry for showing up so suddenly. I don’t have anyone else left to ask for help.”

Auri froze for a moment. Her hands hovered awkwardly in the air before she finally lifted them, gently patting Anna’s back. Her heart—soft from the start—ached immediately.

“It’s all right,” Auri murmured. “Come in first. Let’s sit down. Ms. Sonia made some chicken soup earlier. Have you eaten?”

Once they were inside the living room, Anna lowered herself onto the sofa, her head bowed. Her hands shook as she clutched the hem of her blouse.

“I never imagined my life would turn out like this,” Anna said through her sobs. “Every day I had to work while enduring the pain. He didn’t care that I was pregnant. He said I still had to earn money.”

Auri flinched in horror while Ethan rubbed his face in frustration. “That bastard,” he cursed. “What else did he do to you?”

Anna hesitated, then slowly lifted the sleeve of her blouse. Purple bruises were clearly visible on her skin. She tugged her collar aside as well, revealing older marks that hadn’t fully healed.

“This… this isn’t even the worst of it,” she whispered. “Sometimes I couldn’t even stand. But I still had to work. There were days I didn’t eat at all.”

Auri covered her mouth, her breath catching. “Oh my God, Anna. And you’re pregnant—how could he still treat you like that?”

Anna nodded as her sobs deepened. “The doctor said my condition is getting worse,” she continued. “I’m malnourished. I feel dizzy almost every day. But I didn’t have a choice.”

Tears slipped down Auri’s cheeks without her realizing it. Sitting beside Anna, she reached out and held her hand. “You shouldn’t have had to go through any of this.”

Anna nodded quickly. “I know. That’s why I was so ashamed to come here. But I truly didn’t know who else to call, Auri. Ethan was my only hope. I just hope… you’re not angry with me.”

Ethan looked at Auri, his eyes pleading. “You see it now, don’t you?”

Auri took a long breath. She knew that if she refused now, the image of Anna’s face would haunt her. She turned to her husband. “One month,” she said at last. “No more than that.”

Ethan smiled in relief. “Thank you, love.”

Anna hugged Auri again, this time even tighter. “I’m so lucky to have you both—especially you.” She glanced at Ethan. “You’re still the same as ever. My guardian angel.”

Ethan brushed a hand over the crown of Anna’s hair without any hint of awkwardness. “You don’t need to doubt me. I’ve told you before—I’ll help you. No matter what you’re going through.”

“I still have to think about your wife’s feelings,” Anna said, pouting slightly. “You haven’t forgotten that you have a wife, have you?”

The words warmed Auri’s chest—and yet, somehow, they also left behind a faint, unfamiliar unease. Ethan smiled faintly and reached for Auri’s hand.

“You look tired,” he said gently. “I’ll make you some warm tea.”

“No need,” Auri replied reflexively.

“I want to,” Ethan insisted with a smile.

Anna watched them with glistening eyes. “You two look so happy together.”

Auri offered a thin smile as Ethan headed for the kitchen. Anna’s gaze lingered on his back a few seconds longer before she turned back to Auri.

“You’re very lucky, Auri,” she said, glancing at her friend’s wife. Anna smiled—but there was something layered, almost deliberate, in that smile.

“Lucky… how?” Auri asked, trying to push away the sudden discomfort creeping up her spine.

“Lucky to have a husband like my best friend,” Anna replied, still smiling. “I hope one day I can be as lucky as you.”

Auri let out a soft laugh. “Yes, you’re right. I am lucky to have a husband like Ethan.”

“Oh, while I’m staying here, you won’t start thinking that Ethan looks like he has two pregnant wives, will you?”

Auri’s laughter slowly faded.

“I hope not,” Anna added lightly, without a trace of guilt. “But if the three of us go out together, wouldn’t it look that way?”

Not long after, Ethan returned with their tea. “What are you two talking about?” he asked, setting a cup in front of Auri—and another in front of Anna.

“Just a small conversation,” Auri replied with a faint smile. “Thank you for the tea, love.”

“Oh, we were talking about how, if we ever go out together, you’d look like a man with two pregnant wives,” Anna said with a bright laugh. “Doesn’t that sound strange?”

Ethan laughed along. “Not really. Isn’t it nice to have two women by your side—both pregnant? A bit troublesome, maybe, but not so bad either.”

Auri blinked, stunned by his response. Slowly, she set her teacup down.

“I don’t think that’s funny at all,” she said quietly, her eyes fixed on Ethan. “Or… is my husband planning to have two wives who are both pregnant?”