[3]

“Don’t make things uncomfortable, Auri,” Ethan said, his tone edged with warning.

Anna immediately stood up, taking a small step forward as if to mediate.

“Please don’t argue because of me,” she said gently. “I shouldn’t have troubled you for so long. But—”

“Don’t say that,” Ethan cut in quickly. “You’re not troubling anyone.”

Anna shook her head slowly. “No, Ethan. I know my presence makes Auri uncomfortable. I just… I don’t want to be a burden in this house.”

The word burden fell squarely between them.

Auri looked at Anna. “I never said you were a burden here, Anna.”

“But I can feel it,” Anna replied softly. “I disturb your peace too often. I make you share Ethan’s attention too much. But what choice do I have? My condition forces me to accept that attention. Doesn’t it?”

Ethan let out a heavy breath. “Anna, you don’t need to explain anything.”

“I do,” Anna said quickly. She turned to Auri, her eyes glistening. “I don’t want you to think I’m deliberately stealing Ethan’s attention. I don’t want to be misunderstood like that, Auri.”

She took a breath, then stepped back. “I’ll go to my room by myself. I don’t want to trouble anyone.”

“I’ll walk you there,” Ethan said reflexively.

“There’s no need,” Anna refused softly. “I can manage on my own. You should stay with Auri, Ethan. Your wife needs you.”

She took a step—then another—but the next one faltered. Her body pitched forward. And—

“Anna!” Ethan shouted.

He caught her before she could fall. Anna sagged into his arms, her breathing heavy and uneven.

“See?” Ethan turned sharply toward Auri. “Do you see her condition now? She’s really weak.”

Auri stood frozen.

“If you’d been a little more considerate, this wouldn’t have happened.” Ethan looked at Auri with open displeasure.

“I—”

“That’s enough, Auri.” Ethan’s voice rose. “I need to take her to her room now.”

He lifted Anna swiftly, careful and deliberate, making sure she was settled comfortably in his arms. Anna looped her arms around his neck, holding on just as he instructed.

And by God—Auri hadn’t imagined it.

During all that displayed panic, Anna opened her eyes. Just for a second. But it was enough. Long enough for Auri to see it clearly. Her lips curved faintly, forming a small smile that seemed to say I’m the one Ethan chose. Not you.

Auri’s chest trembled. Her breath caught painfully in her throat. For a moment, she stood completely frozen—not out of anger, but disbelief. She had never imagined she would witness something like this in her own home.

Before she could draw a longer breath, the smile disappeared. Anna’s face turned pale again. Her lips quivered, a soft groan slipping out, followed by a weak whimper.

“It hurts… Ethan…” she whispered faintly.

Ethan panicked even more. “Easy. I’m taking you to your room. Don’t talk yet.”

His voice was filled with worry, with care—a tone that should have belonged only to Auri.

“Oh God… what did I just see?” Auri murmured under her breath. She couldn’t be hallucinating… could she?

Her fingers curled into fists without her realizing it. Her body stiffened. And at the same time, her abdomen tightened as well.

Pain spread from her lower belly—slow, steady, unmistakable. Auri let out a short breath, forcing herself to stand upright. Her hand instinctively pressed against her stomach, trying to calm the irregular rhythm beneath her palm.

Not now, she pleaded silently. Please… not now.

But the pressure in her head only grew heavier. Every dark thought she had tried so hard to push away surged forward without mercy. Auri drew a deep breath, struggling to steady herself even as the pain in her abdomen refused to ease. Tears pooled in her eyes but didn’t fall. She gently stroked her belly, as if making a promise to the baby inside her.

“I’ll protect you,” she whispered hoarsely. “Be calm, my love.”

***

The next morning, as Auri was preparing breakfast, Anna approached her.

“Auri,” she called softly. Her eyes looked downcast, and she didn’t dare meet Auri’s gaze for long. “I truly apologize for making you uncomfortable with my presence.”

Auri’s hand paused over the cutting board. She took a slow breath before turning around. Her face remained calm, though the unease from the night before hadn’t fully faded.

“It’s alright,” Auri replied briefly. “Since you’ve brought this up, may I ask you something?”

Anna lifted her head, her eyes brightening. “What is it?”

“Please keep your boundaries with Ethan,” Auri said carefully. There was no intimidation in her tone, each word chosen with restraint, even accompanied by a polite smile. “You may be friends, but Ethan already has a wife.”

Anna blinked a few times, then nodded. “Yes. I understand what you’re saying.”

“I’m glad,” Auri said, a little surprised but not dwelling on it. “Thank you, Anna.”

At the very least, she had finally voiced her discomfort.

She deliberately chose not to prolong the conversation. Auri knew that if she kept dwelling on the discomfort that surfaced every time Anna was around, it would only weigh heavier on her mind—and that burden would directly affect her pregnancy.

The night before, just before they went to sleep, Ethan had said the same thing.

“You’re thinking too much,” Ethan said as he lay beside her. “Let go of your bad assumptions about Anna.”

“How can my thoughts be wrong when you—my husband—pay more attention to someone else?” Auri replied softly. “And I feel like Anna is always trying to get your attention.”

“Anna just came out of a bad marriage,” Ethan said gently, stroking the top of his wife’s head with affection. “A little compassion won’t hurt you, Auri.”

Auri turned to him, her gaze thoughtful. “But sometimes I feel like you go too far in how you treat her.”

Ethan sighed. “I see Anna as my own younger sister.”

That sentence left Auri silent. She didn’t respond right away—only stared at the ceiling while gently rubbing her belly. If Anna was merely a sister, why had so many boundaries been crossed?

But Auri chose not to say anything.

Now, Anna stood beside her, apologizing for her behavior. Perhaps Ethan was right. Perhaps Anna truly saw Ethan as an older brother. Auri returned to what she was doing. “Breakfast will be ready soon,” she said, trying to end the conversation.

Anna nodded lightly. “Thank you. I’ll go back to my room for a moment. There’s something I need to get.”

Auri let Anna leave. She thought—hoped—the house would finally be quiet again.

But it was only an illusion.

Not long after, Ethan walked into the kitchen. His face was tense.

“Auri,” he called.

“Yes?” Auri turned toward him.

Ethan didn’t answer right away. His gaze shifted to Anna standing behind him.

“Ethan, please. I don’t want to make a big deal out of this,” Anna said, tugging gently at his arm. “Really. I’m fine.” She wiped at the corner of her watery eyes.

“But you were crying,” Ethan said with a long sigh. “I need to talk to Auri.”

Auri frowned. “What’s going on?”

“Anna said you spoke to her in an unpleasant tone earlier.”

Auri froze. “What?”

Anna lowered her head, her fingers twisting together. “I didn’t mean to turn this into a problem,” she said softly. “Ah… I shouldn’t have said anything to Ethan. I’m just too sensitive.”

“I don’t understand what this is about,” Auri snapped, irritation slipping into her voice.

“Anna feels like she’s not welcome here,” Ethan said, his sharp gaze fixed on his wife. “Is that true, Auri? Did you say something like that?”