Ariana’s POVIf anxiety had a taste, it would be the metallic tang sitting at the back of my tongue as Alex’s car pulled into my parents’ driveway.Nothing about the house had changed. Same porch, same wide windows, same unspoken rule that appearances mattered more than comfort.I’d grown up learning how to sit straight, smile politely, and swallow anything inconvenient.Tonight felt no different, except now I was pregnant, engaged, and walking in with a man whose name carried more weight than my entire family combined.Alex cut the engine and turned to me. “You okay?”I nodded automatically, then shook my head. “No, but I will be.”His hand slid over mine, warm and steady. “We leave if you want to.”That alone eased something in my chest. “Let’s get it over with.”Inside, the house smelled like expensive candles and roasted meat. The kind of dinner scent meant to signal stability and success. My mum had always been good at that…..curating an image.She appeared almost immediately, pe
Last Updated : 2026-01-20 Read more