Celina stood by the window, staring into the dark.“I used to be painfully shy,” she began softly. “There was a boy who liked me once. We’d talk through little notes—my friends would pass them back and forth. I froze every time I even thought about looking him in the eyes. My mind told me to go… but my body wouldn’t move. I felt strange, out of place.”She turned to face Thor again.“At home, sometimes I’d sit on my bed and think: I don’t belong here. This family isn’t mine. It was a silent kind of pain, you know? A question that never left me.”“Love…” Thor tried to speak, but she lifted a hand, asking him to let her continue.“I’ve always struggled to stay consistent in anything. You have no idea how hard it was for me to write my first book. I think it’s awful—honestly. Every chapter felt wrong, incomplete. I chased perfection, but it never came. Even when I saw it growing on the platform, even now with the printed edition selling and people praising it… all I can see are the flaws

Arthur sat frozen at the edge of the bed, the sheet wrapped around his waist, his eyes wide, breath unsteady. It all felt like a nightmare that refused to end. He pressed his palms against his head, forcing his mind to piece together the blur of the night before. Bits and fragments flashed through his memory—loud music, clinking glasses, Sabrina’s laughter, a dance… more drinks…And then—nothing.A quiet sigh beside him made his body stiffen. He turned slowly. Sabrina was stirring, stretching languidly with a lazy smile playing on her lips, her voice hoarse as she murmured,“Morning, doctor…”She blinked a few times against the sunlight filtering through the curtains.Arthur said nothing. He just stared at her, silently begging her to deny what he already feared—to say it had all been some cruel mistake, a misunderstanding.Sabrina pulled the sheet higher to cover herself, then frowned at his expression, feigning confusion.“What’s with that face?”Arthur shot to his feet, clutching t

The clock had just struck six in the evening when a gentle knock echoed at the bedroom door. Celina lay on the bed, her head resting against Thor’s chest while his fingers absently combed through her hair. The day had been long—draining, raw, and full of tears. Her body was there, but her mind drifted elsewhere, tangled in questions, conflicting emotions, and the bitter taste of the truth still burning inside her chest.“You can come in,” Thor said quietly, without moving.The door opened softly. A familiar face appeared in the doorway, carrying with it a warmth that instantly changed the atmosphere. Gabriel stepped inside, his kind eyes catching Celina’s. There was that easy smile—the one that always seemed to calm storms.“Hey, girl with the sad eyes…” he said gently.Celina blinked, surprised. “Gabriel?” she breathed, sitting up, still unsure if she was dreaming.Thor glanced at her, then smiled. “I’ll give you two a moment.”He leaned forward, kissed her lightly on the lips. She w

Those words hurt more than he expected.“Ava… don’t say that.”“I’m not breaking up with you,” she replied evenly. “I’m just being honest. I care about you, but I need routine. Clarity. Structure. And today, you shattered all of that. And it’s not the first time.”Gabriel gripped the steering wheel tightly, the silence between them stretching for several seconds.“I know,” he finally said. “And I’ll try to be better. But you also have to understand that life doesn’t always go according to plan. We’re still figuring things out—learning how to fit. I’ll make mistakes, love, and so will you, no matter how perfect you try to be. Our differences brought us together, Ava. Don’t give up on us yet, okay? Let me make it up to you—let me hold you tonight, sing to you, spoil you a little.”On the other end, there was a long pause before her calm, final response came.“Not tonight, Gabriel. Goodnight. Sleep well.”And she hung up.He stayed there, the phone still in his hand, listening to the sil

Time seemed to bend around that moment. Two hours had already passed since Celina had started getting ready, but to her it felt like a blink—one instant she was preparing, and the next, she was standing before the mirror, completely transformed. The white dress, simple yet elegant, draped perfectly over her body, accentuating the gentle curve of her belly where she carried her two little miracles. Her wavy hair cascaded softly over her shoulders, and the delicate makeup only enhanced the natural glow of her features.Zoe watched her in silence for a few seconds before breaking into a radiant smile.“You look stunning,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “The most beautiful mom-to-be bride in the world.”Celina smiled, her hands gently caressing her belly.“This all feels like a dream, Zoe. A dream I never want to wake up from.”Zoe stepped closer, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her friend’s ear.“And he’ll be waiting downstairs—just like he’ll wait for you every day of you