Arec’s POV:
As I drove Ella ho from the ultrasound, my hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than usual.
The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was charged, like sothing unspoken hung in the air.
My mind kept drifting back to that ultrasound room, the mont when the doctor had pointed out the tiny heartbeat flickering on the screen.
Our baby.
The word still felt strange on my tongue, but the weight of it hit harder than I ever expected.
I stole a glance at the ultrasound picture that I had placed in the passenger seat, the grainy black-and-white image of our child.
"This baby was real... This baby was real." I keep repeating it over and over again in my mind.
And with that reality ca emotions I wasn’t prepared for, I already know about the baby, but the visit to the ultrasound make it more real.
I wasn’t supposed to feel this. Not with Ella at least.
But sitting in that room, hearing the rapid heartbeat of our child, I knew instantly that sothing has shifted within .
I glanced over at Ella, her eyes focused out the window, lost in her own thoughts. I wondered what was going through her mind, whether she was feeling the sa pull I was. I wanted to ask, to break the silence, but the words stuck in my throat. Instead, I shifted in my seat, trying to shake off the tension.
"Are you alrighty?" I asked, my voice breaking the quiet between us.
Ella turned to , her eyes soft but guarded. "I’m fine. It’s just... a lot to take in."
I nodded, understanding completely.
My mind was spinning too, trying to reconcile the logical part of that knew this was a contract marriage, with the emotional part that was starting to feel sothing mmore
Was I falling for Ella? I didn’t even know if that was possible. We weren’t supposed to fall for each other. That was never part of the plan.
But plans had a way of changing, didn’t they?
"I want to help more," I blurted out, surprising myself with the sudden declaration. "With the pregnancy, I an. You don’t have to handle everything on your own."
Ella blinked, clearly taken aback. "You already help, Arec. More than I expected."
"I an more than just the appointnts and logistics." I glanced at her, gauging her reaction. "I want to be there, Ella. For everything. For you and the baby."
The sincerity in my own voice startled . When had I started caring this much? When did this beco more than just a ans to an end?
Ella was quiet for a mont, her expression unreadable. "We already agreed on that," she said finally. "That you will be more involved in the baby’s life, even after the contract ends, didn’t we? ."
"Yeah, we did." I paused, for so reason I hate the idea of ever ending the contract with Ella.
"I just want to do what’s best for both of you." I ended up saying, instead of saying what I truly want to say.
She looked away again, her fingers brushing absentmindedly over her stomach. "I don’t want to be a burden, Arec."
"You’re not a burden," I said firmly. "You’re carrying my child. You’re far from a burden."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and I could see the conflict in her eyes. Was she afraid of relying on ? Or maybe she was just as confused as I was about the blurring lines of our arrangent.
The thought gnawed at as we pulled up to her apartnt. I turned off the engine but didn’t make any move to get out of the car. The ultrasound picture sat between us, a tangible reminder of how real this had all beco.
My gaze drifted to it again, and I felt that sa rush of emotion, a mix of excitent, fear, and sothing else I couldn’t quite na.
"You should think about taking so ti off," I said, breaking the silence again. "From work, I an. You don’t have to keep pushing yourself, especially with the baby coming."
Ella frowned slightly, turning to face . "I’m fine, really. I can handle work."
"I know you can handle it," I said, my tone gentle but firm. "But you shouldn’t have to. After the marriage, you were going to leave Denco Group anyway. Why not start early? Focus on yourself and the baby."
She hesitated, clearly torn. "I like working. It keeps grounded. And... this marriage is still just a contract, Arec. I don’t want to depend on you too much."
"I’m not asking you to depend on ," I said, feeling a strange pang in my chest at her words. "I’m offering to help. For the baby’s sake."
Ella’s eyes softened, and for a mont, I thought she might agree. But then she shook her head, smiling faintly. "I appreciate it, Arec, really. But I need to keep working, at least for now. It helps feel... normal."
Normal. I wondered what "normal" even ant for us anymore.
I didn’t press the issue further, knowing it wasn’t the right ti to push. But the conversation lingered between us as I got out of the car and walked her to her apartnt door.
We stood there for a mont, neither of us speaking. The air felt heavy with everything that had been left unsaid.
I wanted to tell her sothing, sothing real. I wanted to let her know that this was starting to feel like more than just a contract to .
But the words wouldn’t co. I was still too confused, too caught between my own emotions and the logical part of that reminded this was all supposed to be business.
Instead, I cleared my throat, shoving my hands into my pockets. "If you need anything, just call . Anyti."
Ella smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I will. Thanks, Arec."
I nodded, lingering for a second longer than necessary. There was so much I wanted to say, but I couldn’t find the courage to say any of it. So, I turned and walked away, leaving Ella standing there at her door.
As I drove ho, my mind raced with questions. Was I falling for her? Was this baby the only real thing between us, or was there sothing else growing beneath the surface? And if there was... what would that an for both of us?
I glanced at the ultrasound picture for the umpteenth ti, feeling the sa overwhelming sense of responsibility and awe. This baby had truly changed everything whether I was ready to admit it or not.
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