The room fell silent, the tension between them palpable. Markus’s gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders tense as Mrs. Stella’s words hung heavily in the air.

Mrs. Stella took a step back, her expression softening. “Think about what I’ve said,” she said quietly before turning toward the door. She paused with her hand on the knob, glancing back at her son. “She deserves better, Markus. But so do you and she is the best.”

With that, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Markus stood there for a long moment, his mother’s words echoing in his mind. He glanced at the mess he had made—the broken vase, the splattered soup—and felt an unfamiliar pang of guilt. For the first time, he wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was the one who didn’t belong.

Markus sank back onto the edge of the bed, his mother’s words swirling in his mind like a storm he couldn’t outrun. He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration mounting with every passing second. The shattered vase and soup stain on the wall seemed to mock him, a visual reminder of his volatile emotions and the damage he’d caused.

“I have to end this,” he muttered to himself, his voice low but resolute. “There’s no point dragging this out any longer. If I can convince her to sign the divorce papers… I’ll make it worth her while. A big alimony sum. Enough to start over somewhere far away.”

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, as he tried to map out his plan. Money. That’s the answer. She can’t possibly refuse if I make it generous enough.

Just as the thought solidified in his mind, a soft knock sounded on the door, and a young maid stepped in, carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of soup.

“Mr. Markus,” the maid said hesitantly, her eyes darting nervously to the mess in the room. “Madam Valeria asked me to bring this to you.”

Markus’s head snapped up, his brow furrowing in surprise. He stared at the tray as if it were an alien object. “She… sent this?” he asked, his tone skeptical.

“Yes, sir,” the maid replied, nodding quickly. “She said you hadn’t eaten and insisted that you have something warm. She made sure it was prepared just the way you like.”

Markus’s jaw tightened, conflicting emotions flickering across his face. He glanced at the maid, then at the tray, as if deciding whether to accept it or send it back.

“Leave it on the table,” he said finally, his voice gruff. The maid hurried to place the tray on the bedside table, her movements careful and precise. She cast him a quick glance before retreating toward the door.

“If there’s anything else you need, sir, please let me know,” she said softly before stepping out and closing the door behind her. Markus sat in silence, staring at the bowl of soup as the faint aroma filled the room. It was a simple gesture, yet it felt heavy with meaning. He could almost see Valeria in the kitchen, her hands trembling as she prepared it, her tears likely still wet on her cheeks.

“Why is she still trying?” he wondered, his chest tightening inexplicably. “After everything I’ve said, everything I’ve done…” The plan he had been formulating just moments ago suddenly felt hollow. The thought of presenting her with divorce papers after she had gone out of her way to care for him—even after his cruelty—filled him with an unfamiliar pang of guilt.

For the first time, he felt a crack in the walls he had so meticulously built around himself. But he quickly pushed the thought aside, refusing to dwell on it. “It’s just soup,” he muttered to himself, trying to dismiss the gesture as insignificant. But deep down, he knew it wasn’t.

 Valeria sat in the plush, sunlit lounge of the manor, the delicate teacup in her hands trembling slightly as she took a sip. Across from her, Mrs. Stella observed her closely, her sharp eyes softened by a rare warmth. The older woman had always carried herself with an air of authority, but in moments like these, she exuded genuine care.

“How are you feeling today, Valeria?” Mrs. Stella asked, setting her teacup on the table with an elegant clink.

“I’m fine,” Valeria replied with a faint smile, though the tightness in her chest betrayed her. “The treatment has been progressing well. I feel… hopeful.”

Mrs. Stella leaned forward, her hands clasped together on her lap. “That’s good to hear. I know this hasn’t been easy for you, but you’ve handled it with grace. I’m proud of you.”

Valeria’s smile widened slightly, touched by the unexpected praise. “Thank you, Mrs. Stella. That means a lot.”

Before their conversation could continue, Valeria’s phone buzzed on the side table. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the doctor’s name.

“Excuse me,” she said softly, placing her cup down and picking up the phone. She stood and stepped a few paces away for privacy, her back to Mrs. Stella.

“Hello, Dr. Elwyn,” Valeria greeted, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach.

“Mrs. Valeria,” the doctor’s voice came through, calm yet tinged with excitement. “I have the results of your recent tests.”

Valeria clutched the phone tighter, her breath hitching. “Yes, Doctor?”

There was a brief pause, and then Dr. Elwyn spoke the words that would change everything. “Congratulations, Mrs. Valeria. You’re pregnant.”

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Valeria’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears as a flood of emotions coursed through her—joy, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

“Are… are you sure?” she stammered, her voice trembling.

“Quite sure,” Dr. Elwyn confirmed warmly. “Your tests show positive results. I recommend scheduling an appointment soon so we can monitor everything closely.”

“Thank you,” Valeria whispered, her voice breaking slightly. “Thank you so much.”

When the call ended, Valeria turned back toward Mrs. Stella, her eyes shining with tears. Mrs. Stella rose from her seat, her brows knitting together in concern.

“Valeria, what’s the matter?” she asked, stepping closer.

Valeria shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek as she placed a trembling hand over her stomach. “I’m… I’m pregnant,” she said, her voice a mix of wonder and emotion.

Mrs. Stella’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she was speechless. Then a radiant smile spread across her face, and she reached out to pull Valeria into a warm embrace.

“Oh, my dear, this is wonderful news!” Mrs. Stella exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine joy. “I told you the treatment would work! This is a blessing.”

Valeria clung to her mother-in-law, her tears falling freely now. “I can’t believe it,” she murmured. “I was so scared it wouldn’t happen.”

Mrs. Stella pulled back slightly, cupping Valeria’s face in her hands. “You’ve been through so much, and now look—this is your moment, Valeria. You’re going to be a mother. And Markus… Markus will come around. He has to.”

At the mention of Markus, Valeria’s heart ached. She wasn’t sure how he would react to the news, but for now, she allowed herself to bask in the joy of this moment.

“I hope so,” she said softly, her hand still resting protectively over her stomach. “I really hope so.”

Mrs. Stella nodded, her confidence unwavering. “He will. Trust me, my dear. Everything will fall into place.”

The two women sat back down, their conversation shifting to the future and the preparations they would need to make. For the first time in what felt like forever, Valeria felt a glimmer of hope—a fragile but beautiful promise of a brighter tomorrow.