Charlotte had kept the secret for almost three months, hiding it behind layers of excuses, long nights, and evasion. But the reality was undeniable now—she could no longer keep her pregnancy from Utter. The baby was his. It was time to tell him, even if it felt like the weight of the world was about to come crashing down on her.

She stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her body was changing, the evidence of the life growing inside her was becoming harder to ignore. Her ...