Upstairs, Aurora stood in front of the mirror, her reflection calm yet thoughtful.
She had changed into a simple, loose dress, and her wet hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders.
As she looked at herself, her gaze slowly drifted down to her belly.
It wasn't protruding at all yet, but the thought of the life growing inside her filled her with a quiet joy.
She placed her hand gently over her stomach, a tender smile forming on her lips.
"My pup," she thought, her heart swelling with warmth. "I love you already."
For a brief moment, everything else—her worries, the past struggles—faded away. All that mattered was the precious life inside her, and the future that awaited both of them.
With a deep breath, she pulled herself away from the mirror and made her way downstairs.
As she descended the staircase, the smell of food reached her, and she smiled when she saw Sophia and Ava setting the table in the dining room.
Ava, always efficient and calm, was placing plates with her usual precision, while Sophia carried a large serving platter to the center of the table.
It hadn't been long since Ava arrived at the mansion.
Aurora had sent her the address earlier, a simple message that said, "Come here as soon as you can. I'll need your help setting things up, and you should stay with me for a while."
Ava, being her loyal assistant, didn't hesitate.
Within hours, she was at the mansion's gates, ready to help Aurora adjust to her new home and work alongside her.
Before settling down, they had spent the afternoon arranging the rooms.
Aurora and Sophia's luggage had been scattered around the living room when they first arrived, but Ava quickly took charge of organizing.
She made sure Aurora's clothes and personal items were neatly unpacked in the master bedroom while also helping Sophia settle into one of the guest rooms on the second floor.
They worked quietly, each focused on making the transition as smooth as possible.
Aurora's smile widened. "Ava," she called softly.
Ava looked up and smiled warmly. "Dinner is almost ready. Fried cod tacos tonight."
"Perfect," Aurora said, stepping into the room. "You didn't have to do all this."
Sophia shrugged with a grin, wiping her hands on a towel. "We thought we'd help out. Besides, it's nice to actually cook and relax for once."
Aurora chuckled softly, appreciating the moment.
There was a warmth in the room—a sense of peace that had been missing for a while.
They all took their seats at the table, ready to enjoy a quiet meal together.
As Ava and Sophia started eating, Aurora picked up her fork, ready to dig into the tacos.
She raised a piece of the fried cod to her mouth, but as the smell hit her, an unexpected wave of nausea surged through her.
Her hand froze in mid-air, and her stomach churned violently.
She lowered her fork, her face paling as the nausea worsened.
Ava and Sophia exchanged concerned glances.
"Are you okay?" Ava asked, her voice laced with worry.
Aurora opened her mouth to respond, but the nausea hit again, even stronger this time.
She clamped a hand over her mouth, her heart racing with anxiety as she fought to keep it down.
Her body betrayed her, and without another word, she shot up from her chair and ran upstairs.
Bursting into the bathroom, Aurora barely made it to the sink before she threw up.
Her body trembled as she gripped the edge of the counter, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Tears stung her eyes, not from pain but from the sheer shock of how quickly her body had reacted.
Moments later, she heard soft footsteps behind her.
Ava appeared in the doorway, her face etched with concern. "Aurora, are you alright?"
Aurora quickly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, trying to mask the lingering unease.
She forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Must have been something I ate."
Ava frowned, clearly not convinced. "You barely touched your food before running up here. Are you sure it's not something else?"
Aurora hesitated, her heart racing as she tried to think of an excuse.
She hadn't planned on telling anyone about the pregnancy just yet—there was still too much uncertainty, and she wasn't ready to share the news. Not until she knew for sure that everything would be okay.
"I'm sure," she said softly, avoiding Ava's searching gaze. "Maybe I've just been under too much stress."
Ava's expression softened, and she nodded. "That could be it. You've been through a lot lately. Maybe you just need to rest more."
"Yeah… rest sounds good," Aurora replied, her voice quieter now.
Ava moved closer, her concern evident as she glanced around the bathroom. "Do you need anything? I can get you some water, or—"
"No, no," Aurora interrupted gently. "I'll be fine. Really. Just give me a few minutes."
Ava studied her for a moment longer, clearly reluctant to leave. But eventually, she sighed and nodded. "Alright. I'll check on you in a bit. If you need anything, just call me."
"I will. Thanks, Ava," Aurora said, grateful for her assistant's unwavering support.
With one last glance, Ava stepped out of the room, leaving Aurora alone with her thoughts.
Aurora leaned against the sink, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
She hated hiding this from Ava, but right now, it felt like the safest thing to do. There were too many complications, too many people who could misunderstand or use this against her.
But as she rested her hand on her stomach again, she knew the secret wouldn't stay hidden for long.
She splashed cool water on her face, trying to shake off the lingering nausea.
For now, all she could do was take it one day at a time—keep going, keep protecting her unborn baby, and hope for the best.
When she finally returned downstairs, Ava and Sophia were still seated at the table, both of them glancing up as she entered.
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Feeling better?"
Aurora nodded, her smile small but reassuring. "Yeah, much better. Sorry for the scare."
Ava gave her a knowing look but said nothing, while Sophia just shrugged. "Happens to the best of us. If you're up for it, we saved you some tacos."
Aurora glanced at the food, her stomach turning slightly at the thought of it. "Maybe later. I think I'll stick to something lighter tonight."