The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom. I lay in bed, my hand resting gently on my growing belly, feeling the soft kicks of our baby. A smile crept onto my face, a fleeting moment of joy that quickly faded as I turned to look at Cale. He was already dressed, his attention consumed by his phone.

"Good morning, love," I said, trying to infuse warmth into my voice.

He glanced up, his expression distant. "Morning," he muttered, returning to his screen. The lack of warmth in his response stung, a familiar ache settling in my chest. I had tried everything to bridge the growing distance between us, but it felt like I was pushing against a brick wall.

As I got up and began preparing breakfast, my mind wandered to the nursery I had been planning. Soft colors, cute animal decals, a cozy rocking chair—everything I envisioned for our child felt tainted by the coldness that had seeped into our marriage. I wanted our home to be filled with love and laughter, but Cale's emotional absence made it hard to see that future.

"Are you coming to the doctor's appointment today?" I asked, hoping to spark some connection.

Cale sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've got a meeting I can't miss. You know how it is."

I nodded, forcing a smile. "I understand. I'll just take some pictures and share them with you later."

"Yeah, sure," he replied, his tone flat.

As he left for work, I felt the familiar pang of disappointment. I wanted to reach out, to pull him back into our life, but every attempt felt futile.

Later that day, as I sat in the waiting room of the clinic, loneliness washed over me. I scrolled through my phone, looking at pictures of happy couples and families, feeling a deep sense of longing. I had always imagined starting a family filled with love, but now, it felt like a distant dream.

The appointment went smoothly, but as I left the clinic, a sense of unease settled in my stomach. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that danger lurked just beyond the surface of our lives.

That evening, as I prepared dinner, my phone buzzed with a message from Cale

(Love 💕): Can't talk. Busy with work.

My heart sank. I had hoped for a moment of connection, a chance to share my day, but it seemed like he was slipping further away. As I sat down to eat alone, the sound of my fork clinking against the plate echoed in the empty kitchen. I felt trapped in a life that was spiraling out of control, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a news alert about a high-profile case involving Cale. My heart raced as I read the headline

"Lawyer's Enemies Close In: Threats Made Against Family."

Panic surged through me. I knew Cale had made enemies in his line of work, but I had never considered that I could be in danger. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the weight of my fears settled in. I felt utterly alone, and the thought of Cales's lingering feelings for Elisia twisted like a knife in my heart.

I remembered the day I confessed my love to him, only to be met with rejection. "I want Elisia, not you," he had said, and I had accepted it, even as my heart shattered. Our parents had arranged our marriage, and Cale had gone along with it, his anger directed at me for a situation I had no control over.

Now, as I lay in bed, the memories flooded back. I could still see the way he looked at Elisia, the way his eyes lit up when he spoke about her. It was a look I had never received, and it stung more than I cared to admit.

I closed my eyes, hoping for a moment of peace, but all I could think about was how desperately I wanted Cale to love me the way I loved him. Little did I know, the night would bring a storm that would change everything.