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The cold bite of the night air didn't seem to reach Ava as she sat on the couch, wrapped in a soft blanket, her mind spinning in a thousand different directions. Ethan was in the kitchen, preparing tea for them both, his movements efficient but laced with concern. The way he kept looking at her, as if making sure she was still breathing, made her heart ache.
She was still processing everything that had happened—the kidnapping, the terror of not knowing if she would survive, the relief of Ethan finding her just in time. But amidst all that chaos, one truth remained clear: she had to tell him.
Ava's hand instinctively moved to her stomach, her fingers lightly brushing the soft fabric of her shirt. It had been days since she found out, but the weight of it still felt too heavy to speak aloud. How could she tell him? She was pregnant—his child was growing inside her, and she hadn't told him yet.
A sound from the kitchen broke her reverie, and Ethan appeared in the doorway, holding two steaming cups of tea. His eyes were filled with concern, but his smile was warm, as if he was doing his best to comfort her in the way he knew how.
"You should drink something warm," he said, his voice gentle. "It'll help with the cold."
Ava nodded, taking the cup from his hands, grateful for the soothing warmth it offered. But her hands shook slightly, her nerves finally catching up to her. She sipped at the tea, the silence between them thickening.
After a moment, Ethan set his cup down and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. His touch was tender, but there was a hardness to his gaze, as though he was searching for something more.
"Ava…" His voice was softer now, full of quiet intensity. "I need to know how you're feeling. You've been through so much, and I—I need to be sure you're okay. Physically, mentally... emotionally."
Ava met his gaze, her throat tightening. The weight of his words felt heavier than the burden she had carried for days. She knew this was the moment. She had to tell him.
"I'm okay," she whispered, but the words felt hollow. She wasn't okay. How could she be, when there was something so important, so life-changing, that she hadn't shared with him yet?
Ethan didn't look convinced. He gently cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing across her cheek. "I'm here for you. You don't have to hide anything from me."
Her heart ached at the kindness in his voice. Ava knew that the trust between them was strong, but this—this was different. This news would change everything. And yet, it felt like the right time.
"I'm pregnant," Ava whispered, her voice barely audible.
The words seemed to hang in the air, suspended between them, before Ethan's eyes widened in shock. He stared at her, his mouth slightly open as if trying to process what she had just said.
"You're… pregnant?" he repeated, his voice low, a mixture of disbelief and something else—something deeper.
Ava nodded, her hand instinctively going to her stomach once more. She could feel the life growing inside her, the evidence of the future she was now uncertain of. She swallowed hard, her heart racing. "I didn't know how to tell you. I was scared. After everything with Lance, I didn't want to add more to your plate."
Ethan's eyes softened, his shock slowly giving way to a more profound emotion. He didn't speak for a few moments, his gaze locked on her, as if trying to see beyond the words and into her soul.
And then, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. His warmth surrounded her, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart against hers.
"Ava, why didn't you tell me sooner?" His voice was hoarse, almost too quiet. "I don't care about the timing, or what's happened. You should have known that I'd be here. I'm with you, no matter what."
Tears welled in Ava's eyes, a mixture of relief and guilt flooding her. She had been afraid—afraid that he would see this as another complication, another reason to pull away. But Ethan wasn't like that. He wasn't like the others.
"I didn't want to put more pressure on you," she confessed, her voice breaking slightly. "You've already done so much for me… I didn't want you to feel like you had to take care of me."
Ethan pulled back slightly to look at her, his eyes full of sincerity and something else—a deep love, fierce and unwavering. "Ava, this isn't about pressure. This is about us. About our future."
He cupped her face again, his thumb gently brushing away the tears that had fallen. "You're carrying our child. This is the greatest gift you could have ever given me. We'll face everything together, okay? I'm not going anywhere. You're not alone in this."
Ava's breath hitched in her throat, and she nodded, overwhelmed with emotion. She had feared that Ethan's love for her might falter when he learned the truth—that he would see the pregnancy as another complication in their already complex lives. But instead, he was here, holding her, reassuring her that they would face this new chapter together.
He kissed her then, a gentle, lingering kiss that spoke volumes. When they finally broke apart, Ethan leaned his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin.
"Everything changes now," Ava whispered. "But I'm ready. I'll face whatever comes as long as I'm with you."
Ethan smiled, a slow, tender smile that made her heart flutter. "I couldn't ask for anything more."
They sat together in silence for a moment, the reality of their future settling over them both. The world outside felt far away, as if nothing else mattered except the two of them—together.
The thought of raising a child together, of building a family, filled Ava with a sense of hope she hadn't known she was capable of. Despite the darkness that had surrounded them, there was light in this moment.
And as she looked into Ethan's eyes, Ava knew that their love—strong and unbreakable—would carry them through whatever challenges lay ahead. But who would have thought that danger was lurking around the corner just after this ordeal?
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