AVA'S POV
I woke up to the faint patter of rain against the windows.
It wasn't loud or violent, just the kind of rhythmic tapping that felt like a lullaby echoing from the sky.
I lay there for a moment, my hand resting instinctively over the small bump of my belly, feeling the softest flutter within.
It had started a few days ago, that first unmistakable sign of life moving inside me. It still caught me by surprise every time.
The house was quiet, save for the rain and the occasional creak of old wood settling.
Ethan was still asleep beside me, his breath steady, one arm draped loosely around my waist.
I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, and gazed at his sleeping face.
He looked so peaceful, almost boyish. And even though we were both running businesses, preparing for a baby, navigating headlines and foundations and family truths, there was something grounding about this, about him. About us.
