"I just don't understand why she's acting like a child," Julian muttered, staring fiercely at his phone as the Maybach sped down the Long Island Expressway. "She hasn't answered a single text in two days."

Chloe rested her head against his shoulder, her hand lightly tracing the lapel of his tailore

Julian stared at the ultrasound photograph, the edges of the glossy paper trembling violently against his thumbs. The air in the penthouse had turned to lead, pressing into his lungs, suffocating him.

*Gestational Age: 12 Weeks.*

Twelve weeks. Three months. Elara was three months pregnant.

"No,

Three years later.

The mid-morning sun spilled across the Piazza del Duomo, casting a warm, golden glow over the intricate marble spires of the cathedral. The air smelled of roasted espresso, fresh pastries, and the faint, crisp scent of the approaching Italian autumn.

Elara Vance sat at a small