The morning air was crisp, but Mimi felt a heaviness inside her she couldn't explain. Every movement made her stomach twist slightly, and a constant fatigue weighed down her limbs. She forced herself out of bed, determined not to let anyone notice.
Breakfast in the hotel dining hall was a struggle. Colleagues chatted and laughed around her, oblivious to the storm brewing inside Mimi. She sipped her coffee slowly, hoping the bitter taste would calm the queasiness that threatened to betray her secret.
Rian appeared on the other side of the room, his golden eyes scanning until they found hers. He smiled casually, but something in his gaze lingered, sharp and attentive. Mimi's heart raced, a mix of fear and desire. She hurried to eat, desperate to appear normal.
Throughout the day, subtle signs betrayed her. A slight sway as she walked, a faint pause when someone called her name, a hand pressed unconsciously against her stomach. She prayed no one noticed—not Rian, not anyone.
But Rian did notice.
During the afternoon team-building exercises, he kept glancing at her, his brow furrowed slightly. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked quietly when they were alone near the lake. His voice carried concern, but also something deeper—something she couldn't decipher.
"I'm fine," she whispered again, but the lie sounded thin even to her own ears.
He didn't press further. Instead, he offered a small smile, almost teasing, but it didn't reach his eyes. Mimi felt the weight of his gaze follow her for the rest of the day, like a shadow she couldn't escape.
Later that night, as the office gathered for a casual dinner, Mimi tried to maintain her composure. She laughed at jokes she didn't find funny, nodded at stories she barely heard, and carefully avoided any closeness with Rian. But every accidental brush of his hand, every shared glance across the table, made her stomach twist—not with hunger, but with fear.
After everyone had retreated to their rooms, Mimi slipped onto the balcony once more, the city lights stretching endlessly below her. Her hands rested on her stomach, a trembling reminder of the secret she carried.
The truth was a fragile thing, growing quietly inside her. And with every passing hour, every shared look with Rian, the impossible tension tightened around them both.
She didn't know how long she could keep it hidden. She didn't know if she wanted to.
And yet, one thought haunted her more than any fear: What if he already suspects?