After her recent upgrade, she had expanded it into ten floors, each carefully designed to house the people she cared about.
Kael, Ember, Felix, Helena, Victor, Ivy, Silas Asher, Talia… even Alice and Dante.
No one would be left behind anymore. That had been her intention.
Yet now, as everyone gathered in the dining room, the long table between them felt like a barrier rather than a bond.
Awkward silence stretched endlessly. No one knew how to begin. Then Ember spoke.
With a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, she said, "I'm pregnant."
For a brief moment, warmth flickered across the room. Smiles appeared.
"Congratulations…"
"Really… that's wonderful…"
But Ember didn't respond. Her smile didn't change.
"I'm going to abort it," she added softly.
Everyone understood.
They knew what it meant… how much it must be hurting her to say those words out loud.
Ember looked around at them, her lips trembling slightly as her smile slowly broke apart.
