Pregnancy News and Public Scandal

Shayla

I wake up to a burst of vibrations on my phone, I tap into my messages and find an avalanche of posts congratulating me on my pregnancy. The news is definitely out, and not by my choice. My heart thumps—once again, I'm reminded that Caroline and Rebecca have been using every angle to undermine me. But I steel myself; Chris and I half-expected this.

I throw on a robe and pad downstairs to find Chris in the kitchen, casually checking his own phone. The moment he sees me, his face softens into a warm grin. "Morning, Mama," he teases, a playful lilt in his voice.

I roll my eyes good-naturedly. "The world knows now," I say, lifting my phone. "And everyone's got an opinion."

He sets his phone aside, pouring coffee into a mug. "So it seems. My notifications are insane—some people claiming they had no idea, others… well, let's just say they're fascinated by our situation."