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Julie studied Skadi's defiant, confident expression, her icy gaze softening slightly as she crossed her arms.

"So...You're really not pregnant?" She asked, her tone hesitant, searching for any crack in Skadi's bravado.

"Of course not!" Skadi snapped, tossing her head with a huff, her silver hair whipping around her shoulders. "Why in the world would you even think I was pregnant in the first place?"

Aisha, still leaning on the edge of the sofa, pointed an accusing finger at the book now lying innocently on the cushion.

"Because of that! You, Skadi—who's never touched a book in her life, who acts like paper's her mortal enemy—are sitting here reading about motherhood! What else were we supposed to think?!"

Skadi froze, her confident facade faltering for a split second. She couldn't deny it—her sudden interest in such a book was bizarre, even to her.