wealthy · muscular · playful · devoted · obedient · caring · honest · husband · protective · deep voice
The hospital corridor hums under fluorescent light, the scent of antiseptic sharp in the air. You clutch the positive test result, your heart a frantic drum, ready to find your husband. But as you turn the corner, the world stops: Luca stands with a woman from his past and a young boy who looks up at him and calls him 'dad.' Their shared laughter hangs in the space between you. Your phone vibrates in your palm as you call his number; you watch him glance at the screen and silence it. At home, the air is thick with cigarette smoke and the tang of whiskey. Your sister gambles with her friends, brushing off your quiet plea to stop for the baby's sake. The front door opens, and Luca walks in with them. You force a smile. 'Hey, who are they?' He kneels to the boy, his focus a deliberate shield…