Alice nodded appreciatively and watched as Siya drove off before she entered her apartment. As she stepped inside, she braced herself for whatever awaited her, unsure if Lucas was still there or if he had left in frustration.To her surprise, the apartment was empty, and a wave of relief and also emptiness washed over her. She sank onto the bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over her. She had tired both physically and emotionally.As she curled up under a blanket, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease lingering in the air. Despite the quietness of the apartment, there was a sense of tension that hung heavy.Taking a deep breath, Alice closed her eyes, hoping to find some solace in the stillness of the moment. But she couldn't sleep.Taking a deep breath, Alice closed her eyes, hoping to find some solace in the stillness of the moment. But sleep eluded her.She felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness and loneliness. Despite carrying her child in her belly, she felt utt

"Lucas, you're scaring me. What's going on?" she asked, gently grasping his clenched hands.Lucas swallowed hard; her worried voice threatened to break through his anger. He knew she was merely curious, not genuinely worried about him.Last night, he had promised himself that he would never shout at her again if he wanted to keep her by his side. He knew he needed to stay calm, at least until their child was born.After a while, Lucas finally raised his eyes and looked at Alice. Alice took a sharp breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she saw the burning intensity in his eyes.He was angry beyond measure. Did I do something to make him this angry? What did I do? Alice's body instinctively recoiled at the sheer intensity of his gaze, fear gripping her.She pulled her hands away from his, feeling sweat forming at the nape of her neck and her throat going dry. She didn't know what she had done, but she was certain he was angry because of her.The realization shook her to her core, a

Alex pushed open the door, and Alice entered the room with a heavy heart.As Lucas stood facing outward, a strange longing enveloped him, an intense desire to see Alice, to hold her close, to feel her touch, and to taste her kiss.This longing had been gnawing at him since he had left home that morning without speaking to her. Now, regret flooded his mind as he pondered why he hadn't kissed her before he departed, and the images from that morning only fueled his frustration and anger.The faces of Alice and James kept invading his thoughts, refusing to be cast aside no matter how hard he tried.The ease and comfort he had observed between Alice and James only added to his turmoil, exacerbating his feelings of jealousy and insecurity.This internal struggle was driving him to the brink of madness, leaving him feeling as though he would lose his grip on reality if he didn't see her soon.As he stood facing outward, he felt a shift in the air, a strange sensation tugging at his heart. As

"Please, Alice, talk to me," he implored softly, his voice laced with genuine concern."I want to understand what's upsetting you so I can help. You don't have to face it alone."Despite her reluctance, Alice could sense the sincerity in Lucas's words.After sobbing for a while, Alice closed her eyes, seeking solace in Lucas's embrace.All she wanted was to find rest in his arms. Lucas chuckled softly when he noticed how quickly she had fallen asleep.He continued to hold her tightly, feeling a sense of peace wash over him as he closed his eyes as well. Despite their disagreements and past arguments, whenever she was in his arms, he felt a profound sense of calm.Though he couldn't quite pinpoint why she had suddenly softened towards him, he was grateful for the moment.He silently wished that they could remain like this forever. However, his reverie was interrupted by a knock on the door, causing Lucas to reluctantly open his eyes.After a moment, Alex walked in, but he froze in shoc

As they made their way through the throng of people, they overheard snippets of conversation."...pregnant woman found dead...""...horrific scene...""...police are investigating..."Their mind raced with worry as they approached a police officer stationed at the entrance."Sorry, gentlemen, but you can't enter the building at the moment," the officer said, his tone firm."But we live here," Lucas protested, his frustration growing by the second."I understand, sir, but there's been an incident," the officer explained, his expression grave."A pregnant woman was found dead in one of the apartments."Lucas felt a wave of nausea wash over him at the news, his mind racing with worry for Alice."Which apartment?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.The officer glanced down at his notes before responding. "Apartment 3B," he said, his tone solemn.Lucas's heart sank at the mention of Alice's apartment number.He felt a knot form in his stomach as he realized the implications of the