The air hung heavy with tension as Aline's words reverberated through the space, their impact palpable in the charged atmosphere. Across from her, Erick's expression wavered between disbelief and simmering anger, his emotions laid bare for her to witness.

"You're pregnant with Ethan's child?" The words left Erick's lips like a venomous hiss, his eyes narrowing as if to dissect the truth from her very gaze.

Aline's voice was steady, resolute, as she confirmed what hung between them like a heavy shroud. "Yes, Erick. I'm carrying his child."

The weight of her admission seemed to echo in the room, a potent declaration that sent ripples of discord through their already...