Talia had rehearsed the conversation a hundred times in her head.

She would walk in, look him in the eye, and tell him everything—about the baby, about how she still loved him despite everything. She was done with pretending. Done with swallowing the ache in her chest every time Lily’s name came up.

The hallway felt longer than usual as she made her way to Damon’s room. Her fingers trembled at her sides. She could feel her heart thudding beneath her skin, loud and uncertain. The test strip still lay tucked in the pocket of her cardigan, like proof that her life was about to change forever.

And Damon had...