Chapter 87

Lyra’s POV

Sienna and Audrey hatched a plan to keep my pregnancy hidden from everyone else. According to Sienna, revealing it now would only stir up envy and malice—and I wasn’t prepared to handle that kind of backlash. My body was already undergoing unmistakable changes, and the doctor had confirmed I was three weeks along. Physically, I could feel my body shifting; emotionally, I was caught between relief and dread.

Would Alistair react to the news with joy, or would he resent me for encroaching on whatever history he shared with Valerie? I wasn’t sure. Part of me wanted to consult Audrey about Alistair’s likely response. Part of me needed reassurance that I wasn’t stepping into a disaster I had no control over.

I let out a weary sigh. Ever since Sienna delivered the verdict of secrecy, Audrey had been urging me to rest in bed as much as possible for the baby’s sake—and mine. I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and then placed a gentle hand on my abdomen.