Chapter 100

CLAUDIA. When Kiernan leaned over and listened to my heartbeat, I already knew something was off. I could feel it in the air. But when he straightened up and told me, “I can hear two heartbeats,” it already dawned on me. Achilles and I have made love a couple of times. It really shouldn’t be a surprise. It wasn’t like we’re both trying to avoid it. In fact, I would go as far as to say that perhaps we have secretly wanted it. When Kiernan politely asked me if he could look into it further by feeling my belly, I just waited for the excitement and the happiness to kick in. And when he finally confirmed that I really am with child, I thought those happy feelings should have been present seconds ago. Only to realize they weren’t here at all. Even now, as he announced my condition to Achilles, I still don’t feel a single positive thing. The only emotion eating away at my chest is dread. Kiernan steps aside with a smile to let Achilles inside the room, and he rushes to me with no hesitat