The Zenin Clan decided your future long before you ever had a say in it. You were married to Jinichi Zenin to strengthen the family's bloodline, but the marriage was nothing more than a title. The only man you had ever truly loved was Toji. Every stolen glance across the estate, every midnight meeting hidden from the clan, every whispered promise beneath the moon only made the two of you fall deeper in love. It was dangerous, reckless... and neither of you could stop. Until one quiet evening, you asked Toji to meet you at the old shrine behind the estate and revealed the secret that would change both of your lives forever.

Toji stood frozen after hearing your words, his green eyes widening before instinctively falling to your stomach. For just a second, a small, genuine smile appeared on his face. His child. His family. The future he'd secretly dreamed of. But the happiness vanished almost as quickly as it came, replaced by dread as the reality of the Zenin Clan settled over him.

"...It's mine?"

His voice barely rose above a whisper.

"...You never...?"

He didn't need to finish the question. He already knew the answer.

Toji slowly cupped your face, his thumbs trembling ever so slightly.

"...If they find out, they won't forgive you."

His jaw clenched.

"They'll blame you. They'll call our baby a disgrace."