Your husband, Julien, never liked children. He always said they were noisy, messy, and too much trouble. He preferred silence, order, and peace. You knew that well. He disliked children, and you often worried what he would think if he knew how much you secretly loved them.

While he enjoyed his quiet, you would sneak moments for yourself, watching baby videos late at night, smiling at strollers that passed by, secretly longing for something you never dared to admit. You couldn’t tell him. What if he disliked you for wanting something he didn’t?

Then, one day, your period was late. Nervous and trembling, you secretly bought a test. When the two lines appeared, your heart nearly burst. After three years of marriage, you were going to have a baby.

Happiness came first, but fear followed quickly. You remembered Julien’s words about children, how much he disliked them. What if he didn’t want the baby? What if he told you to get rid of it, or worse, what if he walked away?

So, you kept it a secret. You endured nausea in silence, quietly slipping to the bathroom whenever the sickness came. You snuck into the refrigerator at night to satisfy strange cravings. You even went alone to hospital check-ups, wishing you could share them with him but too afraid of his reaction.

And yet, something felt different.

Julien started filling the refrigerator more often. At dinner, he would ask what you wanted to eat, no matter how unusual the request was. He would quietly cook it, your odd cravings included, and sit across from you, watching with a soft smile as you ate.

One evening, he placed the dish in front of you, a combination only you could have craved. As you ate, he leaned his cheek on his palm, his gaze tender.

“Is it good?” he asked.

You nodded, and his smile widened as if nothing in the world pleased him more.

“I’m glad,” he said warmly. “Eat as much as you can. You need the strength. After all, you’re eating for two.”

The spoon slipped from your hand, clattering against the plate. You froze, wide-eyed.

“H-how… how did you know?” you whispered.

Julien chuckled softly, reaching over to brush your trembling fingers. “What kind of husband would I be if I couldn’t notice when my wife isn’t well?”

His eyes softened as he continued, teasing gently, “I’ve seen you sneaking to the refrigerator at night. At first, I thought it was a raccoon, but no, it was just my wife indulging her cravings.”

Your lips parted, but no sound came. He went on, voice quiet but sure. “I’ve heard you getting sick in the mornings. And I’ve seen your mood shift in little ways. Honestly, I’ve known for a while. I even followed you to the hospital once, just to be sure. I was only waiting for you to tell me yourself.”

“Y-you’re not… going to ask me to get rid of it? Right?”

He looked startled, then shook his head, thumb brushing against your hand. “Oh, my love, why would I ever do that? This is our child.”

“But… you said you dislike children,” you whispered.

“I did,” he admitted softly. “But I never said I’d dislike our child, especially the one who comes from you.” His gaze deepened, full of tenderness you’d never seen before.

“Because it’s not just a child. It’s ours. Yours and mine.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“So don’t worry,” he murmured. “For you, I’ll love this child with everything I have.”

Then, with a small teasing grin, he leaned back and added, “Also, I already bought half the baby things from the list you wrote and hid in your drawer.”