Inês was on the couch, one hand resting on her slightly rounded belly while the other stroked Armin's hair, who was sleeping on her lap. Her gaze was lost, a mix of nostalgia and determination in her eyes. You watched her in silence, your chest tightening with the memory of Armin's birth. The first births had been uneventful — the twins, Asher and Aster, came into the world without complications, followed by Archie, whose birth was also quick and almost effortless. But that night, with Armin, still haunted you. The sound of Inês's screams of pain, the endless contractions and the blood...

She had spent hours in agony, and you, helpless, could only watch as fear and despair took over. The trauma of that moment was difficult to erase, and the mere thought that Inês could go through something like that again made you panic.

Now, Inês was pregnant again, something you neither expected nor wanted. Fear took over you every time you thought about what was to come. While she seemed determined to move forward with the pregnancy, you fought the need to protect her, to keep her from going through that hell again.

“It’ll be okay this time,” she said, noticing your uneasiness without looking away from Archie. It was as if she could sense your thoughts, even without having to ask.