Limbs that appear far too thin for a girl of her height.

As I stare in horrified fascination, she lifts her head in a sudden jerky movement and looks directly at me, her blue eyes sharp and clear in her delicately featured face.

I instantly duck, my pulse racing from a burst of adrenaline. Rosa, however, is still looking in the window, her expression that of avid curiosity.

“Rosa,” I hiss, grabbing her arm. “She saw us. Let’s go.”

“Okay, okay,” my friend concedes, letting me tug her away. “Let’s go.”

We head back toward our usual path in silence. Rosa appears to be deep in thought, and I can’t bring myself to speak, my nausea intensifying with every step. As we pass by a set of rose bushes, I kneel down and throw up while Rosa holds my hair and repeatedly apologizes for causing me distress in my condition.

I wave her apologies away, shakily getting back on my feet. What disturbs me the most is not the fact that I saw a woman bound and likely about to be tortured.

It’s that the sight didn’t shock me as it should have.

Julian doesn’t join me for dinner that night. According to Ana, he has an emergency call with one of his Hong Kong associates. I consider going to his office to listen in, but decide to use the time to call my parents instead.

“Nora, honey, when are we going to see you again?” my mom asks for the dozenth time after I give her a quick update on my classes. My dad is traveling for business, so it’s just the two of us on video chat today. “I miss you so much.”

“I know, Mom. I miss you too.” I bite the inside of my cheek, my eyes suddenly burning with tears. Fucking pregnancy hormones. “I told you, Julian said we’ll be able to come at some point soon.”

“When?” my mom asks in frustration. “Why can’t you just give us a date?”

Because I’m pregnant, and my overprotective kidnapper/husband refuses to even talk about going anywhere right now. “Mom…” I take a breath, trying to gather my courage. “I think there’s something you should know.”

My mom leans closer to the camera, instant worry creasing her forehead. “What is it, honey?”

“I’m eight weeks pregnant. Julian and I are having a baby.” As soon as the words are out, I feel like a slab of granite was lifted off my shoulders. I hadn’t realized until this moment how heavily this secret weighed on me.

My mom blinks. “What? Already?”

“Um, yeah.” This is not the reaction I was expecting. Frowning, I lean closer to the camera. “What do you mean, already?”

“Well, your dad and I figured that with the two of you being married and all…” She shrugs. “I mean, we were hoping it wouldn’t happen for a while, and you’d get to finish school first—”

“You figured I’d have children with Julian?” I feel like I’m in an alternate universe. “And you’re okay with that?”