The weight of my body felt like a leaden blanket. I opened my eyes to a blinding white. My throat was dry, and a dull ache throbbed in my head. I saw Joana, curled up asleep on the couch, her face pale in the harsh light. I tried to call out to her, but my voice was a hoarse whisper. 
The door creaked open, and Daryl and Tyler stepped in, their faces etched with concern. They saw me awake and immediately called for the doctor. A flurry of activity followed, nurses bustling around, instruments clicking, voices murmuring. I lay there, enveloped in the cacophony, until the doctor finally spoke, his calm voice a beacon in the storm.
"Ms. Sandoval, can you tell me how you're feeling?" The doctor's voice was calm and reassuring, her eyes focused on me. I met her gaze, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. 
"A bit dizzy," I managed to say, my voice a little shaky. She nodded, her expression unreadable. 
"And when was your last menstrual period?" she asked, her tone matter-of-fact, her pen poised over the chart. I hesitated for a moment, then gave her the dates, trying to be as precise as possible.
I met the doctor's gaze, my words tumbling out in a rush, but my mind was elsewhere. Tyler's eyes were fixed on me, a silent intensity that sent a wave of fear through me. If I was pregnant, I knew he wouldn't hesitate to tell Laxus.
"Doctor," I began, my voice tight with anxiety. "Can we talk privately?" The doctor nodded, and Joana, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, quickly ushered Tyler out of the room. Daryl hesitated, his gaze lingering on me before he finally spoke. 
"I'll be back at the company, Tyra. Take care," he said, his voice a strained attempt at normalcy. I nodded, my heart pounding, as the door closed behind them.
The room felt suddenly empty, the silence amplified by the absence of the others. The doctor remained standing, her eyes fixed on me. I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me, and I forced a smile, hoping to appear composed.
"Am I pregnant?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, my heart pounding in my chest. The doctor's smile was warm and reassuring. 
"Yes, you are seven weeks pregnant," she confirmed. My hand flew to my stomach, a wave of disbelief washing over me. There was someone inside me, a tiny miracle growing within my body.
"You'll need to come in for regular check-ups," the doctor said, her voice gentle. I nodded, my mind reeling with the overwhelming joy and wonder.
The doctor's departure left a silence in the room. I continued to caress my stomach, a new sense of wonder washing over me. The door swung open, and Joana's familiar voice broke the spell, bringing me back to the reality of the moment.
"I told you!" Joana said, her voice a mix of excitement and relief. "How many weeks?" I couldn't help but grin at her, her reaction a stark contrast to my own quiet awe. "Seven," I said, my gaze fixed on my stomach.  
"You're so stubborn," Joana said, her voice laced with a playful scolding. "I told you to see a doctor!" I laughed, the news still sinking in.
"I just can't believe it," I whispered, my voice filled with a mixture of wonder and fear. "There's a baby in there." 
Joana's laughter was a welcome sound, a reminder that this was a joyous occasion. "So, what's the plan now?" she asked, her voice filled with a new seriousness. The door opened.
Tyler entered the room, his presence a palpable shift in the atmosphere. His gaze, cold and accusing, was fixed on me, and I knew, with a sinking feeling, that this was not going to be a pleasant conversation. He stood beside Joana, their eyes locked on me, a silent battle brewing in the space between us.
"What are you going to do now, Tyra?" Tyler asked, his voice laced with a harshness that made my heart sink. "You already had a child with him, and now you're divorced." His words felt like a physical blow, a sharp stab in my chest.  
Joana stepped forward, her hand resting lightly on Tyler's arm. "You're being too hard on her," she said, her voice soothing.  
But even as she tried to soften the blow, I knew Tyler's words had struck a chord, a painful truth I couldn't ignore.
During my marriage to Laxus, building a family wasn't a priority. We were both driven by ambition, consumed by the corporate world. Now, divorced and unexpectedly pregnant, I felt a wave of emotions wash over me. A sense of loss for the life we could have had, a flicker of fear for the future, and a spark of hope for the new life growing within me.
"I'm going to raise my baby alone," I said, the words heavy on my tongue. Their surprise was evident, a silent question hanging in the air.
"Are you going to hide it from Laxus?" Tyler asked, his voice laced with a hint of judgment. I glared at him, my anger a simmering fire.
"Yes. If you tell him, I'm leaving, and no one will ever see me or my baby again," I warned, my voice a low growl. He sighed, his shoulders slumping. 
"You're still my sister, Tyra. I wouldn't betray you," he said, his voice softer now. I couldn't help but smirk, my past experiences with him coloring my trust. 
"You already have… many times," I countered. He looked worried, his gaze searching mine. 
"What about our parents?" he asked. My parents, their faces filled with love and concern, flashed through my mind. 
"Give me time to gather my strength, and I'll tell them," I said, my voice a mix of determination and vulnerability. They nodded, understanding dawning in their eyes.
The hospital felt like a cage, even though I was physically fine. The baby was healthy, and all I needed was rest and peace of mind. I couldn't wait to get home, away from the sterile walls and the constant monitoring. 
We finally left, and as we drove back to our house, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Joana, ever the loyal friend, stayed by my side, her presence a comforting balm. She was like a second mother to me, and I was grateful for her unwavering support.
"Call me if you need anything, okay?"Joana said, her brow furrowed with concern, her gaze lingering on me for a moment before she turned to leave.
I absentmindedly scrolled through my phone, my eyes landing on Laxus' social media account. He wasn't much of a poster, his last update a solitary post from a month ago, a testament to his aversion to the digital world. I scrolled down, my fingers tracing the familiar posts, a silent echo of our shared past. 
My thumb brushed against the like button, accidentally tapping it. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly removed the like, my breath catching in my chest. The connection, though fleeting, was undeniable.
"Whew, that was close!" I breathed, a wave of relief washing over me. I shut down my phone, the screen a stark reminder of my near miss. My body ached for rest, so I crawled into bed and drifted off to sleep.
The room was plunged into darkness when I finally opened my eyes. A wave of relief washed over me, and I was feeling much better. A return to work tomorrow seemed possible. Suddenly, a sharp rap on the door startled me. It opened instantly, revealing Joana.
"Dinner's ready! Come on, let's eat!" Joana exclaimed, and I nodded eagerly.
I stretched and yawned, pushing myself out of bed. As I descended the stairs, the aroma of dinner wafted up to meet me. Tyler was already waiting in the dining area, and we settled in to enjoy the meal.
“Are you planning to go back to work tomorrow?” Tyler’s question caught me off guard. 
I stammered, “Ahm… yes!” Their eyes were on me. 
Joana chimed in, “I spoke to her doctor, and she said it’s fine for Tyra to return to work.” I smiled at her, grateful for her support. 
Tyler added, “Just don’t tire yourself out too much.” I agreed, nodding. “Of course,” I assured him, “I wouldn’t put my baby in danger.” We finished our meal in comfortable silence. Back in my room, I brushed my teeth and drifted off to sleep.
The familiar rhythm of my morning routine began at five. I woke up, got ready for work, and headed downstairs, where Joana was already preparing breakfast.
"This is the least I can do," Joana said, her voice filled with sincerity as she unveiled the breakfast she'd made.
I left the house after breakfast, my mind already focused on the day ahead. In the elevator, I noticed a group of colleagues, their faces turning towards me as they exchanged hushed words. I couldn't help but wonder what they were discussing.
"How are you? We got the news about you fainting," a woman said, her voice full of concern. My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Fainted?" I repeated, my mind struggling to recall the incident. "I'm okay now," I assured her, forcing a smile. 
"Sir Daryl was really worried," she added, her words making my stomach churn. "Are you single?" she asked, her question making my blood boil.
The elevator doors hissed open, revealing the hallway beyond. They stepped out, their whispers still echoing in the confined space, their prying eyes fixed on me even as they disappeared.
The rhythmic swish of the cleaning cloth against the desk was my only focus as I tidied Daryl's workspace. Lost in my task, I didn't notice him slip into the office, his footsteps muffled by the carpet.
“You should take a rest. I can allow you though,” Daryl said, placing his briefcase on the table. 
“I can still work, sir!” I insisted, finishing the task at hand.  
“You almost fainted yesterday,” he reminded me, his gaze meeting mine.  
“And they’re already talking about me,” I said, my voice laced with frustration. He looked at me seriously, his expression unreadable. 
“Are you still thinking about that?” he asked, his voice low and steady. I hesitated, unable to meet his eyes. “You should stop thinking about what they’ll say,” he advised, his tone firm but gentle. “Focus on yourself.” He settled into his chair, his presence a calming force in the room.
I simply nodded, my silence speaking volumes. Leaving his office, I returned to my desk and immersed myself in my work. The rhythmic click of the keyboard was interrupted by the sharp crackle of the intercom, Daryl's voice cutting through the quiet.
"Can you come here?" Daryl's voice boomed over the intercom. 
Without hesitation, I pressed the button, "I'm going now, sir!" and switched off the intercom.
I approached his office and rapped on the door before stepping inside. He was engrossed in his computer, but the moment he saw me, he paused his work.
“Schedule a shareholder meeting for this week," Daryl commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Have the department heads prepare monthly reports. We'll present them to the shareholders. And tell them to submit their scripts so I can review them beforehand." I nodded, my gaze fixed on him. 
"Anything else, sir?" I asked, anticipating further instructions. 
"No, that's all," he replied, dismissing me with a curt nod.
I returned to my desk and began following Daryl's instructions. Just as I was getting into the swing of planning the meeting, my phone buzzed with a call from Joana.
"Hey!" I greeted, catching a snippet of Tyler's voice on the other end. "Your brother did something," Joana blurted, her tone laced with a mix of concern and amusement. My curiosity was piqued. 
"What is it?" I pressed, urgency rising in my voice. 
"I overheard him talking to Daryl earlier," she whispered, "and he was threatening him not to give you a lot of work." I shot up from my chair, my heart pounding. 
"Really?" I breathed, disbelief coloring my voice. 
"Yes—" Joana started, but before she could continue, Tyler's voice boomed through the phone, "Why did you tell her?”
I hung up the phone and marched straight to Daryl's office. I knocked, pushed the door open, and found him staring blankly into space. The moment he saw me, his eyes darted back to his computer screen.
"If you can't—" Daryl started, but I interrupted him. 
"I can, sir!" I assured him. 
A beat of silence followed, then, with a sudden shift in tone, he asked, "Are you single?" The question hung in the air, leaving me speechless.