Chapter 0562

Nina

I meandered through the marble halls of the museum, the art surrounding me a comforting distraction that I sorely needed. Each painting and statue had its own unique beauty to it, and I eventually found myself in the Ancient History section, gawking at a pair of clay vases with depictions of women on them.

"Lovely, aren't they?" A voice suddenly pulled me out of my reverie. I glanced up to see a museum attendant standing there, an older man, his hair neatly combed to the side. "The vases."

"They really are," I said, leaning in to look a little closer. "The details are phenomenal."

The attendant nodded. "It's quite spectacular for this time period. The way that something so precious can be preserved for so long, hidden in the earth... It's a testament to life, isn't it?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. How astute of him, "It sure is," I said. "No matter the complications, beauty and simplicity always shine through."

Later, as I stepped into the Impressionism section, my phone buzzed.

"On my way to pick you up." Enzo's message read. My heart did a little leap; I was eager to see him, to apologize, to lay to rest the uneasiness of last night.

But just as I was about to slip the phone back into my pocket, a shadow flickered along the periphery of my vision. My pulse quickened; it was the third time today I had seen that clusive shadowy entity. It was like it was following me, always just out of sight, always just out of reach.

I wanted to call Enzo, to hear his voice tell me that everything was fine. But I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the call button, and I ultimately pocketed the phone.

stress, nothing more. Stress and pregnancy hormones. In a few short days, perhaps I would be visiting the right specialists-or perhaps even a witch-for whatever this ailment

the main floor of the museum to the cafe, where the scent of coffee and pastries was enough to wash away my worries. I ordered a cappuccino, figuring that maybe I was just seeing things from exhaustion and that a little caffeine would wake

to approach the conversation with Enzo tonight. I owed him an apology. I owed us a chance to lay it all out, to

had been right, I had nothing to fear. Mila had no chance, and besides, we were starting a family together. How could I possibly think that my husband would leave me for a

placing a steaming cup and on the counter

of the drink seeping through the cardboard as I picked it up and warming

to kill some time until Enzo arrived. Little trinkets caught my eye, and I picked up a few little things to bring home as gifts: some cards, chocolates, a mug with a Monet painting on it for Lori, and a plushie of a cat in a painter's beret for Jessica. By the time I rang up, I received another text from

the two of us, on a mini vacation in a new city. I could handle that. No Mila,

into the car and buckled my seatbelt, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I leaned over and

his gaze fixed on the road ahead as he

day?" I asked, watching his expression

word fell flat, like a door slamming shut, and I instantly knew that something was

about my

blinked, as if he was just waking up. "I'm sorry. How was

out of the corners of my eyes. "The museum was really fascinating. So many artworks, sculptures, pieces that make you think, you know? But let's talk about dinner. Have you thought about where

service at the hotel," he suggested. "I'm a bit tired, so I

"We could order some delicious food, cuddle up

smile didn't quite

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