Sienna sat in the dim glow of her living room, hands resting lightly on her stomach. The reality of her pregnancy was finally sinking in. She was going to be a mom. The thought sent a wave of anxiety and wonder crashing over her. This wasn't part of her plan—but neither was Li Wei, and yet, here she was.

The uncertainty of what lay ahead made her chest tighten, but as she traced small circles over her stomach, she reminded herself that she wasn't alone. A tiny heartbeat now echoed alongside her own. A tiny person that needed her now more than ever.

A few days later, Wynter accompanied her to the doctor's office for her first ultrasound. Sienna lay on the examination table, heart pounding as the technician moved the wand over the cold gel placed on her stomach. She wasn't sure what to expect—what if something was wrong? What if she wasn't ready? But then, the grainy black-and-white image flickered on the screen, and the rhythmic thump of a heartbeat filled the room.

"You're measuring at about twelve weeks," the technician said with a warm smile.

Sienna sucked in a breath. Twelve weeks. That lined up exactly with her time in Shanghai.

She glanced at Wynter, who squeezed her hand. "That's your baby, Sienna. My little niece or nephew."

Sienna let out a shaky laugh, her throat tightening with emotion. "It's real," she whispered, staring at the image on the screen. "I mean, I knew it was, but seeing it like this..."

"When will I be able to know the gender?" Sienna asked as the technician printed photos of the ultrasound for her.

"Normally, we can tell the gender at about sixteen weeks. You're almost there," the tech said, handing the ultrasound photos to her.

Tears welled in her eyes. It wasn't just a possibility anymore—it was real. And for the first time since she found out, she felt a sense of certainty settle in her chest. She was keeping the baby.

Over the next few days, she made adjustments. She took time off from the office, shifting to remote work to give herself space to rest and process. Her life was changing in ways she had never anticipated, and she needed to regain control where she could.

Dr. Thomas prescribed her iron tablets and prenatal vitamins, reminding her to take care of herself as much as she would take care of the baby.

She quickly discovered that pregnancy came with its own quirks—like her sudden aversion to French fries and Doritos, both of which had been staples in her diet. The mere smell now made her stomach churn.

On the other hand, cinnamon buns were a new favorite, and she could tolerate Lo Mein—something that made her think of Li Wei more than she wanted to admit. Was it a sign? A tiny, unspoken connection that her child had already made with their father?

She spent hours curled up on the couch, reading articles about pregnancy, nutrition, and prenatal care, trying to absorb everything at once.

Her search history became a mix of baby names, pregnancy symptoms, and how to prepare for motherhood. She never imagined she'd be in this position—motherhood had always been something she placed on the far horizon, a "someday" after she had conquered the world of design. Sienna Designs was supposed to be her legacy. Being a wife and mother could wait.

But life had other plans.

She also knew she needed to start telling people—but on her own terms. Wynter and Erin had promised to keep quiet, but she could tell they were itching to talk.

She gave Wynter permission to tell her husband, but she wanted to be the one to tell their parents. And she absolutely didn't want anything posted on social media. Li and his team followed her business closely, and the last thing she needed was for them to find out through a post. She wasn't ready for that conversation. Not yet.

The following week, Sienna finally decided to tell her parents in person. She asked them to meet her, with Wynter, at a quiet café, where she ordered a chamomile tea instead of her usual espresso. Her mother immediately raised an eyebrow at the choice but didn't comment.

"So...what's the big news?" her father asked, glancing between his daughters.

Sienna took a deep breath and placed the ultrasound photo on the table between them. Her mother's eyes widened as she picked it up, while her father leaned in, adjusting his glasses.

"Sienna," her mother breathed. "Is this—?"

She nodded. "I'm pregnant."

Her mother's hand flew to her chest, and her father sat back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"Oh my God," her mother whispered. "Sweetheart, why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"I needed time to process everything," Sienna admitted.

Her father finally spoke, his voice steady but laced with concern. "My baby is having a baby. We didn't know you were seeing someone Sienna."

"Technically, we are not officially a couple" Sienna answered.

"So, does the father know?" her mother asked with concern in her eyes.

Sienna hesitated, then shook her head. "Not yet."

Her mother exhaled, setting the ultrasound down carefully. "Sien...he deserves to know."

"I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just don't know how to say it."

Her father sighed, his expression softening. "We'll support you no matter what. But don't wait too long. The longer you hold onto a secret like this, the harder it gets."

Wynter reached for Sienna's hand and squeezed it. "Whenever you're ready, we've got you."

Sienna nodded, knowing deep down they were right. She had been delaying the inevitable. She needed to tell Li.

But was she truly ready for his reaction?