Chapter 207: The Silence Between Them

Leitana walked down the grand staircase, still feeling the weight of the delicate gold chain locked around her waist under her dress. Every step reminded her of her punishment.

“Leitana!” Marita called, rushing toward her from the living room. “What happened? Yu came home so late yesterday. Mi was worried sick!”

Leitana paused on the steps, shoulders slumping. She gave a tired, guilty smile.

“Mi… mi did something stupid last night,” she said quietly. “Mi had a bad dream about Arabella getting hurt by that rabid dog. Mi convinced the others to go look for her. We ended up in the area where the attacks happened… and the wolf attacked us. Ethan got bitten badly. Mi almost got everyone killed.”

Marita’s eyes widened in horror. “Ohhh… that’s why your husband seems so much colder than ever. Even more scary this morning.” She stepped closer and gently poked Leitana’s forehead. “Yu foolish girl! Yu pregnant! Yu no fit just run off into danger like that because of one dream! Yu could have died! The baby could have died! Mi so angry with yu right now!”

Leitana looked down, ashamed. “Mi know… mi sorry, Marita. Mi feel very bad.”

Before Marita could scold her more, Ravial’s deep voice called from the foyer.

“Lamb.”

Leitana straightened quickly. “Mi have to go now. Hospital for antenatal check-up. When mi come back later, yu must tell mi how your tour yesterday with Lucius went, okay?”

Marita’s cheeks instantly heated up. She looked away, fiddling with her fingers. “It… it was nice. He showed mi a lot of places.”

Leitana gave her a small, knowing smile despite everything, then hurried down the rest of the stairs.

Ravial was already waiting. He didn’t say a word. He simply opened the passenger door for her, waited until she got in, then closed it and walked around to the driver’s side. The car was completely silent as they drove out of the villa grounds.

The fifteen-minute drive to the hospital felt like forever. Ravial’s hands stayed tight on the steering wheel. He didn’t speak. He didn’t even glance at her. The gold chain around Leitana’s waist felt heavier with every second of silence.

Leitana sat with her hands folded in her lap, guilt and nervousness twisting inside her chest. She wanted to say something, anything but the cold wall between them made her throat tight.

“Everything looks normal from what we can see,” Dr. Elena Ramirez said warmly, moving the ultrasound wand slowly over Leitana’s small, rounded belly.

The dark room was quiet except for the gentle hum of the machine. Leitana lay on the examination bed, shirt lifted, gel cold on her skin. Ravial stood right beside her, one hand resting possessively on her shoulder, blindfolded face turned toward the monitor.

On the screen, their baby appeared, tiny, but already so real. The little figure moved, kicking its legs gently, one hand drifting near its face. The heartbeat filled the room: strong, steady, and fast.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Leitana’s eyes filled with tears. “Mi baby…” she whispered, voice cracking.

Ravial’s hand tightened on her shoulder. He leaned closer to the screen, completely still, as if afraid to miss even one second.

Dr. Ramirez smiled softly. “Baby is measuring perfectly for twelve weeks. Heart rate is excellent, 148 beats per minute. Everything is developing right on track. No signs of distress.”

She moved the wand gently, pointing things out. “Here’s the spine… look at those little fingers moving. The placenta is healthy and in a good position.”

Ravial’s voice was low and serious. “Is the baby safe? Is there any risk?”

The doctor nodded reassuringly. “From what Leitana told me about the stress, everything looks fine. But we’ll keep a closer eye. Continue with your prenatal vitamins, eat plenty of iron-rich foods, spinach, lean meats, beans and stay hydrated. Avoid heavy lifting and extreme stress if possible.” She looked at Ravial with a small smile. “And rest. Lots of rest.”

Leitana wiped her tears, smiling through them as she watched the baby turn on the screen. “Mi baby is so active…”

Ravial’s thumb stroked her shoulder gently. For the first time that day, his voice softened. “He’s strong,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Just like his mother.”

Dr. Ramirez printed out several ultrasound pictures and handed them over. “Would you like to know the gender yet? Or keep it a surprise?”

Leitana looked up at Ravial, eyes shining. “Mi want to know… but only if yu want too.”

Ravial was quiet for a second, then nodded once. “Tell us.”

Dr. Ramirez smiled wider. “It’s a boy.”

Leitana let out a soft, happy sob. “A boy…”

Ravial’s hand moved from her shoulder down to her belly, covering the tiny bump protectively. His voice was barely above a whisper.

“Our son.”

When the appointment ended, the doctor printed out several ultrasound pictures and handed them over with a smile.

Then gave them a few more instructions, scheduled the next appointment, and left them alone for a moment.

Leitana looked up at Ravial, still emotional. “Mi Ravial… a boy.”

He leaned down and pressed a long, tender kiss to her forehead, then to her lips.

“Our boy,” he corrected softly, voice thick. “And I will keep both of you safe. No matter what it takes.”

Leitana closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks again, this time from love instead of guilt.

As they walked out of the hospital, Leitana clutched the pictures tightly to her chest. She glanced up at Ravial, who was still silent.

“Mi Ravial…” she whispered. “Did you see how active our baby was?”

He finally looked down at her. His voice was still cool, but there was the faintest softness underneath.

“I saw,” he said quietly. “Our child is strong. Just like you.”

Leitana’s eyes watered again. She wanted so badly to hold his hand, but she remembered her punishment and kept her hands to herself.

The silence between them continued as they got back into the car, heading home.

As they drove back from the hospital, the silence in the car remained heavy. Leitana clutched the ultrasound pictures tightly to her chest, occasionally glancing at the image of their tiny son moving on the screen. Ravial’s hands stayed firm on the steering wheel, jaw tight. He still hadn’t spoken much since the appointment.

When they finally arrived at the villa, Ravial parked and came around to open her door. Leitana stepped out quietly, still holding the pictures like a precious treasure.

Inside the house, Ravial walked ahead of her toward the kitchen. Leitana followed, surprised.

“I will prepare something for you to eat,” he said, voice low but calm. “You need to rest and have proper food after this morning.”

Leitana’s eyes widened. “Yu… yu can cook?”

Ravial didn’t answer, just continued toward the kitchen.

The staff, Clara, Phoebe, and two other maids were already there preparing lunch. The moment Ravial entered, they straightened up respectfully.

“Leave,” he ordered simply. “All of you.”

The staff nodded quickly and began to move. Leitana smiled softly at them, lifting the ultrasound pictures slightly to show them. “It’s a boy,” she whispered, eyes shining.

The maids’ faces lit up with warm smiles and quiet congratulations before they hurried out, leaving the kitchen empty except for the two of them.

Ravial turned to her. “Sit.”

Leitana obeyed, sliding onto one of the high stools at the marble island, watching him with quiet awe.

Ravial rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt, revealing his strong, veiny forearms. The muscles flexed as he moved around the kitchen with surprising confidence, pulling out ingredients, heating a pan, chopping vegetables with precise, controlled movements.

Leitana felt her cheeks warm. He looked so… powerful. So capable. The way his veins stood out on his forearms, the way his broad shoulders moved under the shirt… it made her stomach flutter despite everything.

He started preparing a simple but nourishing meal, grilled chicken with fresh vegetables, quinoa, and a light herb sauce. The kitchen filled with delicious aromas.

Leitana rested her chin on her hand, watching him. “Mi never knew yu could cook like this…”

Ravial glanced at her briefly, his expression still cool but with the faintest hint of softness.

“I’ve lived long enough to learn many things,” he said quietly. “Including how to take care of what belongs to me.”

Leitana’s heart ached as she watched him. Even in his punishment, he was still taking care of her.

He plated the food beautifully and set it in front of her.

“Eat,” he ordered gently. “All of it.”

Leitana picked up the fork, eyes still watery. “Thank you, mi Ravial…”

He stood across from her, arms crossed, watching her take the first bite. His expression remained stern, but there was a flicker of something softer in the way he observed her eating.

Leitana ate slowly, savoring every bite. It was delicious.

But the silence between them still hurt.