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Nova's POV
I wanted to speak, but I knew Marian understood everything. She had picked up on their tone earlier.
“I just wanted to take a walk, Grandma. But it seems I was in the wrong place,” I finally said.
Marian turned to Jessica and Emily, her eyes now shining with authority. “You both, enough. If you cannot accept Nova as part of this family, then you are the ones who need to question your place here. Because whoever Diego marries, she is his legitimate wife, and that is undeniable.”
Jessica gritted her teeth but said nothing. Emily just looked down.
Marian stepped closer to me and gently touched my arm. “Come on, Nova. Don’t waste your time on people whose hearts are too narrow to change.”
We left the garden, leaving two women who could no longer hide their anger. And as I walked beside Marian, I knew one thing, I might not have been born into this family, but I wouldn’t let anyone drive me out of it.
We walked in silence through the castle corridors. The sound of our footsteps echoed softly between the cold stone walls. Marian kept holding my arm, as if she wanted to channel her strength through that simple touch.
Though I tried to appear calm, my heart was still racing, and my mind was filled with questions about my position, my future, and how I could continue to survive in this place.
“I know this isn’t easy, Nova,” Marian’s voice broke the silence, calm yet deep. “But you’re not alone.”
I nodded slowly, swallowing the lump of emotion that caught in my throat. “I don’t understand why they hate me so much. I’ve barely been here.”
“You bring change, dear,” Marian replied, looking straight ahead. “And change is frightening for those who are too comfortable in power and control. Jessica and Emily feel their positions are threatened, especially after you married Diego and are carrying his child.”
“But I never intended to take anything from them,” I whispered.
“I know,” Marian stopped walking, guiding me to sit on one of the long benches in the glass hall overlooking the back garden. “But they don’t see your intentions. They only see your presence.”
I looked down, staring at my still-flat stomach. I couldn’t feel any movements from within yet, but I knew there was life growing. A life that was the main reason I had come this far. “Sometimes I think maybe it’s better if I just leave.”
“Never say that again.” Marian’s tone became sharp. She turned to me, her eyes piercing yet full of love. “Your departure would only let them win. You are stronger than they think, and your child deserves to grow with a mother who doesn’t give up.”
Her words echoed in my heart. I knew Marian wasn’t just saying this to please or persuade me. She was speaking the truth of her bitter life experiences, now serving as my shield in facing the same world.
After a moment, we stood again. Marian took my arm as we headed toward the east wing of the castle, then gently released my hand. “Rest now. This afternoon you need to see the doctor and check on your pregnancy. Yesterday’s journey was too long, and your baby needs to be healthy and safe.”
I nodded and offered a weak smile. “Thank you, Grandma Marian.”
She nodded gently before walking away, leaving me standing in front of my room with thoughts swirling in my mind. As I entered and closed the door behind me, I lay down on the bed. I stared at the ceiling, letting everything spin in my head. They could hate me. They could oppose me. But I had one thing they didn’t have, the determination to endure.
Not because I wanted power or recognition, but because I wanted to protect something bigger than myself—my child and the future I could build with Diego, if fate allowed it.
In the silence of the room, I felt a calm beginning to flow. All the sharp words from Jessica and Emily seemed to evaporate, replaced by the hope and love growing within me. I knew this journey wouldn’t be easy, but I was willing to fight.
Imagining the face of the baby who would be born filled me with excitement. I wanted to be a strong and loving mother, someone who not only faced challenges but also inspired my child to bravely face the world.
That afternoon, sunlight gently streamed through the large window of our room. The white curtains fluttering in the breeze created a peaceful atmosphere, at least for a moment. I sat propped up on the bed with soft pillows supporting my back, wearing a casual cream dress that Marian had asked the maid to prepare for me.
There was a soft knock on the door, then it opened. A woman in her forties entered with a friendly smile. Behind her, one of the maids carried a small medical bag.
“Good afternoon, Lady Nova. I’m the doctor who will examine you and your baby.”
I nodded slightly. “Thank you for coming, Doctor.”
The doctor took a chair and sat beside the bed. She began by checking my blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. All was done calmly and carefully. After that, she prepared the tools to check the baby’s heartbeat.
“We’re going to listen to the little sound from your baby,” she said, then placed the device on my stomach.
A few seconds passed before the rhythmic, quick, regular, and clear sound of the heartbeat was heard.
“The heartbeat is very good. Your baby is healthy,” she said with a smile. “But I must emphasize that you need plenty of rest. Your emotional condition also greatly affects the baby’s development. So, try to stay calm, avoid stress, and eat enough.”
I nodded, feeling a little relieved. Hearing that little sound… somehow made everything feel more real. I was truly carrying a little life within me.
“Thank you, Doctor,” I whispered, nearly trembling.
I stared at the closed door after they left, then gently touched my stomach. In the silence of the room, I promised I would take care of this baby as best as I could… no matter what happened.