The closet door swung open fully, and Meera surged forward, a desperate, animal instinct fueling her legs. She shoved against Aarav’s chest with all the strength her frail, exhausted body could muster, her bare feet slapping against the cold floor as she bolted into the hallway. The weight of her belly made her center of gravity precarious; she was clumsy, her breath hitching in ragged gasps that echoed against the high, vaulted ceilings of their home.

Aarav didn’t chase her. He didn’t have to. He simply watched, his arms crossed over his chest, a low, amused chuckle vibrating in his throat. He trailed behind her with the predatory grace of a cat playing with a wounded mouse.