Chapter 8 - Ethan Found Out Hannah Was Pregnant, and the Woman Who Had Protected Everyone Else Finally Allowed Herself to Be ProtectedThree months after the proposal, Hannah became sick every morning.
Ethan noticed.
“You're pale.”
“I'm fine.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I learned it from you.”
He laughed.
Then she handed him a test.
He stared.
“Is this...?”
She nodded.
“We're having a baby.”
He sat down.
For once, Ethan Mercer had absolutely nothing to say.
Then he laughed.
Then he cried.
Hannah laughed at him.
“You're terrible at this.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I'm overwhelmed.”
She hugged him.
“So am I.”
He kissed her stomach.
“Hello.”
She laughed.
“You can't hear anything.”
“I don't care.”
They built a nursery.
They planned.
They argued over names.
Then tragedy threatened again.
A small group of former Weller associates tried to reclaim the old network.
But this time, Hannah wasn't alone.
Ethan had people.
The town had people.
The foundation had people.
They stood together.
No violence was needed.
The authorities shut the operation down.
Hannah watched.
She realized something.
She no longer had to fight alone.
People could fight beside her.
That was the lesson she had never understood.
She had mistaken strength for carrying everything herself.
Now she knew.
Strength could also mean trusting someone enough to share the weight.
Ethan held her hand.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
She smiled.
“Really.”
Their daughter was born that winter.
They named her Grace.
Hannah held her.
Ethan cried again.
She teased him.
“You're becoming predictable.”
“I don't care.”
May you like
He kissed them both.
“I have everything.”
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