Esther had imagined having children when she first married Arthur, picturing a family that would complete her and fill her life with joy. But the reality of her marriage to him had been far from those dreams. Arthur had treated her with indifference, sometimes even cruelty, making her feel unworthy and trapped.
The idea of bringing a child into that world back then had terrified her—she couldn't bear the thought of raising a child in an environment so cold and loveless.
Now, with Cyrus, everything was different. He had shown her love in a way she never thought possible—patient, kind, and filled with warmth. He made her feel cherished, valued, and safe, like she could finally breathe freely after so many years of holding her breath. But still, the scars from her past lingered, casting a shadow over the present. Could she really let herself hope for something as big as this? Could she open her heart fully to the idea of having a child, knowing how vulnerable it would make her again?
