Chapter Thirty-Four : Lucia's pov

It had been days since Andretti's grandfather's birthday, Lucia sat at the kitchen table, staring at her half-eaten breakfast. The smell of toast and coffee, usually so comforting, now made her stomach turn. She pushed the plate away, pressing her fingers to her temples as a dull headache pulsed behind her eyes. Lately, everything had felt off—small waves of nausea in the mornings, a strange fatigue she couldn’t shake, and an odd sense of queasiness at the smell of certain foods.

Her hand drifted absentmindedly to her abdomen as she tried to make sense of it. She’d been feeling this way for days, but today it felt more intense. The queasiness hit again, stronger this time, and she quickly stood up, but the sudden motion left her dizzy. She clutched the back of her chair for balance, feeling lightheaded, her heart pounding softly in her chest.

Lucia sank back down, eyes wide with a dawning realization. Her period—she hadn’t even thought about it, but now it seemed so obvious. How lon