Chapter 59

(Emily's POV).

"Keep popping the balloons! The last balloon is your baby's gender!" the announcer shouted with boundless energy.

I couldn’t help but smile at the excitement that rippled through the crowd. The air was charged with anticipation, and the sheer enthusiasm of our family and friends filled me with a warmth that spread from my chest all the way to my toes.

This moment—it felt surreal, like a dream I didn’t want to wake from. My hand tightened around Mike’s as we stood before the line of balloons, each one a colorful mystery waiting to be burst.

The relatives in attendance seemed almost too ambitious, as if they’d been waiting their entire lives for this spectacle.

My parents, Mike’s parents, and even his old friends—faces lit up with joy, with some of the women whispering excitedly to each other while the men cracked jokes that I could only half-hear.

I caught glimpses of their expectant faces, their eyes twinkling as they urged us on.

With a determined squeeze, Mike and I