65

Maxine Pov

I was sitting in the small kitchen area of my room, savoring the meal that Ella had brought over. The food was good, but I couldn't help but notice that she seemed distant and sad, her usually bright character was clouded by something heavy on her mind. I set my plate down, my appetite immediately faded as my concern for my friend grew.

Although I have had almost enough.

"Ella, what's wrong?" I asked gently, watching as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she took a deep breath before speaking. "Maxine, I've been trying to get pregnant, but it’s not working. I've done everything, but nothing seems to help. It's making me feel like I am not woman enough. I'm worried and no longer comfortable."

I felt a twitch of empathy for her. "Have you spoken to Tobias about this? Is he putting pressure on you? What’s he saying? Because his own opinion matters more in this issue."

Ella shook her head. "No, Tobias has been very understanding. He hasn't