When Tyler came out, he saw Rachel already drifting off. He slipped into bed behind her, wrapping an arm gently around her, his hand resting protectively over her belly. His movements were featherlight.
“I’ll go back to work once you’re asleep,” he whispered.
Rachel couldn’t remember when she fell asleep–only that the moment the drowsiness hit, she sank into it without resistance.
The next morning, when she woke, her hand instinctively reached for the sheets beside her. They were cool and had no trace of warmth left. She didn’t need to guess. Tyler must have been in the study all night.
She tied her hair up into a loose bun and clipped it, then put on a jacket and walked to the study. Turning the knob carefully, she cracked the door open just enough to peek inside. Tyler was slumped over his desk, fast asleep. Two empty coffee cups sat off to the side.
Rachel’s heart ached a little. She knew his habits too well. Even if he looked like he was sleeping, it wasn’t real rest. His insomnia was already serious. If he kept disrupting his sleep schedule like this, his deep sleep would only shrink further until all that was left were scattered fragments of light sleep.
The real issue was the company. Rachel knew why Tyler was suddenly pushing himself so hard. It all came back to her. Her large debt with her ex–company was enough to crush anyone. Even if Tyler’s company had started to recover, the pressure was suffocating. He never said a word, but Rachel knew he was burning himself out trying to find a way to sort out that debt for her. She couldn’t let him be dragged down because of her.
Quietly, she pulled the door shut again and went back to the bedroom to freshen up before heading downstairs. Wanda had just set breakfast on the table. When she saw Rachel, her eyes lit up.
“Good morning, Madam. I made a few extra dishes today. See what you feel like eating.”
Rachel stopped short at the sight. There was a variety of dishes including oat porridge, meatballs, salad, scrambled eggs, and a honey dip on the side. There was also a seafood boil with shrimps, leafy greens, and pumpkins. On top of that, there was even yoghurt served with crushed blueberries and strawberries. On the sideboard, warm milk and soup were served. Finally, she saw a fruit platter with neatly cut grapes, mango, and cantaloupe.
Rachel’s eyes went wide. “Wanda, you made way too much! Even with the three of us, we couldn’t finish this. Actually, we couldn’t finish all this if you added two more people!”
Wanda wiped her hands and laughed. “Sir asked me to. He said since you’re pregnant now, your appetite and cravings might change a lot.”
Rachel felt a warm sensation inside her chest. She smiled and waved Wanda over.
“Then stop fussing and sit down to eat with me.”
Wanda blinked in surprise. She then chuckled and nodded.
“Alright, I’ll grab another plate.”
Rachel hadn’t felt any morning sickness yet. If the doctor hadn’t told her she was pregnant, she wouldn’t have noticed at all. In the beginning, when she felt queasy, she just assumed it was her stomach acting up again. She thought back to that night at the bar. Thank goodness she hadn’t drunk any alcohol, or it would’ve been a real problem.