The porcelain teacup felt soothing and warm against Clara’s cold fingers, smelling faintly of sweet clover and dry chamomile leaves.
Julian: Drink it down while it is warm, sweetheart. You have barely kept any food down since yesterday morning.
Julian stood beside the polished marble island of their Connecticut estate, smoothing the sleeves of his tailored suit jacket with a soft smile.
Clara: The morning sickness has just been relentless today. The doctor told me the second trimester would feel lighter, but I feel completely exhausted.
Evelyn: It is a delicate pregnancy, Clara. That is why Julian and I took the time to brew this special herbal blend for you.
Evelyn sat upright on the tall barstool, her silver hair styled into an immaculate chignon, her icy gray eyes tracking the cup in Clara’s hands.
Clara: You really did not have to go through the trouble, Evelyn. I could have just asked the housekeeper for warm ginger water.
Evelyn: The housekeeper does not understand our family traditions. This blend settled Julian’s stomach when he was young, and it will keep the baby calm.
Julian: Drink up, Clara. We have a meeting with the estate lawyer at three, and you need your strength for the paperwork.
Clara: What paperwork are we signing today? You said we were just going over the nursery renovations.
Julian: Just routine trust fund documents, darling. Nothing you need to stress your head about right now.
Clara lifted the delicate ceramic cup toward her lips, blowing lightly across the rising steam.
A heavy metallic crash echoed violently from the service hallway behind them, rattling the china inside the glass display cabinets.
Julian: What on earth is that racket?
Evelyn: Julian, tell security to check the side gates right now.
The pantry door was shoved inward with sudden force, and a breathless young woman stumbled into the bright kitchen, clutching a torn manila folder.
Julian: What are you doing in this house? Security!
Evelyn: Call the police immediately, Julian! She broke in!
The woman sprinted straight toward the marble island, her eyes wide with terror as she lunged toward Clara's trembling hands.
Maya: Let me go! Don't drink that, stop!
Clara: Who are you? What is going on?
Maya: He and his mother are trying to kill your unborn baby!