So, the shot failed, didn't it?" Brina asked as she sat down on the couch and took a sip of water.

Her movements are very gentle and cautious. She didn't dare to move roughly.

"I think it did, but it's rare," Rhianna said.

Brina nodded her head. "Whatever it is, at the end I am pregnant" Brina said.

"Aren't you happy?" Rhianna asked.

"My heart is filled with complicated emotions. I think the happiness of becoming a mother is overshadowed by my fear and anxiety" Brina said.

"Don't worry. We all are there for you" Rhianna replied as she comforted her friend with a light squeeze of her hands. .

Brina smiled a little and changed the topic. "So, what should I do now? Bed rest-"

"Bed rest, no sex, no any other physical activities. No mental stress" Rhianna told her.

"Deit and the medications, I will be prescribing you"

"And, I will make periodic appointments and you need to come for check ups" she added...

Brina nodded her head.

No sex?

She didn't know how Louis would take it.

He has waited too long for this and it didn't last long. Not even a month.

After Rhianna explained everything to Brina, they returned back to the palace.

Natalie cancelled her appointment with her therapist after what all has happened.

"Nat, don't tell anyone yet. Not even Ethan, okay?" Brina asked.

"Sure, I won't. Just let me know if you want any help" Natalie said, as they shared a hug.

"Thank you. And, yeah, if I want any help, you will be the first person I will turn to" Brina said.

….

Brina came back to her quarters and Louis was nowhere to be seen. He would have gone to attend the meeting.

She lied down on the couch and her hands just lingered on her stomach.

Everything has abruptly changed.

A year back, she didn't even think that she would fall in love unconditionally and get married.

Just three months back, she didn't even know that she would be returning to the five kingdoms.

Just a month back, she isn't married.

Just a day back, she didn't even know that she was going to become a mother.

After meeting Louis, everything has happened so fast. So fast that she didn't think her life would turn into these many twists.

But whatever has happened, that happened for her own good. Louis is her lucky charm.

The best thing that ever happened in her life.

'Might be this pregnancy is not bad too. Who knows what good it would bring for me?' Brina thought, trying to fill her mind with positive thoughts.

'I never thought coming back would bring me this good. But, surprisingly, that decision has given me a family back. Whatever is happening, is for my own good' she cheered herself.

A knock on her door brought her back from her thinking.

"It's me Natalie," Natalie said from the other side.

As the place has a house automation system installed, Brina just has to use her phone to open the door.

"I brought some healthy food for you to eat. The chef in my quarters is pretty good so I had them prepare these for you. You should be hungry after all these" Natalie said as she walked inside with a tray in her hands.

"Thank you so much, Nat. It's so sweet of you" Brina said, smiling warmly.

"Not a big deal. I think you have to get a chef from now on. You need rest" Natalie suggested.

Brina cautiously sat up and started eating.

"Rhianna thinks that shot hasn't failed naturally. She suspects that something wrong happened" Natalie said.

"From the manufacturers?" Brina asked.

"She doesn't think so. As these shots are extremely costly and are produced in limited numbers, she doesn't think it's a problem by manufacturers. Her patients who used this brand have never ever complained that it failed. That is why Rhianna recommended them to us" Natalie said.

"Hmm. Then, what could it have been? I mean, could I be the unlucky one?" Brina asked.

"Or is it that we mate so much just like rabbits that the shot failed?" Brina asked, chuckling, though she knows that this could not happen.

"I don't think so either. Ethan is no less than his brother. If it happened to you it would have already happened to me" Natalie said, blushing, making Brina chuckle.

"I should thank mom for giving me that tonic. Otherwise my body would have been so weak than what it already is" Brina said.

"Yep, mom is so caring. But that tonic is so bitter.. ewww" Natalie said. "I almost choke it out every morning but Ethan wouldn't let me," she pouted.

He would take the tonic into his mouth and press his lips to hers and forcefully make her drink all of it.

"Bitter?" Brina asked.

"Yeah. So bitter" Natalie replied.

"But mine wasn't so bitter. It's just tasteless" Brina said.

"Could be the herbs' effect. Taste changes depending on it, right" Natalie said.

"Yeah, you are right. I might be overthinking again" Brina said.

Later, Natalie went back after talking for some more time with Brina.

Even Brina felt a little relaxed after talking to her Co sister who is also her cousin sister.

….

As it was almost evening and Brina didn't take a bath after coming back, she decided to take a shower.

She turned the water luke warm, not hot. She heard hot water isn't good for pregnant women.

With her palms on the wall, Brina let the water current erase all her tiredness. She closed her eyes and stayed like that.

In that noise, she didn't notice Louis coming inside.

He silently undressed and joined her.

His eyes darkened as soon as he saw her. As he didn't see her from morning, he was lovesick and missed her so much.

"Welcome back, wife" he huskily said as he hugged her from behind. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and started kissing it fervently.

His hands wandered around her body, making her feel a sudden gush of warmth in her abdomen.

"I missed you, you know" he said, as he gently pressed her against the wall and laced his lips to her collarbone.

Brina got aroused but when she remembered that she is pregnant and that Rhianna warned her, 'no sex' she pushed him away all of a sudden.

"Not now, Louis. I am tired" Brina lied, aware of what this might take them to.

It's better to stop in first rather than middle.

"Eh?" Louis blinked. Did he hear properly?

Did his wife just say no to him?

This is the first time this is happening. However, all of a sudden he realized that her periods are around the corner.

'Might be the mood swings' he thought.

"How about, I'll give you a massage then? It will relieve the stress" Louis asked, smiling gently at her.

After she had pushed him away, he didn't close in as he knew it would suffocate her.

Brina instantly felt bad for Louis. She felt guilty for saying no. However, this is something she couldn't risk.

Turning her heart into a stone, Brina shook her head sideways. "No, I am fine" she answered.

'Something is seriously wrong with my wife, today' Louis thought.

But like always, he decided not to nag her about it.

"Then, let's just have a normal bath" he said, keeping distance from her. He turned on the other shower and started bathing.

Brina looked at him, her heart heavy. He didn't even pry about what happened.

He always gives her that freedom and trusts in her.

'I should talk to him about this sooner. I can't escape all the time and if I do, he will surely suspect me. I would rather tell him by myself than make him listen from a third person,' Brina thought as she closed her eyes.

Louis looked at her and a worried crease marred his forehead.

Later, Brina finished her shower soon and she escaped. If she stays here any longer than this, she is sure about getting aroused from the hot visuals of her husband.

'Something is very wrong about her. What would have happened today that it made her worry and mood off" he thought.

By the time he came downstairs, Brina was already ready.

"Shall we go?" she asked.

It's time for family dinner.

...

"Mom, my tonic finished. Could you give me some more?" Brina asked.

"Of course, dear. I got them just this morning" Elora cheerfully said as she summoned her maid and asked her to bring two bottles of it. One for Brina and another for Natalie.

Meanwhile, Louis was looking at his wife. She merely smiled and the worry on her face is too obvious.

"Bro, did Natalie talk to you about something unusual that happened while they are out?" Louis asked.

"No. She is the same. However, she didn't go to her last therapy session. She postponed it to tomorrow and when I asked her why, she just told me that she is tired" Ethan said.

"Is something wrong with Brina?" Ethan asked.

"She seems so mood off. For the first time she said no to me" Louis pouted.

Ethan laughed. "Mood off? It is the best friends of women, bro. Brina said no after one month while my Wife said no the very next day. It happens, okay?" he said.

"Just let her have some space" he suggested.