By the time I stop throwing up, I honestly feel like my soul left my body somewhere halfway through it.

My throat burns and my eyes sting.

And I’m pretty sure every ounce of energy inside me has disappeared completely.

I stay crouched there for a second breathing heavily while somebody presses a cold bottle of water into my hand.

"Slowly," Ivy says softly.

I take a small sip, then another.

Zane is still kneeling beside me looking tense enough to fight somebody.

Noah too. Actually all of them look shaken now.

Good.

Maybe that’ll stop the yelling for at least five minutes.

"I’m okay," I mumble weakly.

"You definitely are not okay," Noah says immediately.

I glare tiredly at him.

"Thank you for that beautiful observation."

That surprisingly earns a tiny laugh from Caleb.

Lucas stays quiet though. Watching me carefully from across the room with that same unreadable expression he gets whenever he’s deep in thought.

I suddenly don’t like that expression.

At all.

I slowly push myself upright with Ivy helping steady me. The dizziness eases a little once I’m standing again, but exhaustion settles deep into my bones now.

Honestly? I feel like crying again purely because I’m tired.

"I think..." I swallow weakly. "I think I need a nap."

Immediately everybody starts talking at once again.

"You should eat first..."

"She needs more wate....""

"Did you call a doctor?"

"I’m literally fin, I’m pregnant so it’s normal for me to throw up."I interrupt tiredly.

Nobody believes me, especially not Zane.

His eyes haven’t left me once since I got sick.

He looks pale too actually, probably from the punch and the stress.

God.

Everything about today is insane.

I rub tiredly at my face.

"I just need sleep."

Caleb nods first.

"Yeeh. Everybody should probably go home before we stress her into early labor."

"CAALEB!" I shriek immediately. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"What?" he asks innocently.

"I’m barely even pregnant!"

"That’s still pregnant."

I throw a hand weakly at him, he dodges it laughing softly. The tension in the room finally eases a little after that.

Thank God.

Ivy hugs me first, long and tight.

"Call me later."

"I will."

"And don’t spiral."

"No promises."

"Elaine."

"I’m kidding."

Mostly.

Noah hugs me next, still grumpy and clearly angry.....But softer now.

He kisses the top of my head briefly before muttering, "I still want to punch him though."

"Please don’t."

"No promises."

"Wow. Amazing. Great family support."

That finally gets the tiniest smile out of him.

Caleb squeezes me carefully too.

"You’ll be okay."

The simple certainty in his voice weirdly helps. Then Lucas steps forward last, his hug is quieter than the others.

It’s Protective and careful.

"You good?" he murmurs low enough only I hear.

Honestly? No, noot even remotely.

But I’m too exhausted to unpack all of that right now. So I just nod against his shoulder.

He doesn’t look convinced but of course Lucas rarely is. The others slowly start heading toward the entrance afterward, security moving subtly around them as the house settles back into quiet.

But Lucas doesn’t move.

I notice immediately. My eyes flickering nervously between them.

Lucs casually adjusts the sleeves of his shirt before saying, "I still have unfinished business with Zane."

Oh no. Immediate dread settles inside me.

I stare at him hard trying to decode whether unfinished business means talking...Or attempted murder. Because honestly with Lucas it could genuinely go either way.

I silently pray it’s not about me.

I physically cannot survive another screaming match today.

"I’m too tired for violence," I mutter.

Lucas almost smiles.

"Go get some sleep, Elaine."

That somehow does not reassure me at all.

I point weakly between both men.

"If I wake up and somebody’s dead, I’m genuinely going to be annoyed."

Caleb snorts loudly.

Noah mutters, "No promises," again because apparently he’s committed to being stressful today.

I glare at all of them before finally giving up completely.

My body feels unbelievably heavy now. Emotionally, physically and Mentally.

I head upstairs slowly while hearing low voices start up downstairs almost immediately after. I choose not to listen.

Whatever conversation Lucas and Zane need to have...They’ll have it. Right now I just need sleep before my brain melts completely.

By the time I reach the bedroom, exhaustion crashes over me fully. I barely manage to kick off my shoes before collapsing face first onto the bed. The mattress sinking softly beneath me.

For once my thoughts don’t even have enough energy left to spiral. And within minutes...i fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Zane’s POV

I watch Elaine disappear up the stairs slowly, her shoulders heavy with exhaustion. For a second, I almost say fuck this conversation entirely and follow her upstairs.

She looked drained, completely drained.

And after the day she’s had, I honestly just want to get her into bed properly, and hold her until she falls asleep.

But Lucas is still standing in my living room watching me like he’s deciding whether to punch me again. So instead, I drag a hand over my face and look at him.

"Let’s talk in my office."

I don’t wait for a response before turning and heading upstairs. I already know he’ll follow.

The tension between us practically fills the hallway as we walk. I push open my office door and head straight for the mini refrigerator tucked beside the bookshelf.

If I have to survive this conversation, I’m going to need whiskey.

The expensive kind too. I pull out the bottle and grab two glasses before pouring us both a generous amount.

Lucas steps fully into the room then, shutting the door behind him quietly.

I move behind my desk afterward and lower myself carefully into my chair, my side immediately protesting from the movement.

I slide the second glass toward him as he takes the chair opposite mine.

For a few seconds, silence stretches between us then I finally break it.

"Now let’s make this clear."

Lucas lifts the glass calmly.

"The next time you hit me in my own house," I say evenly, "be rest assured I’m going to fuck you up."