She felt it in her skin, her nerves, that ancient female instinct that never lied.

By evening, Darius started asking questions.

They were sitting in the small eat‑in kitchen.

She was warming up dinner while he scrolled on his phone.

Suddenly, without looking up, he said,

“Hey, how much have you saved up for the renovation?”

Kiana froze with the ladle in her hand.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. You wanted to redo the kitchen, right? Do you have enough money?”

She slowly ladled the soup into their bowls.

“Yes. I have enough.”