Episode 6

Sebastian was polite. Responsible. He did not take issue with the condition that supposedly kept Vivian from having children. He had no obvious vices. He was not rough. Not arrogant.

Cold, yes. But Vivian understood why.

Sebastian was still grieving. Still carrying the shadow of his dead wife. And somehow, that felt more human than frightening.

Night after night, Vivian kept thinking about everything. Searching for a reason to say no. Searching for something that would let her step back with certainty. But the more she searched, the more she realized she could not find it.

All she had was fear.

Not a reason.

Only fear.

Fear of facing five children. Fear of entering a strange family. Fear of living in a marriage with a man she did not love yet. Fear of failing.

But fear was not an answer.

At least, that was what everyone kept telling her.

Slowly, Vivian began to run out of arguments.

One afternoon, sitting alone in her bedroom, she stared at her phone screen where Margaret's number was displayed. The woman had been waiting for her answer for three days. Vivian stared for a long time, then sighed.

"If everyone is so sure..." she whispered.

She closed her eyes for a moment. She imagined her mother's hopeful face. Her father, quietly relieved. Margaret, who believed in her so strongly. Sebastian, who accepted her condition without asking much.