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    Chapter 0614


    Nina


    The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the bedroom. I blinked my eyes open, feeling the familiar weight of Enzo''s arms wrapped around me. His breath was slow and steady against the back of my neck, aforting presence that never failed to soothe me.


    I snuggled closer to him, relishing in the feeling of his body pressed against mine. The events of the previous night had left us both emotionally drained, but being in his arms made me feel safe and loved.


    "Good morning," I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath as I turned to face him.


    Enzo''s eyes fluttered open, and he smiled sleepily at me. "Moming, beautiful," he replied, his voice husky with sleep. He leaned in to capture my lips in a tender kiss, and for a moment, the world outside our little cocoon faded away.


    Weid there for a while,forted by each other''s arms. The memories ofst night began to flood back in, and I blushed as I remembered the ecstasy of it all.


    I remembered the feeling of his skin against mine, the taste of him in my mouth. I had reveled in the feeling of just making him feel good, repeatedly refusing his attempts to return the favor. We had fallen asleep together, tangled up and utterly content.


    As we pulled away from each other now, I still couldn''t help but sigh contentedly. "I love waking up like this," I admitted, running my fingers through his unruly brown hair.


    Enzo chuckled, his hand trailing down my back in azy caress. "Me too," he said, pressing another soft kiss to my forehead. "It''s my favorite part of the day."


    I nestled closer to him, tracingzy patterns on his chest with my fingertip. "What are your ns for today?" I asked, genuinely curious about what he had in mind.


    He sighed, his expression growing serious. "I need to make some calls and figure out how to proceed with reporting M," he said. "It''s not going to be easy, but I can''t let her get away with what she did."


    I nodded in understanding. "I''m here for you, Enzo," I said softly, my fingersing to a rest on his chest." Whatever you need, I''ll support you."


    His eyes met mine, and I could see the warmth in their brown depths. "I love you, Nina," he whispered. *I love you too."


    After a few more moments offortable silence, we crawled out of bed and made our way to the shower to wash off the excess ofst night. While we stood under the hot water, though, we couldn''t stop ourselves from exploring each other again, and spent far too long in there until the room was full of steam and our bodies were exhausted from the exertion.


    Once we were finished, though, I felt even more content; and with a final kiss, I decided to get dressed and head downstairs.


    As I made my way downstairs, I realized that I was hungry and decided to start the day with a cup of tea before the morning sickness began. The scent of brewing tea leaves filled the kitchen as I went about preparing my morning ritual.


    While waiting for the kettle to boil, I nced around the kitchen, but my father was nowhere to be seen. Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to check his office, which was just off the kitchen.


    As I pushed open the door to his office, though, I was met with an unexpected sight. My father sat behind his desk, engaged in what appeared to be a serious meeting with a man I didn''t recognize. They were deep in conversation, discussing something with great intensity.


    I immediately felt a pang of guilt for intruding on their privacy when they both looked up. "I''m so sorry," I


    stammered, backing away from the doorway. "I didn''t mean to interrupt."


    My father looked up, surprise evident on his face, and he quickly gestured for me toe in. "Nina, it''s okay," he said, his tone reassuring. "Please,e in."


    I entered the room, feeling a bit sheepish. "I didn''t realize you were in a meeting." I said.


    My father nodded, his gaze shifting to the man sitting across from him. "This is Joshua," he introduced. "He''s helping us n the Moon Goddess Festival."


    I blinked in surprise, not sure I had heard him correctly. "Moon Goddess Festival?" I repeated, my curiosity piqued. My father chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Yes, the Moon Goddess Festival," he confirmed. "It''s an annual tradition."


    I had never heard of such a festival before and couldn''t help but be intrigued. "What''s it all about?" I asked.


    My father leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The Moon Goddess Festival is a celebration of the summer solstice," he exined. "It''s said that during the summer solstice, the goddess blesses our people with her energy and protection."


    I listened intently, fascinated by the concept. "And what do people do during the festival?" I asked. "Well," my father continued, exchanging nces with Joshua, "there are various rituals and ceremonies that take ce. But one of the most popr traditions is for pregnant women to attend the festival during the full moon and leave an offering for the Moon Goddess."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    As he spoke, his eyes flickered to my belly. I instinctively ced my hand over it, cocking my head to the side." An offering?" I asked, a hint of skepticism in my voice. "What kind of offering?"


    "It can be anything that holds personal significance," he exined. "It''s a way for expectant mothers to connect with the goddess and seek her blessings for a healthy pregnancy and a prosperous future for their child."


    I couldn''t help but smile at the idea, even though it sounded like nothing more than superstition to me. "That sounds interesting," I said slowly with a chuckle. "Maybe I should leave an offering."


    *That''s something you could consider," my father said with a chuckle of his own. "The solstice itself isn''t for another couple of weeks, although the festival will be kicking off with a grand party this weekend. It''s a lengthy affair, so you''ve got time to decide. But don''t let me pressure you."


    As I left my father''s office, I found myself thumbing the talisman that hung around my neck. While part of me dismissed it as mere superstition, another part of me was intrigued by the concept of seeking blessings for our unborn child.


    Maybe it was just my own worriesing to the surface, but it did sound inviting. And what was the harm, right?


    I knew that Enzo and I would make our own decisions about our family''s future, but the idea of participating in a tradition that had been passed down through generations held a certain appeal. Maybe it was a way to honor our people''s heritage and connect with something greater than ourselves.


    Or maybe it was just a way to ease our worries about our baby.


    Either way, I couldn''t help but wonder what kind of offering I would choose to leave and what blessings the Moon Goddess might bestow upon our growing family.


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