Peace is dangerous.
Not because it weakens you.
Because it makes you believe the war is over.
Adrian never believed that.
He only believed escalation had changed form.
Pregnancy shifted everything.
Not loudly.
Internally.
Sophia moved differently now.
More aware of her body.
More conscious of fatigue.
Adrian noticed every micro-change.
He adjusted schedules.
Canceled two unnecessary events.
Reassigned external meetings.
Security rotations increased quietly.
No announcement.
Just recalibration.
Daniel noticed first.
"You're tightening perimeter again."
"Yes."
"We just stabilized."
"Stability invites testing."
Daniel studied him.
"This isn't about the company."
"No."
It wasn't.
It was about her.
Sophia didn't miss the shift.
"You added another security vehicle," she said one afternoon.
"Yes."
"Adrian."
"Yes?"
"I'm pregnant. Not under siege."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"You don't know that."
She sighed softly.
"This is exactly what I was afraid of."
