The studio lights of *Prime Time News* were blindingly hot. The makeup artist dabbed powder on Victoria’s forehead one last time before retreating into the shadows.
“Three minutes to air,” the stage manager called out.
Backstage, William held Victoria’s hand. “Are you sure about the dress?”
Victoria looked down. Instead of the structured, armor-like blazers she had worn for months to hide her condition, she was wearing a fitted, emerald-green silk dress. It clung to her silhouette, undeniably revealing the curvature of her four-month bump.
“I’m done hiding,” Victoria whispered. “If they want a mother, I’ll show them a mother.”
The camera tally light turned red. The interviewer, a seasoned journalist known for hardball questions, leaned in.
“Mrs. Croft,” the host began. “Critics say that your condition makes you a liability to the company. They say you can’t build an empire while building a family. How do you respond?”
Victoria looked directly into the lens, breaking the fourth wall.
“My father-in-law, Alistair Croft, ran this company with fear. He sacrificed his family for the bottom line, and he died alone,” Victoria said, her voice resonating with quiet power. “I am building something different. I am proving that the ability to create life does not disqualify a woman from leading. It makes her more invested in the future she is building. I am not stepping down. I am stepping up.”