Chapter 3

I was four months pregnant. Six months from now would be my due date.

I remembered how I found out about the pregnancy. It happened right after a terrible car accident.

When I woke up from a medically induced coma, Ethan was by my bedside, crying tears of joy as he showed me the positive pregnancy test. He told me it was the miracle of our love. For the next month, he stayed by my side 24/7. His overwhelming affection blinded me to the unusual discomfort in my body, and I was entirely consumed by the joy of becoming a mother.

I never could have imagined that the baby in my womb was actually Melanie’s. He had bribed a corrupt clinic while I was unconscious to perform an unauthorized embryo transfer.

The conversation between him and his secretary flashed through my mind again:

"Mr. Vance, since Melanie was the one who wanted your child, you could have just let her carry it. Don't you think secretly transferring the embryo into Chloe’s womb is too risky?"

Ethan had been resolute. "What do you know? Melanie has a weak constitution. How could I bear to watch her suffer through ten months of pregnancy? Having Chloe carry the baby not only spares Melanie the pain, but it will also keep Chloe distracted so she’ll hand the company operations over to me."

"Work overtime these next few weeks. I want all of the Sterling family's assets transferred out by the time the baby is born. It’ll be my wedding gift to Melanie..."

As my emotions surged, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my abdomen.

Melanie’s health was fragile, but mine was worse. Years ago, to help Ethan's business get off the ground, I had used my status as the Sterling heiress to drink and network with clients, which ruined my stomach. Combined with the lingering injuries from the car crash, this pregnancy was pure torture.

Yet, for the sake of the baby, I hadn't taken a single painkiller. I had endured it all.

As a tear slipped down my cheek, Ethan's voice came through the phone's speaker again.

They were finished. Ethan was holding Melanie, looking at her with a tenderness he had never shown me. "Babe, you wanted to live with me, and I agreed. But we had a deal—you had to behave. Why did you have to pick a fight with Chloe's parents on your very first day?"

Melanie snorted, displeased. "You love me, so why does Chloe get to act like the lady of the house while I have to hide in the shadows? I hate it!"

"Baby, if I don't play along with Chloe, how am I going to give you the luxurious life I planned? Just wait. Once I bleed her dry and she’s of no use to us, you can treat her however you want..."

I couldn't listen anymore. I shut off my phone, took deep breaths, and forced my emotions down.

They used my womb, plotted to steal my inheritance, and yet they acted like I was the villain in their story!

At dinner, Melanie sat at the table under the guise of the "cousin." I had to dig my fingernails into my palms to keep a polite smile on my face.

"Chloe, my cousin hasn't found a job yet, so she’ll be staying with us for a while. Even though she's helping out around the house, she’s still family. Don't be too hard on her."

I immediately reached out and took Melanie's hand warmly. "Of course not! Ethan, you've been so worried about my pregnancy that you won't let me work. I’ve been bored to death at home. I’d love some company."

"Melanie, let's put our little misunderstanding behind us. If we get along, maybe I’ll let you be the baby's godmother. What do you think?"

Hearing me talk about "my" baby, Melanie's face turned white with rage.

I smiled even wider. "What's wrong? You don't want to? Well, the baby is in my stomach, after all. It’s not like you could be the real mother, right?"

That "joke" made Ethan freeze. He quickly grabbed my hand to change the subject. "Alright, alright. Melanie is shy and doesn't talk much. Stop teasing her."

"Oh, Chloe, remember that diamond necklace you liked at the auction? I got it for you. See if you like it."

He produced a velvet box and fastened the diamond necklace around my neck. His eyes were filled with what looked like genuine devotion.

He whispered sweet nothings, telling me to focus on resting, to leave the company to him, and promised we would go on a month-long luxury trip around the world after the baby was born.

I looked touched, but my heart was dead.

The necklace he gave me wasn't even worth a fraction of the "Heart of the Ocean" blue diamond he had secretly bought for Melanie.

Behind his loving eyes lay the venom of a snake. All his care was a trap to steal my wealth and keep me compliant until I delivered his and Melanie’s child.

The next morning, I waited for Melanie to come downstairs for breakfast.

The moment she appeared, I grabbed her wrist. "Ethan's not here, so we can drop the act. You degraded yourself to be a maid just to be near him. I’m actually touched."

"Tell you what—if you're willing to be my obedient little dog, I’ll let you stay. What do you say?"

***

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