Chapter 1

Eight months pregnant, I find a vasectomy certificate my husband had done a year ago.

He had a vasectomy, so whose child is this in my body?

In a panic, I grabbed the certificate and rushed to his office, only to overhear him bragging to his friends: once the baby is born, a DNA test will be their weapon to throw her out and clear the way for his adopted sister who just came back from abroad.

I turned around and swallowed the abortion pill.

So if nobody wants this child, I'll give them all a gift.

As I was sorting through Ryan's suits in the closet, a folded hospital form slipped out of the inner pocket and fell onto the carpet.

It was a consent form for a bilateral vasectomy, signed by Ryan Sullivan and dated exactly one year ago.

I stared at the date, my hands and feet icy.

He'd had a vasectomy an entire year ago, 'whose baby am I carrying, eight months along?' I thought.

Without even bothering to change, I grabbed the medical record and rushed out the door, hopping into a cab headed straight for Ryan's office.

Thoughts spun wildly in my head the entire way. 'Was it a hospital screw-up? Or was he keeping some secret from me?'

*****

The elevator reached the top floor. The CEO's office door was slightly ajar, loud laughter spilling out from inside. I was about to push the door open, but I just froze in place.

"Hey Ryan, isn't your wife about to pop soon?"

"Don't even bring up that fool," Ryan said impatiently.

"If she hadn't used the Sullivan family's money to force me into this marriage, Mia wouldn't be sad she had to go abroad."

I stood there, frozen. Mia was his foster daughter.

Back then, the Sullivans' finances totally crashed—they were about to go under. I had knelt in the rain for three days, begging my dad just to get the money that saved them.

On our wedding day, Ryan swore he'd love me forever. 'So to him, it was nothing but coercion.' I thought.

"But that's fine—Mia's coming back next week," Ryan let out a cold laugh.

"So what are we gonna do about her kid?" someone asked.

"Who even knows who knocked her up?" Ryan sneered.

"How about we start a pool?" Sebastian said.

Sebastian was Ryan's childhood buddy, a notorious womanizer who'd used his family's money to wreck more than a few women.

"Sure, let's make it ten million," Ryan agreed. "I bet the kid is yours."

The office went silent for a moment, then everyone burst out laughing.

"Ryan, you're really something, practically begging to be a cuck."

Sebastian strutted over, "Alright, I'll take that bet. Not gonna lie, I really did go for it three times."

"Someone like her, is utterly stupid," Sebastian continued.

"Honestly, I wouldn't touch her even if she begged for it."

"Once the kid's born, I'll wave the DNA report in her face and toss her out with nothing," Ryan smirked.

"She thinks she can get rid of Mia, I'll ruin her completely."

I crushed the medical record in my hand. I can't feel my nails dug deep into my palm

Suddenly, the baby kicked me hard. I looked down and saw my eight months' longing, morning sickness, cramps, and sleepless nights. It turned out a joke.

I didn't push the door open. Instead, I headed straight to the city hospital and checked in at the OB-GYN emergency ward.

"Doctor, I want to book an abortion," I said, slapping my medical file down on the desk.

The doctor glanced at my ultrasound report and explained, "The baby is already eight months along. All the organs are fully developed."

"At this point, it's an induced labor. It's extremely dangerous and could lead to heavy bleeding. You'll need a relative to sign off on the procedure."

"The baby's father is dead," I said, slamming a wad of cash onto the desk. "I want it done as soon as possible." I insisted.

The doctor let out a sigh. "It's hospital policy—an immediate family member has to sign off. I'll give you some meds to help soften your cervix for now. Go home and really think about it." she said.

I picked up the medication and took a cab home.

*****

When I got to the front door, I entered my birthday for the code. But the system told me the password was incorrect.

I tried our wedding anniversary and Ryan's birthday. None of them worked.

With a click, the door finally opened. Mia was standing behind the door, dressed in my silk nightgown. Ryan had it custom-made in France for me, and I hadn't even brought myself to wear it once.

There were a few obvious red marks still lingering on her collarbone. "You're back." Mia smirked at me.

I pushed past her and walked straight inside. Her pink suitcase was dumped in the living room, and Ryan's shirt along with her black lace bra were strewn across the couch.

Ryan walked out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.

When Ryan saw me, his eyes flashed with disgust. "I changed the password. It's Mia's birthday now, remember it."

"This is my house," I said coldly.

"Don't get ahead of yourself!" His voice was sharp.

"You're only allowed to stay here because you're knocked up," he scoffed, striding over and pulling Mia into his arms right in front of me.

I nearly puked right there. I spun around and headed upstairs, not bothering to say a single word more.

*****

At dinner, none of the maids were around. Ryan brought a glass of warm milk into my room.

"Drink it," he slammed the glass down on the nightstand.

"Get out," I snapped.

He gripped my chin hard and forced the glass right up to my mouth.

"Mia's back now, so you'd better behave."

The milk made me sputter and cough uncontrollably. He released me and slammed the door behind him.

Within minutes, a wave of drowsiness crashed over me. Then I remembered I'd hidden a camera inside the bedside lamp that I installed it two weeks ago to keep the maids from stealing anything.

Fighting to stay awake, I barely managed to open the security feed on my phone.