Chapter 2

Jenkins, weren't you planning a trip to the local grocery store? You should hurry; it’ll be closing soon. " Ms. Jenkins’s attention was diverted. She nodded quickly, agreeing, and then hurried off. Ryder finally breathed a sigh of relief when Ms. Jenkins left. He took a half-step closer, his Adam’s apple bobbing. "Sister-in-law, even though Ryder is gone, don't worry. I’ll take care of you. From now on, just send people like that away…"

At that moment, I found him utterly laughable. He was secretly sleeping in his sister-in-law’s room every day, yet he was afraid I would run away, afraid I would remarry? What kind of logic was that? But I didn’t expose him. I just nodded. Anyway, in half a month, I’d be married to someone else, leaving this place forever. He wouldn’t be able to control me then. That night, as I packed my luggage, I suddenly heard the creak of a wooden bed from next door. Before, hearing that sound, I would have just thought my brother-in-law and his wife had a good relationship. But now, every muffled groan was like a blunt knife twisting in my gut. It was unmistakably Ryder's deep hum, the sound he used to make only in my ear when we were intimate. "Ah—! " A piercing scream cut through the night. When I rushed out, I saw Ryder carrying a disheveled Scarlett Hayes, running outside. In the moonlight, a stark red stain spread on her white sleep shorts. The residential area immediately erupted in whispers. Mrs. Peterson, my neighbor, peeked her head out, asking, "Oh dear, what’s going on? "

"I heard she got a little too excited during intimacy, causing some bleeding…"

"I can't believe it, Archer always seemed so serious, but he's so attentive to his wife…"

I stood among the crowd, feeling utterly cold. Just as I was about to turn and leave, Mrs. Peterson grabbed my arm. "Amelia, as Archer’s sister-in-law, you should go with them and check on her! "

To avoid any more gossip, I quickly grabbed a jacket and rushed to the hospital. In the hospital hallway, the sterile scent of disinfectant stung my eyes. Ryder was pacing anxiously. He visibly froze when he saw me. "What are you doing here? "

I forced a faint smile. "As Archer’s sister-in-law, I should naturally come see her. "

The operating room door suddenly opened, and a doctor emerged. "Mr. Vance, please don't worry. Your wife is fine. She’s just pregnant and needs to avoid strenuous intimate activity for a while…"

**Chapter 2**

I stood in the hospital hallway, my ears ringing. The doctor's words, "She's pregnant," hit me like a blunt instrument. I instinctively looked at Ryder, who first froze, then his eyes exploded with wild joy. He murmured, "This is great… Everything is going back on track. "

I knew exactly what he meant. Scarlett was pregnant, so he could finally shed Archer's identity and return to me. But I didn't need him anymore. "However, the patient is a bit anemic and needs a blood transfusion," the doctor's words interrupted my thoughts. Ryder immediately rolled up his sleeve, but the doctor stopped him. "Your blood type doesn't match. We need B-type blood. "

I was B-type. His gaze shifted to me. After a moment of hesitation, he walked over. "Mia, your sister-in-law is pregnant. This child… we've been waiting for a long time. " He paused. "Would you mind donating some blood? When the baby is born, I promise I'll make it up to you. "

Make it up to me? I scoffed internally. His idea of "making it up to me" was to come back to me as if it were a favor? "I can donate blood, but there's no need for compensation. " I said calmly, then turned and followed the nurse to the blood donation room. As the needle pierced my vein, I watched my crimson blood flow into the bag. I suddenly remembered the year we were newly married: I had a high fever, and Ryder carried me for miles through the night to the hospital. That day, a similar needle was used, and he squeezed my hand tightly, saying, "Don't be scared, wife, I'm right here. "

Now, my blood would flow into another woman's body, nourishing their child. For the next few days, I recuperated at home. Through the window, I watched Ryder, who didn’t even go to the base, shuttle between home and the hospital daily, carrying an insulated food container. One day, it was chicken soup; the next, boiled eggs…

Once, when I was sick in bed with a cold, he would stand in the kitchen like this, making all sorts of nutritious meals for me. The day Scarlett was discharged, the entire residential area was filled with the sweet scent of candy. Ryder carried a jar of celebration sweets, distributing them house to house. His usually stern face held an undisguised smile. "Scarlett's pregnant. Have a sweet. "

"Oh, congratulations! "

"Finally, a baby is on the way! "

He smiled and nodded in agreement, his eyes beaming with the joy of an expectant father. Finally, he came to me, his hand hesitant as he offered the candy. "Sister-in-law…"

"Congratulations, Brother-in-law," I said, taking a candy and smiling just enough. "I wish your family of three happiness and fulfillment. "

Ryder's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Such a perfectly polite blessing made him uneasy. Since "Ryder’s sacrifice," I had either cried or thrown tantrums. When had I ever been so calm? But before he could ponder it, Scarlett walked over and linked her arm through his, chirping, "Ryder, didn't you say you'd treat Mia to dinner? " To thank me for donating blood, Scarlett insisted on treating me.