Chapter 3 · Pregnant With Revenge

Melissa started shaking all over, completely speechless.

Scarlett, anxious, rushed to pull Melissa protectively behind her.

"What are you talking about? Melissa is a good, innocent woman! She's pregnant with a Harper child!" Scarlett shot back.

"Why not just get a paternity test and see for yourself?" I said, slow and steady. "But honestly, don't get your hopes up. Oliver had a checkup two months ago. His sperm count is seriously low. The doctor said his chances of conceiving naturally are even slimmer than winning the lottery."

As soon as those words left my mouth, the whole place went dead silent.

Everyone's eyes kept flicking between me and Melissa's belly.

Scarlett's face kept shifting from pale to ashen.

"You... you're spouting nonsense!" she stammered.

"Don't pretend you don't know the truth," I said, staring her down. "You swiped that medical report from his safe, thinking I wouldn't catch on?"

Scarlett's eyes flickered away, all her swagger completely gone.

I didn't bother with her anymore. I turned to Oliver's portrait, speaking just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Oliver, this is the mom you fought so hard to protect, and this is the 'true love' you always believed in. Are you seeing this?"

With that, I left all those shocked faces behind and walked straight out of the funeral hall.

Behind me, Scarlett was cursing up a storm, her voice full of rage and frustration.

I didn't care because I knew this was just the beginning.

The day after the funeral fiasco, Scarlett launched her second wave of attacks.

She contacted every major media outlet, putting on a sob story and accusing me of being the "unfilial daughter-in-law."

She said, "My son's barely cold in the grave, and she's already scheming to grab everything for herself!

"That baby in her belly? Who knows where it came from! I demanded a paternity test, but she started acting all guilty and did everything she could to block it!

"She even faked my son's medical report, just to make him look bad and claim he couldn't have kids! Where's the justice in that?"

In no time, the whole city was out for my blood, branding me the wicked witch.

Reporters camped out at my office building and crowded around my front door.

Ugly rumors and wild guesses were spreading like wildfire.

I was public enemy number one.

My cousin stared at me, her face full of worry. "Larissa, what are we going to do? If this keeps up, the gossip alone could bury you alive."

I was calmly sipping my bird's nest soup, not in any rush. Hearing her, I set my bowl aside.

"Let them stir up trouble. The bigger the mess, the better," I said, my voice steady.

"But..." she hesitated.

"Relax. I know exactly what I'm doing," I assured her.

I pulled out my phone and called my lawyer, Dallas Henson.

"Dallas, it's time to start," I said.

Half an hour later, my law firm's official account posted a public statement.

The statement was straightforward.

He said, "First, Larissa Haley is heartbroken over Oliver Harper's death, but she's ready to take legal action if Scarlett Jones keeps spreading lies.

"Second, when it comes to the baby, Larissa stands by her innocence and agrees to a public paternity test right at Oliver's funeral, with a notary watching.

"And third, this is the real kicker. To keep things fair and stop any more drama, Larissa will also hand over a sample from another 'possible suspect' to compare with the baby's DNA. No more secrets, no more rumors. Everything gets settled, right here, right now."

As soon as that statement went public, social media blew up.

Everyone was completely floored.

Agreeing to a paternity test was already wild, but volunteering another "possible suspect's" sample?

What kind of stunt was that? Had she lost her mind?

Scarlett was left completely dumbfounded. She'd been so sure I'd refuse, which would've just made me look even guiltier.

But now, not only did I agree, I pulled this stunt that totally threw her off her game.

She called me, her voice full of suspicion and probing.

"Larissa, what kind of trick are you pulling now?" she said.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Scarlett, I'm just giving you what you wanted. Haven't you been dying to know who the father of my baby really is?

"How about I hand you two choices at once? Excited? Shocked?"

Scarlett was left speechless on the other end of the line.

Finally, she spat out, "Fine! I can't wait to see what kind of stunts you're pulling! I'll be at the funeral, watching every move. Let's see how you clean up this mess!"

"Just wait and see," I replied.

I hung up and stared out the window.

The net was already cast.

Scarlett, Oliver, and all of you waiting to see me fall. Just keep walking, step by step, right into the grave I'd dug for you.

The day of the funeral arrived.

I picked out the best spot in the cemetery out by the city limits. And the price tag? Just as fancy.

When Scarlett heard how much it cost, she blew up my phone, ranting about how I was throwing money away.

I didn't pay her any mind. It was Oliver's cash anyway. He was all about the luxury when he was alive, so no way was I letting his final send-off be anything but extravagant.

Chapter 3

Melissa started shaking all over, completely speechless.

Scarlett, anxious, rushed to pull Melissa protectively behind her.

"What are you talking about? Melissa is a good, innocent woman! She's pregnant with a Harper child!" Scarlett shot back.

As soon as those words left my mouth, the whole place went dead silent.

Everyone's eyes kept flicking between me and Melissa's belly.

Scarlett's face kept shifting from pale to ashen.

"You... you're spouting nonsense!" she stammered.

"Don't pretend you don't know the truth," I said, staring her down. "You swiped that medical report from his safe, thinking I wouldn't catch on?"

Scarlett's eyes flickered away, all her swagger completely gone.

I didn't bother with her anymore. I turned to Oliver's portrait, speaking just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Oliver, this is the mom you fought so hard to protect, and this is the 'true love' you always believed in. Are you seeing this?"

With that, I left all those shocked faces behind and walked straight out of the funeral hall.

Behind me, Scarlett was cursing up a storm, her voice full of rage and frustration.

I didn't care because I knew this was just the beginning.

The day after the funeral fiasco, Scarlett launched her second wave of attacks.

She contacted every major media outlet, putting on a sob story and accusing me of being the "unfilial daughter-in-law."

She said, "My son's barely cold in the grave, and she's already scheming to grab everything for herself!

"That baby in her belly? Who knows where it came from! I demanded a paternity test, but she started acting all guilty and did everything she could to block it!

"She even faked my son's medical report, just to make him look bad and claim he couldn't have kids! Where's the justice in that?"

In no time, the whole city was out for my blood, branding me the wicked witch.

Reporters camped out at my office building and crowded around my front door.

Ugly rumors and wild guesses were spreading like wildfire.

I was public enemy number one.

My cousin stared at me, her face full of worry. "Larissa, what are we going to do? If this keeps up, the gossip alone could bury you alive."

I was calmly sipping my bird's nest soup, not in any rush. Hearing her, I set my bowl aside.

"Let them stir up trouble. The bigger the mess, the better," I said, my voice steady.

"But..." she hesitated.

"Relax. I know exactly what I'm doing," I assured her.

I pulled out my phone and called my lawyer, Dallas Henson.

"Dallas, it's time to start," I said.

Half an hour later, my law firm's official account posted a public statement.

The statement was straightforward.

He said, "First, Larissa Haley is heartbroken over Oliver Harper's death, but she's ready to take legal action if Scarlett Jones keeps spreading lies.

"Second, when it comes to the baby, Larissa stands by her innocence and agrees to a public paternity test right at Oliver's funeral, with a notary watching.

As soon as that statement went public, social media blew up.

Everyone was completely floored.

Agreeing to a paternity test was already wild, but volunteering another "possible suspect's" sample?

What kind of stunt was that? Had she lost her mind?

Scarlett was left completely dumbfounded. She'd been so sure I'd refuse, which would've just made me look even guiltier.

But now, not only did I agree, I pulled this stunt that totally threw her off her game.

She called me, her voice full of suspicion and probing.

"Larissa, what kind of trick are you pulling now?" she said.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Scarlett, I'm just giving you what you wanted. Haven't you been dying to know who the father of my baby really is?

"How about I hand you two choices at once? Excited? Shocked?"

Scarlett was left speechless on the other end of the line.

Finally, she spat out, "Fine! I can't wait to see what kind of stunts you're pulling! I'll be at the funeral, watching every move. Let's see how you clean up this mess!"

"Just wait and see," I replied.

I hung up and stared out the window.

The net was already cast.

Scarlett, Oliver, and all of you waiting to see me fall. Just keep walking, step by step, right into the grave I'd dug for you.

The day of the funeral arrived.

I picked out the best spot in the cemetery out by the city limits. And the price tag? Just as fancy.

When Scarlett heard how much it cost, she blew up my phone, ranting about how I was throwing money away.

I didn't pay her any mind. It was Oliver's cash anyway. He was all about the luxury when he was alive, so no way was I letting his final send-off be anything but extravagant.