Chapter 2

"Seraphina, I always considered you my closest friend, but I never expected you to suggest my baby might be unhealthy. Until my child is born, I don't want to see you."

After saying my piece, I turned away, not wanting to look at her.

I was afraid if I looked at her any longer, I wouldn't be able to control the rage boiling inside me.

Seraphina didn't notice my unusual change. She just thought I was upset about her comments regarding the baby's health.

She immediately started explaining, "Rory, that's not what I meant! I'm just so nervous about giving birth, that's all. Please don't overthink it."

"We promised we'd deliver together, and spend our recovery chatting in the same room. You can't leave me now!"

At the end, Seraphina resorted to her usual trick.

Her eyes welled up, looking at me as if she were the most wronged person in the world.

In my past life, I'd given in to her emotional manipulation time and time again, which is why she always got what she wanted from me.

But this time, I wouldn't yield.

"Seraphina, until my baby is born, I don't want to hear anything negative. And your persuasion won't change my mind."

Seeing my resolve, Seraphina stopped trying to convince me.

However, it wasn't long before the Sterling brothers arrived.

Julian, my husband, smiled gently when he saw me, hurrying to my side and tenderly touching my forehead.

"Don't worry, Rory. I'm right here with you."

Julian had always been so gentle, his presence calming my heart, yet making it race all at once. For our child, he would have sacrificed everything.

But in my past life, we'd both put our faith in the wrong people, and it led to a tragic end.

"Julian," I whispered his name, full of emotion. He quickly asked, "Are you in pain?"

I was about to answer when I heard Damon's incredulous voice from Seraphina's bed.

"Seraphina, you must have misheard, right? Rory is so close to you. Now that she's about to give birth, why would she suddenly want a private delivery room?"

Seraphina replied, her voice laced with feigned hurt, "Damon, it's true. It's all my fault for saying something that upset Rory. Please, go talk to her for me."

Damon walked to my bedside, looking confused. "Rory, is what Seraphina said true? You're really moving to a private delivery room?"

"Yes, that's right," I replied with a smile.

Damon looked even more bewildered but immediately accused me of bullying Seraphina.

"Rory, aren't you being unfair to Seraphina? She's your sister-in-law. How could you do this at a time like this? Aren't you worried something might happen to your baby?"

He was taking the moral high ground.

If it were the old me, I would have been the pushover, compromising for Seraphina.

But reborn, knowing Seraphina's malicious schemes, how could I stay with that venomous woman?

"Damon, apologize to Rory," Julian said before I could even open my mouth, making his stance clear.

Damon looked shocked. "Julian, Rory's the one in the wrong. Why should I apologize to her?"

Seraphina immediately chimed in, "Exactly, Julian! You should join Damon in persuading Rory to stay with me. I'll be scared without her."

With that, Seraphina sniffled, looking utterly devastated.

One more look at her, and I felt my eyes ache, a wave of nausea washing over me.

"Ugh!" I couldn't help but retch, and Julian's face immediately darkened.

"Seraphina, even if you and my wife are close, there are still boundaries. Damon, is this how you teach your wife respect?"

Damon, reprimanded by Julian, grew even angrier. "Julian, are you really letting Rory twist your judgment? Your wife is bullying my wife, and you're scolding me?"

I glanced at the couple, catching a fleeting smirk in Seraphina's eyes.

She was plotting something sinister again.