Chapter 3

Back when my mom was seriously ill, it was Eric who helped me out.

I thought that was love. So after we got married, when he asked me to try IVF, I didn't think twice.

He told me my body was ideal for it, and said the Atkins family needed a child.

Most of all, he said he wanted to build a real family with me.

I believed him.

But he'd been keeping score from the start, treating every favor like a bargaining chip to use against me later.

Eric went on, "Nikki's not in good shape. She can't take any more stress. Make sure the baby is born safe and sound. We'll talk about everything else after that."

I shut my eyes for a moment.

"And what if I don't?" I asked.

Eric's voice was ice-cold on the other end. "Then I'll make the doctors take you back to the hospital. Kiana, don't push me."

I hung up, my fingers trembling uncontrollably.

A few minutes later, I texted my brother, Justin Dale.

Me: [Justin, Eric made me go through with the embryo transfer without telling me the truth.

[The baby isn't even mine. He wants me to hand the baby over to Nikki once it's born.]

Eric called me almost immediately.

Justin's voice was so deep, it was almost frightening. "Where are you?"

"At the Atkins family villa," I replied.

"Don't move. I'm bringing a lawyer over right now."

Before Justin arrived, Nikki showed up first.

She was wearing a light blue knit dress, with Eric's suit draped over her shoulders.

I recognized that suit. It was the birthday present I picked out for Eric last year.

On the back of the cufflink, there was a tiny "K" engraved.

It was my initial.

I teased Eric for being so childish back then.

He told me, "Something so close to me, of course it has to have your mark."

And now, that suit was hanging off Nikki's shoulders.

Nikki stood at the doorway, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kiana, I wanted to see the baby's room."

I didn't move aside and said, "Get lost."

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She said, "I know you hate me. The baby's coming soon. I wanted to see where she'll be staying. Eric said you wouldn't do anything to hurt the baby."

I looked at her and asked, "What else did he say?"

Nikki bit her lip, looking like she couldn't bear to say it. She whispered, "He said you can't live without him. Your mom still needs the Atkins Hospital to stay alive. In the end, you'll have to do whatever he wants."

I would have to do whatever he wanted. Those words cut deeper than any knife.

I reached out to close the door, but Nikki wedged herself in the doorway, refusing to let me shut her out.

She pleaded, "Kiana, please don't do this. You're having my baby. I haven't been able to sleep a single night.

"I'm scared you're not eating right, scared you're upset, scared you might do something drastic—"

I glared at her and said coldly, "You're not worried I'll do something drastic. You're scared something will happen to your baby."

Nikki's face went even paler.

The very next moment, she grabbed her chest and stumbled back, dropping to the floor in a dramatic heap.

Nikki gasped, her voice shaky.

I hadn't even laid a finger on her. But she was already lying on the steps, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Headlights lit up outside the gate.

Eric walked in, and the first thing he saw was Nikki lying there on the floor.

Then he looked at my belly, swollen with his child.

"Kiana!" Eric shouted.

He rushed over and helped Nikki up. "What did you do to her?" he snapped.

It was the same old blame game. It was so predictable. They didn't even have to change the script.

I stood in the doorway, not even bothering to explain myself.

Nikki shook her head, tears streaming down her face. She said, "Eric, don't blame her. She's too upset right now. I shouldn't have come and made things worse for her."

Eric looked up, his gaze cold and intimidating. He snapped, "You're pregnant. How long are you going to keep causing trouble?"

I watched as he hugged Nikki tight.

When I fell down the stairs late in my pregnancy, he told the servants to pick me up.

He said, "Pregnant women shouldn't be so dependent."

I asked softly, "So, Eric, every time she cries, I'm automatically the one at fault?"

His brow twitched.

Nikki started coughing, and Eric leaned in to soothe her.

"I'll take you to the hospital," he said softly.

Before leaving, he left me with a warning. "Kiana, don't even think about leaving the house tonight.

"I've already set everything up. Tomorrow morning, you'll be checked into the hospital to prepare for the birth."

I froze. "It's not even my due date yet."

Eric stopped in his tracks and said, "The doctors will handle it. You're not in the right state of mind right now. If we keep dragging this out, it's not good for the baby."

I stared at him and asked, "Are you worried about the baby, or Nikki?"

He didn't answer.

Nikki clung to him and said softly, "Eric, it's okay. Let's not push her. If Kiana isn't ready, I can wait."

Eric pulled her into a tight embrace. "You don't need to wait any longer. I promised you I'll make sure the baby comes back to you safe and sound."

After the door closed, I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor.

My belly tightened, waves of pain rolling through me.

The nanny panicked. "Mrs. Atkins, I'll call the doctor," she said.

"No need," I said.

I pulled out my phone and called Justin, "Justin, he's trying to force me into the hospital."

I heard Justin's car door slam outside.

He said, "I've got the security video. Kiana, open the door. I'm taking you home."