Martha hadn't planned on actually hiking up the mountain, but since she had no phone, no ride, and nowhere else to go, she ultimately followed the crowd.

The midsummer sun was brutal and beat down with no mercy. Not to mention, the path was packed with tourists. Every time she slowed down, people behind her would push and urge her to keep moving.

It hadn't even been 15 minutes before Martha's legs were shaking from exhaustion. Amid the pushing crowd, someone shoved her and caused her to fall hard on the stone steps.

She blacked out right there.

By the time I got the call, Martha had already been taken to the hospital. She was fine and just had a mild case of heatstroke.

The moment she saw me walk into the hospital room, she started screaming her head off.

"You heartless witch! Do you want me dead that badly, huh? Is that what it is?"

I stroked my belly and put on my best innocent face. "Martha, I had no idea you were this weak. I mean, I'm the one pregnant, yet I still climbed hundreds of those steps!"

I added sweetly, "But don't worry. All the hardship you went through today will surely be remembered. Now, you can rest assured that your grandchild will be born safe and healthy!"

Martha was momentarily speechless. Then, her eyes flicked toward Michael, who had just rushed into the room.

He frowned and stormed over like he was about to hit me, but I caught his wrist midair. "What are you doing, honey?"

Michael was clearly taken aback to see me react so quickly. The curse that was on the tip of his tongue stalled. His whole demeanor shifted, and he backed down a little, though not without one last punch.

"I know what you're up to, Virginia!" he snapped. "You tried to kill my mom today because you're scared she'll expose the fact that you cheated on me!"

He pulled out a piece of paper from his bag and shoved it in my face. "Your lies end now. Take a look at this—it's proof of my vasectomy.

"So, tell me, Virginia, how can the baby be mine?

"If you want me to forgive you and your cheating ass, abort that bastard child now!"

Michael thought he could scare me into submission, but I stayed calm and pulled a neatly folded document from my bag. It was the paternity test from my recent amniocentesis.

"A paternity test fresh out of the clinic," I coolly said. "The baby is yours. If you still don't believe it, we can get another test done right now."

Michael's face flickered with something close to panic. He hadn't expected I had come prepared.

Still, he tried to keep up the act and pretended to stay composed. "Whatever it is, this whole pregnancy is way too suspicious. I'm not betting on it. If you want us to keep going, you need to get rid of this baby!"

He added, "We're still young. We can try again! But if you won't—"

"Then, we're done," I interjected, giving an ultimatum. "Even if it comes to a divorce, I won't get rid of the baby. Not now, not ever, regardless of whether you accept him or not."

"Virginia!" he said through gritted teeth.

It couldn't be clearer that my response had shocked Michael. With his excuses suddenly rendered useless, he was both panicked and frustrated.

At that moment, Mom and Dad barged in at what seemed to be perfect timing. "Gina, why are you bringing up divorce all of a sudden?"

Mom quickly shot Michael a look and coaxed me, saying, "Michael's had a vasectomy, sweetie. It's only natural he'd have doubts. Let's just talk it out…

"Anyway, this baby—"

I calmly looked at her. "I can tell none of you want me to keep this baby, but don't you think I at least deserve an explanation? The doctor did a full prenatal check-up before I came here and said the baby is perfectly healthy.

"She also told me I'm 35 now. If I lose this pregnancy, it might be my last ever chance to have a baby. Do you still want me to abort it after hearing that?"

Michael turned to my parents, visibly conflicted.

They hesitated for a while until Dad stepped forward with a suggestion. "You're right, Gina. This baby didn't come easy.

"How about this—come home with us, and we'll take care of you and make sure the baby comes into this world in the healthiest and most loving environment."

Mom chimed in with a smile, "That's right. We've even set up a nursery for the baby."

I looked at their fake smiles and couldn't help but laugh. They still refused to tell me the truth and insisted on killing me and my baby with that formaldehyde-laced house.

"I'm not going anywhere with you!"

Why would I give them another opportunity to harm me?

I turned to leave, but Mom and Dad each grabbed me by the arm.

"Listen to us, Gina!"

"It's either you come home with us, or you get rid of the baby!"

"What are you guys doing?" I yelled, intending to break free. "You can't just force me to get rid of the baby!"

Mom was no longer her usual self. She roared, "You're so selfish! How can you be self-centered? Everything we did, we did it for you!"

Michael nodded. "That's right. As you said, you're 35. It's too risky for you to carry at your age. Listen to me and abort the baby!"

They didn't bother keeping up their pretense. Instead, they dragged me out of the room and toward the doctor's office.

Little did they know, I came prepared.

"Holly," I screamed at the top of my lungs, "save me! Help!"

Urgent footsteps echoed behind me, and I saw my best friend, Holly Martinez, approaching with a dozen of her bodyguards.

Mom's, Dad's, and Michael's expressions dropped instantly. Even Martha, still weak and bedridden, scrambled up in panic.

Exchanging glances, Michael suddenly raised his fist and struck my belly hard.

The pain nearly made me pass out, but fortunately, Holly's bodyguards intervened and pulled me to safety in time.

"Holly, the baby! The baby!" With my eyes closed, I desperately grabbed Holly's hand, begging her to save my child.

When I woke up again, she was right beside me. It appeared that we were at her place.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I instinctively blurted, "The baby—"

"The baby's fine! Relax," Holly assured me.

I nodded, feeling some relief settle over me. But before I could fully relax, a familiar shout came from outside the window, "You're a heartless woman, Virginia! Let my son off right now!"

I looked at Holly, confused.

She explained, "That prick almost beat you into a miscarriage. I called the cops, and he's facing at least a week in detention."

I asked, "Did he tell why he wanted the baby gone?"

She helplessly shook her head. "Not at all. He'd rather be in detention than confess to anything. It's like he has some deep, bitter grudge against the child."

No sooner had Holly finished than the shouting returned louder. "Gina, if you don't abort this baby, we're disowning you!"

It was Mom and Dad. I couldn't believe they were threatening me with disownment!

Once again, they had made a flaw in their grand scheme.

They'd already killed me once in my previous life. Even if I was grateful they'd raised me, we were more than even now.

The more they tried to stop me from giving birth, the more I vowed to make it happen.

Holly comforted me and said, "Don't worry, Gina. They can't get through my home security system no matter how they try.

"Focus on your pregnancy. I'll have the medical staff drop by to check on you every term."

I eagerly nodded, my heart filled with gratitude. I didn't know what I would do without her.

Meanwhile, the curses outside the window didn't stop. After his detention, Michael joined the protest too.

…

By the day my baby was full-term, I saw that the four of them had lost a ton of weight. When they saw me step out onto the balcony, they dropped to their knees at the same time.

"Gina, please, we're begging you! Get rid of the baby! You still have time!"

Fear and panic filled their eyes as they looked at my big, pregnant belly.

But why? They were even willing to get on their knees just to make me get rid of the baby. Couldn't they just tell me the reason?

However, Michael, Martha, and my parents only stayed silent.

Then, Michael suddenly stood up, furious, and threw a brick at me. "If you dare to give birth to that bastard, I swear I'll ruin your life! I'll haunt you and Holly forever and destroy everyone you care about!"

I was so shocked and angry that my water broke on the spot. As I was about to collapse, Holly caught me in time. She then yelled for a doctor and rushed me into the delivery room.

About an hour later, the baby's cries echoed throughout the house.

Instantly, two gunshots went off in the front yard, sending the birds flying.

"Gina! Your parents… They shot themselves."

"What? Why… Why did they do that?" I shrieked. I could feel my sanity slipping away by the second.

Why had they killed themselves over the baby?

Right then, Holly brought the baby over to me with a strange look.

The moment I saw the child, I finally understood why they had gone to such crazy lengths to stop me from giving birth.