After my brother-in-law, Oliver Hawke, passed away, my husband, Levi Hawke, suddenly became much more attentive.

I was shy and thought that Oliver’s death had made Levi value me more.

But little did I know, on the very day of Oliver’s funeral, Levi unexpectedly announced that he intended to care for both me and Nadia Leland at the same time.

“Nadia is alone in the world now. To give her a reason to keep going, I’ve decided to help her have a child in place of Oliver.”

“These videos should prove my capabilities. Everyone, take a look.”

When I saw Nadia’s flushed face, it finally hit me.

Levi’s sudden eagerness had been nothing more than a way to show off in front of Nadia.

As the unedited videos played on the big screen, I closed my eyes in despair.

And when Levi saw the blood beneath me, he immediately regretted everything.

...

"My parents want me to take on the responsibility of caring for both Nadia and Eva as the only son of the Hawke family," Levi's voice echoed across the entire cemetery through the microphone.

"After all, Nadia has no one left. By helping her have a child in place of Oliver, I’m giving her something to hold onto."

As soon as his words finished, the once-bustling relatives at the funeral fell silent. All eyes were suddenly on me.

The flowers in my hand fell to the ground with a soft thud, and the buzzing in my ears made my head spin.

"What does it mean to care for both Nadia and Eva?" little Leo Kingsley innocently asked from the side.

His father, Peter Kingsley, coughed and quietly explained:

"It means... it means one person marrying two wives, and the son sharing one with his brother..."

“Huh? Is that even allowed? What kind of era is this?”

Peter quickly covered Leo’s mouth, awkwardly laughing and glancing at Levi, who looked displeased:

“Ah, the child doesn’t understand. He’s just worried you might not be able to handle everything.”

Levi scoffed, turning his gaze to me, his eyebrows raised meaningfully:

“Don’t worry, I’m not even thirty yet. I have more than enough strength and resources.”

“Eva Dorne, you agree, right?”

Levi even asked me directly.

My mind went blank, and the events that had unfolded at home began flashing through my mind.

Details I had overlooked before now became clear...

A month ago, Oliver had died in a car accident.

My father-in-law, Jack Hawke, and mother-in-law, Sophia Morgan, were getting older. Nadia was too heartbroken to even get out of bed, and Levi was careless, not realizing what needed to be done.

So, I was the one who practically took care of Oliver’s funeral arrangements.

During that time, I was running around like a headless chicken, and just then, Levi suddenly became “enthusiastic.”

What had once been a visit every two weeks now turned into daily closeness.

I was shy but happy, thinking it was Oliver’s death that made him realize how much he should appreciate me.

So, no matter how tired I was, I complied with him.

But I never imagined he had such absurd intentions: to prove his own capabilities.

When did this ridiculous idea even begin?

The most experienced elder in Vinewither Village, the former village chief Hugo Vance, tapped his cane and said gently:

"Levi, this might not be the right thing to do. You need to think about Eva..."

"Don’t worry, I can handle both of them with ease," Levi interrupted, his tone clearly impatient.

After speaking, he proudly looked over at Nadia.

Nadia’s face turned bright red with embarrassment as she squeezed her legs together.

“Some people need to mind their own business. Look, I’ve even recorded a few videos. Just watch and you’ll see if I can handle it.”

Levi said this as he pulled his phone from his pocket and connected it to the projector in the hall.

My mind became even more clouded.

What?

He’s going to show us those private videos… after we just finished Oliver’s funeral?

My head was spinning even more.

Back when we were dating, Levi had suggested making intimate videos, and I had angrily stopped him several times.

At the time, I stood my ground, telling him firmly that such things were absolutely off-limits.

He reluctantly agreed and never brought it up again.

But not long ago, he suddenly suggested making another video.

I thought to myself, we’ve been married for six or seven years now, and it’s the time for the so-called "seven-year itch." Maybe he wanted to spice things up and keep our marriage from getting stale.

After all, we've been together for so long—nothing bad would likely come from it, so I agreed.

I never expected that his real intention was to prove his own capabilities.

It was then that Nadia spoke up:

"Oh, stop it, Eva looks so pale."

"Mom, Dad, Levi... you guys are unbelievable. I know you care about me. Even though I’m only 28, just a year younger than Levi, what’s wrong with staying single for the rest of my life for Oliver’s sake?"

"I’m not even desperate for kids. You two are enough for me."

Sophia quickly chimed in with concern:

"What are you talking about, Nadia?! Eva’s a daughter-in-law, and so are you! How can Eva and Levi be so happy while you’re just wasting away like this?"

"Eva understands, doesn’t she? Nadia’s always been so good to you."

Hah. They really knew how to use both the carrot and the stick.

I gritted my teeth and turned to Levi:

"Levi, is this something you and your parents decided together?"

Levi looked at my pale face, a flash of pain and guilt in his eyes, but quickly replied with firmness:

"Eva, you’ve been so busy lately. This small matter wasn’t something I wanted to bother you with, but we all thought you’d understand. Don’t worry, I’m just helping Oliver by having a child. My responsibility to Nadia is out of duty, but my love for you is real."

I looked at my husband of six years, and my heart ached.

But then, all the moments when Levi had once been so kind to me came flooding back.

In fact, six years ago, I was supposed to marry Oliver.

Just when we were about to get engaged, I was abducted by a group of criminals, tortured for three days and nights, and the ordeal was recorded and posted online.

My mother, Caleb Voss, died from a stroke caused by the shock, and my father, Oscar Dorne, was so ashamed he cut ties with me.

When Dr. Jason Bishop told me I would never be able to have children again, Oliver immediately broke off the engagement.

That was when Levi stepped forward, saying he had loved me for many years and that he would marry me.

"Oliver can take care of the family line, and I’ll take care of loving you."

Levi's words moved me to tears.

The happy tears of that time now mixed with the bitter ones of today. I closed my eyes, finally deciding to give in.

"Okay, I agree…"

As the words left my mouth, all the relatives looked at me in shock. Even Levi probably didn’t expect me to agree so quickly.

He froze for a moment, then hurried to unplug the connection, but it was too late.

I watched in horror as my face in high-definition appeared on the big screen.

I could hear the shocked gasps of relatives, the screams of children, and Levi's frantic curses.

"Shut your eyes! I told you to look at my muscles, not my wife!"

"Mom, how do I turn this off? I don’t know how to work this thing!"

Everything went black before my eyes, and I fainted.

I woke up to the ticking sound of machines.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the white ceiling, and the smell of disinfectant filled the air.

This... this is a hospital?

I tried to move my fingers, attempting to prop myself up, but then I heard Sophia's voice from outside the door.

"Levi, didn’t you have Dr. Bishop remove Eva’s uterus all those years ago? How is it that she’s pregnant now?"

My body went rigid, as if struck by lightning. I froze in place.

What did that mean?

My uterus… was removed?

And I’m pregnant?

Levi let out a deep sigh, his voice tinged with a note of helplessness. "Maybe Dr. Bishop wasn’t skilled enough, didn’t get everything out properly. And, well, we’ve been… active lately, so…"

Jack gave him a pat on the shoulder. "It’s alright. Having a baby now might not be such a bad thing."

"A woman with a child is tied down. Now that Eva is carrying the Hawke family’s child, she won’t dare make a fuss when she sees you and Nadia together."

"Exactly," Levi said, his voice filled with relief. "At least now I can be open about being with Nadia. I feel guilty toward Oliver, but the one I’ve always loved is Nadia."

"Levi, your mother has always believed you were behind Eva’s kidnapping, that you were responsible for those people who hurt her, and that you even posted that video online. That was a terrible thing to do…"

What?!

The person who orchestrated my kidnapping… was Levi?

I clamped my hand over my mouth in shock, unable to utter a sound.

Tears began to fall uncontrollably, my chest tightening as if something heavy were pressing on it, making it hard to breathe.

"Look at how good Eva has been to you, and now she’s carrying the only child of the Hawke family. If this gets out, and people find out how much she’s suffered as the mother of my grandson, it’s going to be a real scandal…"

Levi sighed again. "Six years ago, for Oliver to move on and fall in love with Nadia, even if it was wrong, I had to do it."

"Love for someone doesn’t count the cost. Nadia loves Oliver, and I just wanted her to be happy."

"But now that Oliver is gone, it’s finally my turn to be happy."

"As for Eva, with the abilities I have, I can still look after both of them. When she focuses on the child, I’ll devote myself entirely to living a happy life with Nadia…"

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Tears streamed down my face, uncontrollably.

I bit into the blanket, trying to stifle my sobs, but I couldn’t stop them.

So, the person I loved most had always loved someone else.

The person I had been most grateful to was the one who had hurt me the most.

Tears soaked the pillow, and I could almost hear movement outside. Jack, Sophia, and Levi rushed in immediately.

"Eva?!"

"Honey?!"

I passed out from the pain.

Levi, Jack, and Sophia frantically called for Dr. Bishop. In my dazed state, I heard Levi shouting at Dr. Bishop:

"If you can’t save my wife, I’ll tear your damn hospital down!"

It used to be my favorite thing about him—his fierce protection of me.

Every time I saw his possessiveness and the way he took care of me, my heart would race.

But now, the pain in my heart far outweighed any physical pain.

I no longer wanted this feigned affection!

When I opened my eyes again, Levi was sitting beside me. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his face was covered in stubble. It was clear he hadn’t slept all day.

When he saw me awake, his face softened. He quickly opened a lunchbox on the table and spoke gently.

"You’re awake, sweetheart? Here, drink some beef soup. Sophia made it just for you. It’s all my fault. I made you upset."

"Honey, do you know? You’re pregnant. I’m going to be a father. Thank you, I’m so happy…"

He scooped a spoonful of soup and brought it to my lips.

If it had been any other time, his tender care—feeding me soup like this—would have touched me deeply. I would have felt like a little baby being pampered by him.

But now, as I stared at the clear broth with not a single piece of meat in it, my heart sank.

Even the beef soup—was I only worthy of drinking whatever was left over from their family?