Only when Jasper mentioned it did I realize I had not seen Mary at home earlier.

I followed him quietly as a plan started forming in my mind.

Upon arriving at Mary’s home, Edith stood with her arms crossed as she looked at me sideways.

“Well, if it isn’t Claire, here to give me a piece of her mind.”

I frantically waved my hands.

“Of course not. It’s totally on me. You were right to call the police on me.”

Only then did she give a proud, hesitant nod.

“Then what are you doing here?”

Jasper nudged me, and I hurriedly spoke up.

“I’m here to take Mary home.”

As soon as I said it, Edith became so angry she nearly stumbled.

“You’ve got some nerve! Do you think we’re pushovers?”

Before we could say more, Mary emerged from her room.

She glanced at me.

“Do you admit you were wrong?”

I nodded vigorously, afraid Mary would not feel my sincerity.

Jasper then seized the moment to take Mary’s hand.

“Mary, you’re not really going to make me sleep in our bed all alone, are you?”

Mary shyly broke free from his grasp.

“Not here! People are watching.”

Soon, Mary brought out her already packed luggage.

“Mom, I’m heading out.”

Upon returning home, I attended to Mary with utmost diligence.

I fetched water when she was thirsty and cooked meals when she was hungry.

Mom even began to suspect something was wrong with me and insisted on taking me to the hospital.

Mary laughed and said, “She’s not sick, she’s just trying to make it up to me.”

I scratched my head sheepishly, but my eyes remained fixed on her belly.

The pregnancy was progressing, and further delays would only cause her more suffering.

“Mary, let’s go shopping tomorrow.”

She hesitated briefly, but after I pleaded with her persistently, she agreed.

“Claire, how old do you think my baby will be before they can fit into this?”

My heart ached with sorrow when I looked at the adorable baby clothes in her hands.

She did not yet know that she was going to spend her last day as a mother.

“Ah, my stomach is hurting so much!”

Mary quickly rushed to support me.

“Oh no, are you okay? Should we get you to a hospital?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s probably just something I ate last night. Mary, could you just wait for me right outside?”

I lingered in the bathroom for a long time. Mary grew worried and came in to check on me.

“Claire, are you okay? I really think we should go to the hospital.”

“No... don’t worry. Mary, come here for a second and give me a hand.”

She walked over without any suspicion.

Before she could speak, I swiftly pushed the bathroom door open and tied her up.

By the time she regained consciousness, she was already in the hospital.

“Claire, let me go! What in the world are you doing?!”

I picked up a scalpel and could barely hide the glimmer in my eyes.

“I’m getting rid of that abomination growing inside you, of course.”

She broke down crying and begged me repeatedly to let her go.

“Claire, please just let us go! I swear this child will never come after any of your money or property! I promise!”

I had worked too hard to just let her walk away.

I pressed the blade against her stomach.

“If you’d just listened to me and gotten the abortion, you wouldn’t have to suffer like this now.”

Mary fell into a daze. She stared vacantly at the surgical lamp.

I averted my eyes and made a firm, cold statement.

“Let’s begin.”

The entire time, Mary never made a sound. She just stared daggers at me as her eyes welled up with tears of anger.

“The surgery was a success.”

I let out a long sigh of relief and hugged Mary excitedly.

“Thank goodness! We’re all safe now.”

The next instant, a sharp scalpel plunged straight into my abdomen.

I stared at Mary in disbelief as I clutched my stomach before collapsing to the floor.

When I woke up again, I was already in the hospital.

My parents and Jasper were all there.

Mary was the only one missing.

“Claire, you have some nerve!”

My usually gentle mother pointed at me in anguish.

“Mary is your sister-in-law! How could you do that to her?!”

I would never have committed such a brutal act had I not been utterly desperate.

“Mom, where’s Mary?”

Jasper was so outraged that he grabbed me by the throat.

“What? Are you going to hurt her again?”

I frantically shook my head and pleaded with him to tell me where Mary was.

Before he could speak, Edith rushed into the room in a frantic rage.

Without a word, she slapped me across the face several times.

If my mother had not pulled her away, she would have beaten me to death.

“Is this the daughter you raised? She almost killed my little girl!”

My mother knew she was in the wrong. She lowered her head and did not dare respond.

“Edith, where is Mary?”

She pointed at me furiously.

“How dare you say her name! I’ll kill you!”

She launched herself into another frantic assault.

My mother could no longer bear it. She shielded me firmly with her own body.

“Blame me, not her. I failed as a parent. If you need to hit someone, hit me.”

Edith was deeply provoked by my mother’s protection. She glared at me with pure hatred.

“If you’re all going to take her side like this, then Mary isn’t staying in this family. The second she’s out of the hospital, she’ll file for divorce.”

I fell to my knees before her with a thud.

“Edith, please, I’m begging you. Don’t let them get divorced.

“I give you my word. When the time is right, you’ll get a full explanation.”

She flashed a sarcastic smile.

“You made me a promise last time, too! And how did you keep it? You went behind our backs and forced her to terminate the pregnancy.

“I don’t believe a word you say, Claire!”

Seeing her about to leave, Jasper quickly grabbed her arm.

“Edith, I will not divorce Mary.

“Don’t worry. I will make sure everyone who hurt Mary pays for it.”

After saying this, Jasper turned and stared at me with a menacing gaze.

“I’ve let you get away with everything for far too long. Don’t you think it’s time you faced the consequences?”

He yanked me by the hair and started dragging me. The pain was so sharp I thought my scalp was tearing.

“What are you doing?! Let her go! She’s your sister!”

Jasper showed no intention of letting me go.

“And did she think of me as her brother when she forced Mary to get an abortion?!

“Coddling her like this is going to get her killed one day!”

He kept dragging me forward, leaving a trail of blood from my scalp.

“Go on in, she’s in there. You’d better get on your knees and beg for her forgiveness.”

I cautiously pushed the door open.

Before I could even see her, a mug suddenly flew out and struck my head.

I could instantly hear Mary’s heart-wrenching sobs.

At that moment, I desperately wanted to tell her the whole truth.

“Hey, Mary.”

I dropped to my knees with a thud right in front of her.

“You can hit me or yell at me. Please, forgive me.”

She let out a cold laugh.

“Claire, what did I ever do to you? How could you go to such lengths to hurt me? You even went after my unborn child...”

She could not find the strength to finish her sentence.

“Just go. I’ll divorce Jasper. You and your perfect family of four won’t have to see me again.”

I panicked and grabbed her hand.

“Mary, you can’t divorce him. Please. I had no choice... there’s a reason I did this.”

She snorted coldly.

“Then tell me. What possible reason could you have?”

I dug my nails tightly into my palm. It was not yet the time to confess.

Seeing my silence, she thought I was deceiving her again. My heart ached as Mary started sobbing again.

Jasper walked in and held Mary with devout tenderness.

“Mary, I messed up. I was an idiot. Don’t leave me, please.

“I found a place. As soon as you’re out of the hospital, we’ll move out and live there.”

“Over my dead body!” I shouted.

“You’re not taking her anywhere!”

Jasper clenched his fist tightly and punched me hard in the face.

I wiped the blood from my lip and glared fiercely at him.

I had just received a message; the person I was looking for was already on their way.

It was finally the moment to reveal the truth.

I shielded Mary behind me and shouted.

“You imposter! How long are you going to keep up this charade?”