I immediately hung up the phone without letting the assistant explain further.

I did not need to hear another word, since I knew Lewis had chosen to pick up Ruby instead of accompanying me to the gynecologist.

It was not a nightmare. Ruby’s return was real, and with it, every ounce of hope I had held onto was slipping through my fingers.

I sighed deeply, my chest heavy with hurt, but it was not the first time I had been betrayed by the people around me.

Hiding my emotions, I turned to the maid and said coldly, “Prepare the car. I need to go to the hospital immediately.”

“Yes, madam,” she replied, scurrying off to fulfill my request.

I left the garden house and made my way to the front door, determined to go alone.

I did not care anymore about Lewis or what he was doing. I just needed to know that my baby was okay.

The drive to the hospital was agonizingly slow. The traffic was unusually congested, turning what should have been a thirty-minute trip into an hour-long ordeal.

As I sat in the backseat, gazing out the window, my heart clenched when I spotted someone familiar. On the second floor of a restaurant, clearly visible through the large glass windows, were Lewis and Ruby.

They sat close, their faces glowing with affection as they looked into each other’s eyes.

My stomach churned as I watched Ruby lean forward, feeding Lewis a bite of her food. He smiled, returning the gesture lovingly.

And then, as if to twist the knife deeper, they kissed. A soft, intimate kiss that they did not care to hide from anyone who could see them through the see-through window.

Tears blurred my vision, spilling freely down my cheeks as our car moved away from the street.

I clutched my stomach, whispering silently to my baby, “I’m so sorry you have to go through this with me.”

When we finally arrived at the hospital, my legs felt weak as I stepped out of the car. Determined to move forward, I walked to the front desk to register.

But before I could utter a word to the receptionist, a wave of nausea hit me hard.

I turned on my heel and rushed to the bathroom, barely making it to the sink before I emptied my stomach.

My tears mixed with the sweat on my brow as I vomited again and again, as though my body was expelling not just the food I had eaten, but the bitterness and anger that had consumed me.

Clenching the sink tightly, I stared at my pale reflection in the mirror, my throat burning with bile and frustration.

It was all too much to bear since it seemed Ruby was reclaiming the life she had left behind. The life I had been forced to take on.

Piece by piece, she was taking everything from me, and I was powerless to stop her.

I did not know how long I stayed in the bathroom, venting my sadness and anger in solitude.

When I finally left, I felt too defeated to see the gynecologist. Instead, I walked straight out of the hospital and ordered the driver to take me home.

As we drove, I placed my hand on my stomach, a new resolve building within me.

I could not afford to be weak anymore. The baby growing inside me deserved better.

I needed to find the courage to tell Lewis about the pregnancy and demand my place as his wife.

When we arrived home, I stepped inside, ready to face Lewis. But what greeted me in the living room made my blood run cold.

Lounging on the sofa, her legs crossed as she sipped tea like she owned the place, was Ruby. Her polished appearance and smug demeanor contrasted sharply with the turmoil brewing in my chest.

She glanced at me lazily, her lips curling into a smirk.

“Hi, nerd sister,” she greeted, her tone dripping with mockery. She did not bother to stand, her confidence radiating like a shield of superiority.

Her presence hit me like a slap of cold water. After two years of trying to erase her from my mind, here she was—Ruby Gilmore.

The name we once shared. The face that mirrored mine.

I scanned the room, my heart clinging to a faint hope. Maybe Lewis had only brought her home so she could join me for the appointment. Maybe he was somewhere in the house, waiting to go to the hospital with me.

But Ruby’s piercing voice crushed that hope instantly.

“What are you looking for? Lewis?” she asked, her smirk growing wider. “I’m sad too because he just dropped me here and left. Apparently, he had some sudden meeting.”

Ruby took another sip of her tea and added nonchalantly, “But don’t worry. He promised to come back home on time with a present for me. I’m willing to wait for him, of course.”

Her words, casual yet pointed, felt like knives digging into my chest. My nails dug into my palms as I stood frozen in place, my mind swirling with anger, betrayal, and despair.

Ruby’s sharp eyes scanned me from head to toe, her lips curling into a smirk.

“Anyway,” she said, her tone dripping with mockery, “you really do look like me two years ago. Our parents have done quite the job turning you into my carbon copy.”

“But, unfortunately,” She chuckled. “Lewis still doesn’t love you, does he? Haha.”

Her words hit like daggers, but Ruby did not stop.

She stood up and tilted her head while walking toward me, “Tell me, is your hair dyed, or are you still wearing wigs like when we were teenagers?

“And those eyes…are you wearing contact lenses? Because there’s no way you could walk around without those thick glasses of yours, right?”

I said nothing, letting her words hang in the air. Yes, I was the nerd sister, the one who never measured up.

Even though we were twins, we could not have been more different.

Ruby was the perfect, beautiful one—the golden child. I was the opposite, the albino sister with severe nearsightedness since birth.

My natural hair was blonde, not the rich brunette shared by Ruby and our parents. My eyes were a pale, unremarkable grey, a stark contrast to Ruby’s vibrant hazel ones.

Everything about me was the antithesis of what our parents valued. So, since I was young, my parents had tried to turn me into Ruby’s shadow.

I wore wigs to match her hair, contact lenses to mimic her eyes. My pale skin, always so starkly different, was hidden beneath stockings, long sleeves, and layers of foundation at every family event.

And so, it was no surprise that Ruby walked to me just to snatch the wig on my head with her smirk widening.

“But what can I say? You’ve done a pretty good job changing yourself to look like me. Too bad, no matter how hard you try, you’ll never actually be me,” she said, her voice cutting.

She was right, even when seeing her at that time, I could not help but notice the small changes in her.

Her style was different, a little more polished, a little more mature. And yet, my first thought was not about her—it was about me.

Would I have to imitate her new style at that time, too? It was exhausting, infuriating, but at that point, it felt like it was all I knew.

Ruby laughed again, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Since I did not react or try to take the wig back from her hand, she grumbled, “Ah, you’re still as boring as ever. No wonder Lewis said you’re not attractive at all.”

My chest tightened, but I refused to show any emotion.

“That’s why I wasn’t worried,” she continued, inspecting her perfectly manicured nails. “When our parents said you’d replace me temporarily, I knew there was nothing to fear. You’ll never be me, Rose.”

Her words were venomous, yet she delivered them with the ease of someone discussing the weather.

“What time does Lewis usually come home?” she asked suddenly, her voice taking on a casual tone, as if the weight of her earlier words had not left the room.

“It….” I began hesitantly.

But before I could finish, Ruby cut me off with a dismissive wave. “Oh, never mind. It’s no use asking you. I’d rather ask Lewis,” she said while throwing my wig to the ground and back to the sofa.

Her confidence radiating through the room, while I stood there in silence, quietly clenching my hands.

Every word, every action of hers reminded me that I was nothing more than a placeholder in my own life. Ruby was there to take it all back, and I did not know if I had the strength to stop her.

Suddenly, Ruby’s wide smile grew as she glanced at her phone screen. “He’ll be home soon,” she said, her tone full of excitement.

Before I could react, my eyes followed hers, landing on Lewis’s figure walking through the front door.

“Oh, my love, you’re really back,” Ruby called out, her voice sweet and affectionate.

And just like that, Lewis’s gaze softened in a way I had never seen before. He immediately strode toward her, a warm smile on his face.

My love?

The words echoed in my head, making my stomach churn. I fought the urge to throw up as I watched their interaction.

Ruby rose to her feet, meeting him halfway. Like reunited lovers, they embraced intimately, their closeness exuding a warmth I had never been allowed to feel.

I had been married to Lewis for two years, and yet, not once had he ever hugged me like that.

I stared at them, my chest tightening with suppressed anger. I could no longer bear to watch the nauseating display of affection and ready to leave the living room.

Before I could take a step, Ruby’s voice pierced through the air, loud and accusatory. “Lewis, I was so scared you wouldn’t come home in time.

“As soon as Rose saw me here, she went completely berserk. She even yanked off her wig because she couldn’t handle that I dyed my hair ginger.”

Her dramatic words left me frozen in place, my fists clenched at my sides. My gaze fell to the floor, where my wig lay—a detail Ruby had obviously used as her proof.

Lewis turned to me, his face dark with anger.

“What’s the meaning of this tantrum, Rose?” he scolded, his voice sharp and cutting. “Ruby has every right to do what she wants. It’s your job to imitate her, like you’ve done all this time.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, but I did not respond. I was too tired and drained to argue with him. Instead, I turned on my heel, ready to walk away.

But before I could leave, Lewis grabbed my wrist, his grip firm and commanding.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he barked. “Prepare a grand feast to celebrate your sister’s return. I’ve already sent the menu. Tell the maids and help them. I want everything ready before six.”

His words were orders, not requests, and his cold tone only added to the ache in my chest, while Ruby smirked behind him.

I wanted to say something, to push back, but before I could, Lewis turned to Ruby with a warmth that felt like a slap in the face.

His voice softened, his expression filled with gentle concern. “Let’s pack your suitcase and get you settled. You must be tired after such a long journey.” He smiled at her and added, “Oh, and I bought you the Ruby jewelry set you wanted.”

Ruby’s face lit up with delight as she leaned in to kiss Lewis on the cheek. “Oh, thank you so much. You’re truly my one and only love,” she gushed, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Lewis’s expression softened further at her words, and without sparing me another glance, he picked up her suitcase and led her upstairs.

Left alone in the living room, I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat.

My hands trembled as I unlocked my phone to check the menu Lewis had sent.

My stomach sank as I scrolled through the list—chicken, beef, seafood, an endless array of dishes that looked more like a royal banquet than a simple welcome meal.

It was as if he wanted to give the entire world to Ruby.

As I wanted to curse more, to scream, I directly placed a hand on my stomach and whispered inwardly, “It’s not good for the baby to hear that, so calm down, Rose.”

With a deep breath, I swallowed my anger and made my way to the kitchen.

Sweat soon dotted my forehead as I worked alongside the maids, chopping, stirring, and grilling.

The heat from the stove and the overwhelming smells of the ingredients made me dizzy, forcing me to excuse myself to the bathroom several times.

The pregnancy had heightened my sensitivity, and certain odors triggered intense waves of nausea.

But as the clock ticked closer to five, I gritted my teeth and pushed through the discomfort. Only half of the dishes were done, and there was no time to rest.

The maid assisting me noticed my condition and spoke softly, “Madam, please rest. You don’t look well. We’ll take care of the rest.”

I shook my head, wiping the sweat from my brow.

“It’s fine. I can handle it,” I replied, my voice steady despite the exhaustion. I knew better than to refuse Lewis’s orders.

The consequences of disobedience were far too dire.

If I dared to resist, Lewis would not hesitate to remind me of my past sacrifice—the kidney I had donated to him when he was twenty.

I still remembered the day vividly.

Lewis had been on the brink of death, his kidneys failing, and the entire family had scrambled to find a suitable donor.

Out of everyone, I, who was only a seventeen girl at that moment, had been the only match.

After endless tests and procedures, I was deemed fit to donate, and my parents did not hesitate for a moment.

They signed the consent forms with joy, forcing me to go through the operation without a second thought.

Even after we were married, Lewis exploited my sacrifice. I would never forget the first time he used it as a weapon against me.

It had been during the early days of our marriage, when his mother discovered we were sleeping in separate rooms.

Furious, she confronted Lewis about it, and later that night, he cornered me in his study, his eyes blazing with anger.

“You’d better talk nicely to my parents and fix this mess,” he hissed. “If you dare disobey me, don’t forget—I can still take your last kidney. Remember this, Rose.”

The memory sent a shiver down my spine, but I shook it off, focusing on the task at hand. My baby deserved better, and I would do whatever it took to protect them.

Even if it meant enduring this torment a little longer.

**

After all the dishes were finally prepared, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and stepped back, watching as the maid arranged everything neatly on the dining table.

My legs ached, my head throbbed, and my stomach churned from the nausea that had plagued me throughout the day.

Then I heard them—their laughter echoing down the staircase. Lewis and Ruby descended together, chatting like a happy couple in their own private world.

They entered the dining room, their voices light and carefree, as if they were the owners of the villa and I was nothing more than a hired maid.

When Ruby laid her eyes on the spread of dishes, her face lit up in mock surprise. “Oh my God, Lewis, you really made all the menus I asked for! You’re amazing.”

Lewis beamed at her praise, his hand resting possessively on her waist. “Of course. Seeing how light your body is, I thought I should try harder to make sure you get all the nutrition you need,” he replied smoothly.

Ruby giggled, leaning closer to him. “You know, Lewis, all my fat gathers in my cheeks. So don’t misunderstand when you look at my body.”

Lewis chuckled, gently pinching her cheek. “No wonder you have such adorable, chubby cheeks. I’d love to pinch them every day.”

Their sweet interaction was like a knife twisting in my chest.

For two years, I had hoped to see that side of Lewis—the affectionate, tender man he was capable of being.

But then I realized it was not that he could not be sweet; it was simply that he did not want to be that way with me.

Lewis then pulled out a chair for Ruby, his movements smooth and gentlemanly, like the perfect partner. “Let’s sit and enjoy our dinner,” he said with a smile.

Ruby nodded and sat down gracefully.

Then, her gaze swept across the room, and when she noticed me standing silently near the maid, she called out with a syrupy voice, “Oh, sister, come join us! Sit here beside me.”

She gestured to the chair next to her, her tone exuding fake kindness.

Lewis, who had just taken his seat, glanced at me with indifference. “Sit down already so we can eat,” he muttered lazily, as if my mere presence was a formality he had to endure.

Suppressing a sigh, I walked over and sat beside Ruby. But the food on my plate, which I had painstakingly prepared, did not tempt me in the slightest.

The sight and smell of it made my stomach churn, though I forced myself to keep my nausea at bay.

As we began eating in an awkward silence, Ruby suddenly decided to include me in the conversation.

“Oh, by the way,” she began with a smile, her tone falsely cheerful, “thank you for taking care of Lewis for the past two years, sister.”

She then turned to Lewis, her expression softening. “And you, Lewis, thank you for keeping your promise to wait for me all this time. I always knew your love was genuine, even back then.”

Her words struck me like a thunderclap, but before I could process them, Ruby continued with a playful pout. “I do worry sometimes, you know. I was overthinking that maybe you two might have… you know… had slept together behind my back.”

The room went silent for a moment, save for the clinking of silverware.

Lewis immediately broke the tension, taking Ruby’s hand in his and squeezing it gently.

“It would never happen, Ruby,” he said firmly. “I never even touched your sister for a second. I only love you.”

I stared at him, my lips curling into a bitter smirk. My chest tightened as I struggled to suppress the hurt and anger bubbling inside me.

Never touched me? So, what was that night? Was it just a drunken accident that he chose to ignore because it did not count in his twisted mind?

“I trust you, Lewis. I’ve seen the proof that you two slept separately all this time. That’s why I’m so grateful,” Ruby said, her gaze soft and full of affection as she looked at Lewis.

He mirrored her expression, his face glowing with the kind of love and devotion I had never received from him.

It was too much. My chest tightened, my stomach churned violently, and I could no longer suppress the overwhelming nausea.

Abruptly, I stood, the chair scraping harshly against the floor, the sound reverberating through the tense room.

But before I could escape, Ruby grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

“Where are you going?” she asked in a tone laced with syrupy concern. Yet her expression betrayed her—her eyes burned with anger, her lips pressed into a thin, venomous line.

The sharp rise of stomach acid clawed at my throat, and I could not hold it back any longer.

Without warning, I bent over and vomited everything onto the dining table, the bile and remnants of my last meal splattering across the dishes I had spent hours preparing.

A shocked silence fell over the room for a brief moment before Ruby’s piercing scream shattered it.

“How rude!” she shrieked, recoiling in disgust as she pushed her chair back, her face twisted in horror.