"Big sister, I've been having some heart issues these past few days. Hunter said I should stay here for a while so he can take care of me."

"I forgot to bring my clothes, so I wore yours. You don't mind, right?"

My eyes landed on the red marks across Savannah's chest.

Before I could speak, Hunter stepped out of the room in a wrinkled set of pajamas.

"Your sister is the most understanding person. How could she possibly mind?"

"Besides, with how much weight your sister's gained, she can't even fit into her old clothes. This nightgown looks much better on you."

Hunter walked over and pulled me into his arms.

"You went out so late and didn't say anything. You're still pregnant; what if something happened to you? What would I do?"

Looking at the affection in his eyes, I felt nothing but coldness inside.

On the surface, he acted concerned and loving. But behind my back, he and my family were plotting how to use me.

He shamelessly fooled around with my younger sister right in my own home while my parents turned a blind eye and even encouraged it.

To them, I was nothing more than a fool they could use and discard.

I didn't say a word to either of them and went straight upstairs.

That night, Hunter, who normally never touched milk, suddenly brought me a glass.

"You're in your third trimester now. You really need to be getting enough protein and calcium."

"Be good. Drink the milk."

I stared at the glass in his hand, my gaze turning cold. "I don't want it."

Hunter looked slightly embarrassed by my refusal but still tried to coax me, voice soft.

"I'm doing this for you and the baby. Be good, okay?"

Without giving me a choice, he forced the glass to my lips and poured the milk down my throat.

As the sweet, fishy taste slid down, heavy drowsiness quickly set in.

Through the haze, I thought I saw two figures entangled beside me.

The next morning, I woke up sore all over, barely able to move.

After Hunter left for work, I unlocked my phone.

Last night, before anything could happen, I had installed a hidden camera in my room, just in case they tried anything.

The moment I watched the footage, my mind went blank.

Hunter had mixed my milk with a full dose of sleeping pills. And once I was unconscious, he and Savannah shamelessly slept together in my bed.

Savannah leaned lazily against Hunter's chest, then casually raised her foot and kicked my belly.

"Brother Hunter, tomorrow is my birthday. What gift are you going to give me?"

Hunter looked at her, eyes dazed, breath heavy. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

Savannah smiled smugly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I heard pregnant women can lend their fortune during pregnancy. I'm just curious if it's true."

"Why don't we try and find out?"

Hunter flipped her over and pressed her down beneath him.

Their words made my heart clench and a wave of dread washed over me.

Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the footage on my phone, the pain in my chest sharp and unbearable.

Without hesitation, I turned off the screen and swallowed the medication the doctor had prescribed.

Just as I was about to pack my things, my phone buzzed with a notification.

It was a news alert.

#PregnancyFortuneLending

Just those three words made me freeze, echoing what Savannah had said the night before.

With trembling hands, I tapped the link.

What I saw nearly made me drop the phone.

Photo after photo of me, heavily pregnant, flooded the screen, densely packed, each one tagged with a clear price.

The comments section was even more unbearable.

"This woman's got it going on! Still looks damn good!"

"Smoking hot. I wonder what the experience is like. I heard from a businessman that he was nearly bankrupt. I tried it once and the next day, everything turned around."

"She already looks spicy as hell. Even if the fortune thing's fake, I'd still wanna try."

Those filthy words left my mind blank.

I felt like a naked animal, mocked and humiliated through a screen.

Just then, my phone rang. In a panic, I pressed to answer.

"Hey, you're that pregnant woman from the internet, right? Name your price!"

A sleazy voice slithered through the speaker and terror seized me. I threw the phone across the room.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

Hunter walked in, saw the panic on my face and rushed to hold me. He picked up the phone.

As soon as he heard the voice on the other end, his expression changed, but only slightly. Then, he calmly ended the call.

"It's just a prank call. Don't overthink it."

My gaze turned cold, piercing. "You really think that was just a prank?"

He looked slightly annoyed for a moment.

"You're overthinking because of pregnancy hormones. Today is Savannah's birthday. I booked a private room for her at the Royal Blue Clubhouse. Come with me."

At the mention of Savannah's name, I trembled slightly and my expression turned cold.

"I'm not feeling well today. I don't want to go."

Hunter's face darkened instantly.

"Savannah's birthday only comes once a year. And your parents will be there too. As her sister, if you don't show up, you're being disrespectful."

"I've been patient enough with you during this pregnancy. But on this matter, I won't compromise. You have to come today."

With that, he grabbed my hand and dragged me out, forcing me into the car.

The moment we stepped into the private room, I felt the stares.

They looked at me with teasing eyes, barely hiding their meanness.

"Sis looks like we're wearing the same dress! We really are connected at heart, always liking the same things."

Savannah shot Hunter a look that dared him to respond.

Only then did I realize Savannah and I were wearing the exact same dress.

"This dress clearly looks better on Savannah. Your sister's all bloated now with that huge belly. She's completely lost her charm."

Hunter didn't bother hiding his disdain as he praised Savannah while belittling me.

"Brother Hunter, don't say that. Even though Sis is pregnant, she's still got tons of fans online. Who knows how many are obsessed with her!"

She sneered and held out a glass of wine. "It's my birthday. Have a drink with me." I stared at the glass, my face cold. "I'm still pregnant. I can't drink."

The moment I spoke, Hunter stood up, his expression turning dark.

"It's Savannah's birthday. Won't you toast her? She offered you a drink in front of everyone and you just refused?"

His tone grew harsher. "I already asked the doctor. You're eight months along and the baby's fully developed. A little wine won't hurt."

My parents stepped forward, their faces full of disapproval.

"Savannah, offering you a toast is a sign of respect. You should know your place."

"You didn't even bring a birthday gift and now you're turning down her toast too?"

Looking at the people I once believed were closest to me, silent tears slid down my cheeks.

"So if I drink this glass of wine, you'll all finally leave me alone?"

I reached out for the glass in Savannah's hand. But just before I touched it, she suddenly leaned forward, spilling the red wine all over me.

Before I could react, I was shoved hard. I fell to the floor and a sharp, tearing pain shot through my belly.

"Ivy, it's fine if you didn't want to drink, but why did you have to push me?"

Hunter pulled Savannah into his arms and glared at me. "Ivy, I can't believe you've become such a vicious woman."

Clutching my stomach, I couldn't even speak. All I felt was a warm, terrifying rush between my legs.

The medicine must have started working.

"I'm bleeding. Get me to the hospital, now!"

The pain in my lower belly was so intense that cold sweat covered my forehead. I clutched my stomach tightly, barely able to breathe.

Hunter glanced at my white dress, now stained with bright red and a flash of panic crossed his face.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

Just as he bent down to help me, Savannah's voice rang out from behind him.

"Ivy, you poured red wine on yourself to fake blood. What a cheap trick!"

At her words, Hunter immediately pulled his hand back. His eyes landed on the broken wine glass at my feet and his expression turned cold.

"Ivy, how did you become so manipulative? If Savannah hadn't said anything, I might've actually believed you. Using red wine to pretend you're bleeding, just for sympathy?"

My mother scoffed coldly from the side.

"She's always been sneaky. Even as a child, she bullied Savannah because of her heart condition. And now she's trying to frame her? How shameless."

"You're eight months pregnant. How could you be bleeding that easily?"

I held my belly tightly, shaking from the pain.

"I'm not lying… my stomach really hurts… please help me… I'm begging you…"

I looked at them with pleading eyes, desperate for just one person to care. But no one moved.

Hunter looked at me with nothing but disgust.

"Using wine to fake blood just to fool us? If I don't teach you a lesson now, you'll try to walk all over me next time."