Turned out it was just another trick.

He was not the only one who could act.

I blinked and curved my lips into a smile. “I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.”

My voice was soft and slightly tired, as though nothing was amiss.

He heaved a sigh of relief and comforted me gently. “Okay. Sleep early tonight.”

Why not? I could play this game before the surgery.

After that, the curtains would fall on this charade.

The next morning, Jason took me to a prenatal checkup.

He asked questions about every little detail. Even the doctor laughed and praised him. “You have a great husband. Not many men are this responsible these days.”

Jason held my hand, his gaze gentle. “I’ve been looking forward to this baby forever. Of course I’ll take good care of them.”

When we walked out of the consultation room, we bumped into my sister Rachel. She wore a loose-fitting dress, and a smug look flashed across her eyes when she saw us.

I smirked inwardly when I saw her round belly. No wonder she said she had coincidentally fallen pregnant at the same time as me. She had been waiting for me the entire time.

She approached me with a grin and a lighthearted tone. “When are you due, Nina?”

She even held out her hand to touch my stomach. My gaze cold, I smacked her hand aside.

“What was that for?” Anger flashed across Rachel’s face.

Before she could continue, however, I lowered my head and held my stomach, saying weakly, “My stomach… kinda hurts…”

Her words caught in her throat, and her expression instantly stiffened.

Jason immediately held my arm, his tone nervous. “Was it because the checkup took too long? Do you want to go back and rest?”

His tone was filled with concern, but I could see that his gaze stayed on Rachel, wordlessly consoling her.

I lowered my lashes, saying softly, “I’ll head to the washroom.”

He frowned and tried to follow me, but I waved him aside. “No need. Wait for me here.”

He hesitated but eventually nodded. “Alright, be careful.”

I went into the washroom, but the moment I closed the door, I saw him hurry off. As I thought, he had gone to comfort Rachel.

I followed him sneakily, standing a short distance away as I watched him soothe her patiently.

Rachel frowned and pouted. “Did you fall for her or something? She was so rude to me, but you didn’t even defend me! Tell me honestly, did you feel bad for her?”

Jason sighed helplessly. “I did it for the baby. After all, she’s…”

Without finishing that sentence, he took a beautiful jewelry box from his pocket and pulled out a brand new bracelet from inside. His tone was gentle as he put it on her wrist. “This is the bracelet you wanted last time. I got it for you.”

Rachel’s expression softened. She smirked and said smugly, “I earned a ton on the stock you recommended last time. Do you have any other recommendations?”

I stood rooted to the spot, scoffing at the scene unfolding before me.

Jason was using everything I gave him to win her heart.

I turned around and left, then took out my phone and made a call. “Hello? I want to confirm my appointment tomorrow. Alright, I’ll be there on time.”

The familiar footsteps behind me came to a sudden stop.

“Tomorrow?” Jason sounded confused. “Where are you going tomorrow?”

I turned around and met his gaze with a smile. “I made an appointment for a pregnancy photoshoot. Let’s take some family photos as keepsakes.”

His expression stiffened, and he hesitated.

I purposely raised a brow, my tone light. “What’s the matter? You don’t want to go with me?”

He could not quite meet my gaze. “No, I’m just… worried you’ll be too tired. Besides, I have a meeting tomorrow at work. How about another day?”

I looked at him and chuckled, my tone soft and considerate. “It’s fine. Your work comes first. I can go alone.”

He seemed to heave a sigh of relief. He rubbed my head with a smile, his tone indulgent. “What would I do without such a wonderful wife like you?”

On the day of the surgery, Jason suddenly pulled out a small bracelet and put it on my wrist before leaving for work.

“This is for you.” His tone was gentle as usual.

I looked down at it. It was the free gift that came with the bracelet he bought for Rachel.

My fingers curled into fists slightly, but I looked up at him with a smile. “Thanks. I love it.”

His lips curved as he rubbed my hair, saying softly, “You’re always so sweet, Nina.”

Before going for the surgery, I decided to drop by my maiden home to visit my parents.

Just as I was about to head inside, however, I heard the voices inside clearly.

Rachel was complaining with a pout, “Why is Nina always so arrogant? She even hit my hand yesterday!”

My mother comforted her softly. “Just tolerate that for now, alright? We eventually gave you her fiancé when you wanted him, didn’t we? This time as well, you just need to be patient.”

My father sighed helplessly. “Don’t make a fuss, okay? You finally married the guy you wanted. If your in-laws find out how you’re getting this baby, they’ll get mad again, and Jason will be in trouble.”

Jason hastily comforted her, his tone gentle but determined. “Don’t worry, Rachel. I brought the prenatal checkup from yesterday. Everything’s fine. We just need to wait until the baby is born.”

He paused and continued, “Mom and Dad, you don’t have to worry about me either. I’ll do anything for Rachel.”

My fingertips were cold. All the blood in my body froze over.

So they all knew.

So this was all part of their plan.

So I was nothing more than their pawn from the very start.

Not long later, the butler brought over some tea. Jason opened the door to take the cups, but his eyes locked onto something on the floor.

There were pearls scattered across the doorway, and a bracelet lay broken. It was the one he had put on my wrist.

He immediately went pale, forgetting to breathe. He rushed to the door and looked around, his gaze panicked.

After that, he blew up my phone.

The moment the call went through, he said anxiously, “Nina, where are you? I can explain—”

I did not reply.

His voice grew even more panicked. “Nina, what happened? Where are you?!”

Just then, he heard a nurse saying on the other side—

“Nina Gordon? Please sign this agreement before the surgery.”

Jason felt like he was being choked. His breath caught, and he instantly lost it. “A surgery? Where are you? What surgery?!”

He practically roared into the phone, his voice unprecedentedly panicked.

I looked at the screen calmly, drawing my finger across it lightly.

I hung up… then turned off my phone.

I sat on the hospital bed, my hands rubbing the sheets subconsciously.

My best friend Anna was making some arrangements over the phone. A few seconds later, she ended the call and looked at me.

“Everything’s in place.” Her tone was steady as ever. “It’s all according to plan.”

I nodded calmly. “Good.”

The doctor came into my room, holding my chart. His expression was solemn. “Miss Gordon, let me check again before the surgery—”

He flipped through my chart and looked at me solemnly. “The baby is quite far along, so we’ll have to induce labor. This could affect your future… Are you sure?”

I did not hesitate for even a second. “I’m sure.”

He paused before asking, “Do you have any family with you?”

Family? I scoffed.

The family who claimed to love me and care for me were all lying to me, planning to give away the baby once it was born.

I looked up slowly and told the doctor in a frighteningly calm voice, “I don’t have any family. They’re all dead.”

The doctor glanced at me. He wanted to say something, but then he sighed and nodded at the nurse. “Prepare the operation theater.”

The door closed slowly, and the world went silent. The only sound left was the beep of the ECG.

This was the first decision I made for myself.

It was fine. My life would become even better without them.

After the surgery, back in my room, I heard Anna’s voice in my ear before I was even fully awake.

“Jason kept calling me. I gave him a different address, but he’ll find out soon.” The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Anna’s worried gaze. Her tone was careful. “How do you feel?”

I paused and instinctively touched my stomach. It was flat.

My fingers paused on the empty belly, as though confirming something… or searching for something.

Anna hesitated when she saw my movements and asked cautiously, “Do you… regret it?”

I did not reply, my fingers slowly digging into my palms until it began to hurt.

Regret? Never.

All I felt was… hatred.

I hated them for tricking me, and hated myself for taking this long to notice.

Fortunately, it was not too late. I did not let them get their way.

I looked up with a cold smile. “I don’t regret it at all.”

I then reached for the documents I had prepared on my bedside table. My voice was hoarse but clear. “I already signed them.”

Anna took the papers and read through them, her gaze serious. “Divorce papers?”

I nodded slightly. “Send them out right away.”

She did not ask any more questions. “Alright.”

She then paused before continuing, “The stocks you invested in with my account have made it big. I’ll transfer the money back to you right now.”

I lowered my gaze, my tone calm. “Alright.”

After a second, I chuckled, my gaze ice cold. “Don’t let them know. I’ll make them pay, slowly, once I recover.”

The next day, I heard panicked footsteps at the door.

I closed my eyes and let out a breath, my fingers digging into the sheets. They found me, after all.

The door flew open, Jason taking the lead. When he saw me in the hospital bed, all the blood drained from his face. There was no hiding the panic in his eyes.

“Nina! How could you be so rash? You misunderstood, I can explain—” He ran toward me, his tone rushed.