It was actually my idea to go for that prenatal checkup. Compared to other women six months along, my belly was far too big—almost the size of someone carrying twins.

I looked it up online. A baby that grew too large could make delivery dangerous for both mother and child. That was why I suggested another hospital visit, just to be safe.

I never expected that this marriage, or James' six years of persistence in chasing me, was nothing but a complete lie.

I was never his wife. I was just the substitute carrying the child he wanted for himself and Natasha.

One night, half-asleep in bed, I vaguely heard James on the phone. I could not catch his words clearly, but when I woke, the house was suddenly filled with several new maids.

"Jenna, you're awake?" he said.

"Why are there so many people here?" I asked.

His eyes flickered nervously before he rushed over to hug me, patting my head gently like always.

"Did you forget again? I have to leave on a business trip for a few days. Since I can't be here with you, I hired them to take good care of you."

I remembered it was the end of the month. James always disappeared for a few days around this time.

The next day, he was gone.

Shortly after I got up, one of the maids brought me a pill. "Mrs. Hunt, here's the prenatal medicine Mr. Hunt instructed us to give you. Three times a day, and not a single dose can be missed."

A chill spread through me. These women were not here to care for me, but to watch over me. Bitterness welled up inside me.

Right then, my phone rang. Of course, it was James—right on time. He knew exactly when I woke up and when I was supposed to take the medicine.

"Jenna, did you take your pill today?" he asked.

My throat tightened. I stayed quiet for a long time, fighting down the hurt and resentment. "Not yet. James, do I really have to keep taking this medicine?"

His tone turned sharp instantly. "It's for your own good. Take it. Don't make me angry."

Whatever fragile hope I had left was finally shattered. Under the watchful eyes of the maids, I swallowed the pill.

From then on, every single day, right before I took my dose, he would call or video chat at the same time.

The maids looked on with envy. "Mrs. Hunt, Mr. Hunt really cares about you. He remembers every dose and even calls to remind you. The love between you two is admirable."

I said nothing and merely forced a weak smile.

What was there to admire? That my so-called loving husband cared more about keeping me alive long enough to deliver the baby than about me?

When the maids were not looking, I lay in bed and booked an appointment for an abortion at another hospital.

Since James never once considered me his wife, I wasn't going to sit here and wait to die. This mistake had gone on long enough.

Not long after, my phone buzzed with a message. It was from Natasha. "Jenna, you haven't been home in so long. Isn't it your birthday today? Mom wants you to come back for dinner."

The words made me clutch the phone tight as my breath caught. Natasha was my stepsister, and Tilly Fisher was my biological mother. But when I was still young, Tilly had thrown me out of the house.

On my 18th birthday, Natasha had jumped into the water herself, yet she claimed I pushed her.

Not only did Mom blame me, but she was also desperate to keep her place in her new family. Hence, she did not hesitate to send me away.

When I did not reply, Natasha sent another message. This time, it was a photo of a man driving. Only part of his arm was visible, but the wedding band on his finger was one I knew all too well.

"Jenna, James is here too. He wants you to join us." A message followed.

Although I had already accepted that James didn't love me and even wanted to hurt me, it still tore me apart to see him use a business trip as an excuse to go on a date with Natasha.

I didn't want to go tonight, but I knew Natasha too well. If she wanted me to show up, she would make it happen one way or another.

Sure enough, not long after, Mom called. "Jenna, you're already six months pregnant, and I haven't seen you since.

"Since it's your birthday today, you should come over and keep me company. Do you know how I almost died while giving birth to you…"

I cut her off, my face expressionless. "That's enough. I'll be there."

By dusk, I was standing outside their residence. The door opened to reveal James.

The instant he saw me, panic flashed across his face. He looked rattled, stumbling over his words. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home resting?"

I just stared at him in silence.

The man who was supposed to be away on business was standing right in front of me.

When James finally gathered himself, his expression hardened, and his voice was edged with anger. "Jenna, who told you to come here? Were you following me?"

A bitter ache surged through me. Before I could explain, he grabbed my arm hard, as if forgetting I was pregnant.

James raised his voice and exclaimed, "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it at home! I need you to leave right now!"

"James, what are you doing? I invited Jenna. It's been so long since we've seen her, and Mom misses her too." Natasha's voice drifted from behind him.

His tensed expression eased up instantly, and he let go of me slowly. "Oh, so that's it. Jenna, you should've said so earlier. I just got back from my trip. I could have gone to pick you up before coming here."

I gave a hollow smile. What a pathetic excuse.

At dinner, Natasha quickly claimed the seat beside him. I hesitated but didn't say a word, sitting across from them instead.

I remembered she had done the same thing during one of our previous dinners. I had made a fuss back then, and James had slammed a wineglass in front of me, calling me ill-mannered.

This time, I saw a flicker of unease in his eyes when he saw that I stayed quiet.

I barely touched my food.

Mom piled food into Natasha's plate, and James busied himself doing the same.

After a few bites, I set my cutlery down and excused myself.

Natasha feigned reluctance to see me off, but once we were at the door, she leaned in and whispered tauntingly, "Jenna, you really are pathetic. After all these years, you still can't hold onto a man.

"So what if you're pregnant? One word from me, and your child will have to call me 'Mom.' And you'll just stand there and watch as the baby is taken from you, like you never even existed."

Natasha suddenly screamed, "Jenna, I only wanted to see you off. How could you hurt me like this?"

Her arm was red with a hand-shaped mark when she looked up at me with watery eyes.

The moment James rushed over and saw her, his face twisted with fury. He yanked me by the hair and shoved me toward her.

"Jenna, all these years, and you still haven't learned a shred of decency. What has Natasha ever done to you that you'd treat her like this?"

His words landed like knives. He knew exactly how to wound me deeply.

Dad had died when I was little, and Mom had driven me out of the house. An orphan like me had no such thing as decency.

Mom remained silent and sighed theatrically.

Finally, Natasha dabbed at her tears and said weakly, "I know you never liked me, Jenna. But it doesn't matter. You're my sister. Even if you hit me, I'll never hold it against you."

The next second, James pulled her into his arms and comforted her tenderly, as if I no longer existed.

I left Natasha's place alone, feeling numb and hollow. I walked the whole way home without even thinking to hail a cab.

By the time I got back, it was already late at night. A light rain had soaked my hair.

James was there, standing by the window with a cigarette. The moment he saw me, he crushed it out and hurried over.

"Jenna, where were you? I called you so many times, but you didn't answer. I was worried sick!"

I said nothing.

He suddenly pulled me into his arms, his voice trembling. "I was terrified just now. I hadn't heard a word from you, and I thought I was going crazy!"

When his hand brushed against my damp hair, panic flashed across his face, and he quickly led me to a couch. He fetched a towel before gently drying my hair.

"Jenna, I was too impulsive earlier. I lost control, but you have to believe that I didn't mean it. Natasha's your sister. You went too far with her. Her arm was so red that it became bruised."

"So you really think I did that to her?"

The words were barely out before his voice rose, sharp with anger. "Who else could it have been? You expect me to believe Natasha hurt herself?"

I turned my head and gave a cold smile. "Why not?"

He clenched his jaw, fury barely contained. The towel skimmed my cheek as he flung it violently to the floor.

"You're unreasonable!" With that, James stormed off.

I sat on the couch for what felt like forever, eventually dozing off.

Half-asleep, I felt him lift me and carry me to bed. His arm circled instinctively around my stomach as he softly hummed a lullaby.

In my dreamlike haze, I whispered, "James, did you know that today's my birthday?"

His hand froze against mine, his whole body going rigid.

"All these years, you've never once given me a birthday gift."

He leaned close, his voice low in my ear. "I know. I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

Much later, I opened my eyes wide in the dark.

The next morning, James left early.

I left too, calling a cab straight to the hospital where I had scheduled the abortion.

Before the surgery, I called my best friend, Abigail Goode, and asked her to stay with me. I told her to make sure I was moved to another ward as soon as the operation was over.

The doctor frowned at the ultrasound.

"The baby is too large for the medication to work. The only option now is a surgical abortion. But this procedure will inevitably have some impact on your body. Ms. Lowe, are you certain you want to go through with it?"

It felt like a stone was crushing my chest, and I couldn't catch my breath. After six months of carrying that baby, in the end, it had nothing to do with me.

Risks didn't matter anymore. If I kept going, it would kill me.

"Do it," I said.

They gave me anesthesia and wheeled me into the operating room.

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing—it was James calling. He must have realized I had vanished.

As I felt the life draining from my body bit by bit, my once rounded belly slowly flattened.

Even though the child had no blood ties to me, my heart still felt hollow, as if something precious had been ripped out.

Afterward, Abigail wheeled me out.

Just as we were about to leave, I saw James. He had tracked me down before hurrying to the hospital.

My phone buzzed with his text. "Jenna, are you at the hospital? Why wouldn't you go to ours for a proper checkup? Why come to a place like this?"

I sneered and typed back without hesitation. "Go check the operating room. You might find a surprise waiting for you."