Janet brought two other roommates to wake me up from my nap.

Before I could get angry, she threw an ultrasound result in my face.

Confidently, she demanded that I served her and followed her orders in the future.

Otherwise, she would kick me out of the Jones family, leaving me homeless.

Perhaps my confused expression was too obvious.

Janet snorted and said.

Because I was pregnant and he was your younger brother!

He was the eldest son of the Jones family!

Your dad's only son!

I was too shocked to speak.

Because my dad had been dead for five years! Where did this brother come from?

Until I saw Janet leaning intimately on my driver's shoulder.

I understood the situation.

——

I had just fallen asleep when Janet, Thea, and Flora came into the dorm, talking and laughing. I groggily listened to their chatter, feeling annoyed.

I closed my eyes and tried to reach for the earplugs under my pillow, but Janet suddenly pulled open my curtain and said loudly, "Get up, I'll be sleeping on this bed from now on."

I sat up in a daze. "Are you okay?"

Janet snorted without speaking, just threw a piece of paper on my bed. Frowning, I picked it up.

It was a gynecological ultrasound result showing an enlarged uterus, indicating three months of pregnancy.

I rolled my eyes, regretting not living off-campus to avoid this madness. I threw the results back at Janet, "Why should I care if you're pregnant? Why should you sleep in my bed?"

Thea cleared her throat and said, "What's your attitude? Do you have any compassion? Of course, she should sleep in your bed. Your mattress is custom-made, and the bed linens are silk, perfect for a pregnant woman like Janet."

Just forced to wake up, I couldn't be polite. "Don't act crazy here."

Janet wasn't angry. Instead, she seemed happy. She touched her still-flat belly. "Not just your bed. From now on, everything about me, my clothes, my diet, you have to take care of me well. When I say jump, you say how high."

It took me a while to understand what Janet was implying, "Are you mentally ill? Why should I be your nanny just because you're pregnant?"

Flora helped Janet sit down, acting obsequiously. Janet finally spoke, "Bella, let me tell you, the baby in my belly is your brother, the eldest son of the Jones family, your father's only son."

I was genuinely speechless, staring at Janet's belly as if seeing a ghost.

Because my dad had been dead for five years.

But to Janet and her friends, my expression seemed like fear and shock, afraid of losing my inheritance to this new brother.

Flora giggled, "Bella, don't be scared, you should be happy. After all these years, you finally have a brother."

I wanted to explain that my name, Bella, meant beauty and hope, but they were too excited, talking so fast that I couldn't get a word in.

Thea also laughed, "Janet, look at your stepdaughter. She's so happy she can't speak."

The word stepdaughter made Janet even more smug. "Yes, the Jones family is big and wealthy. One daughter is not enough; it needs a son to carry on the family name. Your mother can't have children, so I'm having one for your father. You should be grateful, take care of me, and follow my orders."

Just as I was about to speak, Janet touched her belly and continued, "I know what you're thinking. You're wondering if the baby is a girl. I've checked; it's a boy. The Jones family will belong to my son. You know, even an illegitimate child has inheritance rights."

Thea pushed me. "Get your stepmom something to drink. If you don't please her now, you'll be kicked out when the baby is born. Don't say Janet didn't give you a chance."

I finally found an opportunity and covered Thea's mouth and said, "My dad has been dead for five years. This is a complete scam. As a classmate, I suggest you see a psychiatrist. Also, learn about morals and ethics."

I thought my words would end this farce, but Janet jumped up, "Hmph, you think I'll tolerate this? Do you think I don't know if your dad is dead or not? You lie so blatantly. No wonder your dad didn't like you!"

"Janet, be careful. You're carrying the Jones family's eldest son. Don't get upset," Flora helped Janet sit down, then shouted at me, "Bella, I've always disliked you. You lie without batting an eye. Before, you said you knew Leonardo and had dinner with him. That photo was clearly photoshopped. Now, to make Janet angry, you curse your own father?"

"Exactly, if your dad were dead, who manages the Jones Group? Who funds your lavish lifestyle? Money doesn't fall from the sky."

Janet got angrier, her hormones and pettiness making her cry immediately. "I'll call your dad now and have him cancel your credit card and kick your mother out of the house!"

She took out her phone, and I waited to see the show of her calling my dad.

Thea screamed, "No, Janet, think about it. The baby isn't born yet. What if Mr. Jones gets angry? You must endure it!"

Janet stopped dialing, looking enlightened, "I get it, Bella. You're trying to make me look unreasonable so your dad will hate me. When the baby is born, you and your mom will take my son and make him call you mom!"