Chapter 4
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I went straight to the baby’s room when I got home.
Six pristine white cribs were neatly lined up, each one holding tiny clothes I had sewn by hand.
I had stayed up countless nights stitching those pieces, thread by thread, pouring my hopes and dreams for the future into every seam.
Now, they were meaningless.
As night fell, Stephen came home unusually early that evening.
“Some friends and I are going on a last–minute road trip–camping in the countryside. You want to come?” he asked casually, eyes still glued to his phone.
I noticed his thumb sliding quickly across the screen. He was clearly texting someone.
I stirred my soup, hiding my icy expression.
“How long will you be gone?”
“Three days, two nights.”
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I gently set the spoon down and gave him a perfect, polished smile. “I’m pregnant now. It’s not convenient to travel. Better I stay home and rest. You all have fun.”
“Stephen seemed relieved. He came over and tousled my hair. “You’ve been working too hard lately. Just rest up.”
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Chapter 4
His hand was warm and dry. That gesture used to make me feel so safe. Now it just made my stomach turn.”
***
The next evening, Stephen left with his luggage.
He was acting oddly today. Not only did he personally inspect the house’s entire security system, but he also told the butler to report to him daily about my status.
Right before leaving, he stopped at the doorway and turned to look at me. That look in his eyes–it was so complicated it made my heart tremble.
For a moment, I almost thought he’d seen through my plan.
“Jessica,” he said in a low voice, “If anything happens, call me right away.”
I stood at the floor–to–ceiling window, watching as his car disappeared into the dusk.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from the hospital. “Your procedure is scheduled for tomorrow at 9 a.m. Please be ready, and remember to bring a family member.”
I replied immediately, “I’ll sign the consent myself. I’ll be there on time.”
There was a long silence from the other end before another message came. “Ms. Kingston, the risk of terminating sextuplets is extremely high. We must have a legal guardian’s signature.”
My fingers hovered over the keyboard before replying, “My husband is overseas on business. My parents don’t live here. I’ll assume full responsibility.”
Tomorrow, it would all be over.
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Soon after, my feed was flooded with posts from Stephen’s friends.
The guys were laughing and having a blast.
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But the one that pierced through me was a photo–Stephen standing in a corner, arms wrapped around Joey, their faces close, practically whispering sweet nothings like a couple madly in love.
Later that night, Joey uploaded a video.
A group of them, clearly tipsy after drinking, were chatting lazily by the fire.
Suddenly, they burst into a round of suggestive laughter.
Someone shouted. “Stephen’s really something. He got his wife willingly acting as a blood bank and got the girl. Genius!”
“Right?” another chimed in, “Basically a free surrogate–no fees involved. Bait and switch. Brilliant!”
Stephen didn’t deny it. He simply raised his glass with a smug smile.
My grip on my phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. So everyone knew. I was the only one left in the dark.
“I’d pay to see Jessica’s face when she finds out all six babies she’s carrying are actually Joey’s.
“It must be priceless.”
Although the video was blurry, I could clearly see the curve of Stephen’s smile at the corner of his lips.
My life meant nothing to them.
“Stephen, let’s place our final bet.”
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I whispered into the empty room, “Let’s see who loses this time.”
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The next morning, lying on the operating table, the procedure was even more painful than I’d imagined.
As the cold instruments entered my body, I bit down on my lip, not letting out a single sound.
Once all six embryos were extracted, I asked the doctor to run DNA tests.
The results came back, and none of them were biologically mine.
“Would you like to see them?” a nurse asked softly.
“No need,” I closed my eyes. “Just prepare six specimen jars.”
Three days later, Stephen and his friends were packing up to return to the city.
At the same time, a deliveryman rang the bell at Joey’s house.
“Ms. Cabrina, a package for you.”
Just then, Stephen’s assistant burst through the door in a panic. “Mr. Delami! Mrs. Delami’s been in a car accident! She’s in emergency care right now!”
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