Chapter 2

A memory from two months ago hit me the moment I saw Vanessa's face.

Severe pregnancy sickness had woken me in the middle of the night. Ethan wasn't beside me. He sat on the sofa with his back turned, holding a black-and-white ultrasound image of a fetal heartbeat. I was about to call out to him, but then I heard his muffled sobs.

"You didn't want me to marry… so you punished me by ending your life?

"You're so cruel… I was wrong. Please… come back to me."

Ethan's shoulders trembled with pain. He had just returned from a funeral in his hometown not long ago, and no matter how many times I asked, he refused to say a word.

I had no intention of competing with a dead woman, so I quietly returned to the bedroom.

But now, thinking back… that was Vanessa in the photo. Someone who was supposed to be dead was standing right here, alive. Vanessa had faked her death. The funeral was nothing but a ploy to torment Ethan.

My heart sank.

Meanwhile, the baby inside me cheered. [Yes! My real mom is here, she's gonna feed me so much good stuff!]

[Gain one pound, unlock Smart Brain. Two pounds, Strong Limbs!]

[When I grow big enough, I'll kick this sacrificial lamb to death. Perfect!]

I clenched my teeth in fury, but then I remembered something. Every time I completed a mission, the system rewarded me with tons of items. Back then, I thought life would finally be smooth and happy, so I never even checked the storage.

Looking at this mess now… that was a huge mistake.

I immediately equipped myself with the Heartband and used it on Vanessa. It was a device that would let you feel what someone else was feeling. Vanessa looked fragile and weak, and I was pretty sure she couldn't even lift a grocery bag. There was no way she could be a good nanny.

At dinner, she brought in a bowl of oily soup. I took one look at it and nearly threw up… it was placenta soup. No one knew where Vanessa got the placenta, but she actually cooked it for me.

Seeing the disgust on my face, Vanessa scoffed and slammed the bowl down.

"Mr. Kingsley, it wasn't easy for my aunt to send this over. A pregnant mom wouldn't let me down, right? My aunt had eight kids by the age of fifty. This soup is great for both mom and baby!"

Ethan frowned and said coldly, "Claire, Vanessa made this for you. It's very nutritious."

Obviously, it was nutritious for his precious son, not for me.

But if I refused outright, who knew what they'd do next?

So I forced myself to play along. I took the bowl, held my breath, and gulped it down. The nasty smell churned my stomach.

Then I heard the excited voice of the baby inside me again.

[Haha! Great! I'm so close to completing my mission!]

I swallowed it all, then rushed to the bathroom to force myself to vomit. My nose was running, tears streaming down my face, but I couldn't help laughing.

Suddenly, the voice inside my belly panicked. [What's wrong with her? Why is she throwing up?! System, don't deduct my points! How am I supposed to be born healthy?!]

Outside, Vanessa suddenly began gagging as well because I had equipped the Heartband, making her feel everything I felt.

I saw Ethan gently pull her into his arms, comforting her softly. "What's wrong? Are you tired? It's all my fault…"

That gentle voice stabbed straight into my heart. I washed my face and stared at my pale reflection in the mirror.

'Claire Everly, get a grip! Surviving matters more than whether a man loves you or not. Your mission is clear. Get rid of this filthy couple and the bastard child growing inside you!'