Chapter 1

I stared at Zack, my husband, in disbelief. “What did you just say?”

He looked completely confused as he gently stroked my hair. “I didn’t say anything, sweetheart.”

Then, once again, his inner voice echoed in my ears.

“What does she mean by that? Is she looking for trouble? If she weren’t pregnant, I’d beat her to a pulp right now. The baby in her belly belongs to me and Elle. That’s the only use this woman has left."

This time, I watched closely. His lips hadn’t moved at all, so what I was hearing was truly his thoughts.

I forced down a sip of water, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. My mind kept circling back to the name I’d heard in his thoughts—Elle, and Elle was my elder sister.

When we arrived at Mom's, Elle was in the kitchen with Mom, wearing a tight, low-cut dress as she busied herself preparing a big dinner to celebrate my pregnancy.

When she caught me looking, she immediately walked over.

“You’re the star of the family now that you’re pregnant. Whatever you need, just let me know. I’ll treat the baby in your belly like it’s my own.”

Her hand kept caressing my stomach, but instead of warmth, I felt my skin crawl. I stared blankly at her, unable to feel any affection at all.

Then, I noticed it. As she left my side, she brushed her calf against Zack’s leg. It was subtle but deliberate. My stomach churned, and I nearly vomited right there in front of everyone.

She was the same sister who’d grown up with me—who always claimed she loved me and wanted me to be happy. She was the one who told me to be patient whenever Zack mistreated me, constantly pushing me deeper into the fire.

I used to think her words were an older sister’s well-meaning advice, but now I finally understood that it was all calculated. The truth was brutal: they wanted me to carry the child and then die.

At the dinner table, the two of them exchanged glances and subtle touches, practically flirting in front of everyone. I watched as Zack served Elle food, while he didn’t notice I hadn’t touched a single bite.

It was because his inner voice was even more sickening and terrifying.

“The cage and the chains are ready. Once we get home, I’ll lock her up. Nothing can happen to me and Elle’s baby. I’ll take her phone away too, cut her off from the outside world. She won’t be able to cause me any trouble. And once the baby is born, I’ll make sure the surrogate dies, leaving the child behind… No one will ever suspect a thing.”

My cutlery slipped from my trembling hands with a clatter, and his inner voice stopped cold. Everyone at the table looked at me in confusion. My fists clenched tight as I tried to hold myself together.

Zack quickly pulled me into his arms, pretending to be concerned. However, his touch made my skin crawl.

“Are you feeling unwell? Tell me if you need anything,” he said.

Yet, his inner voice was merciless. “If anything happens to Elle’s baby, I’ll skin you alive.”

Fear jolted through me, and I shot to my feet. “I… I need to use the bathroom.”

However, before I could take a step, someone grabbed my arm with a force that startled me. I turned and saw my mother’s worried eyes.

“Are you feeling sick, Raye?”

Her concern rushed over me like warmth breaking through the cold, and my eyes immediately filled with tears. My voice trembled as I leaned into her arms.

“Mom… I don’t want to have this baby.”

Her body went stiff, and her tone grew anxious. “What happened? Tell me everything.”

My sister clutched my hand, feigning worry, while Zack’s inner voice thundered in rage.

“No! I need to drag this woman back home right now. Nothing can go wrong!” He lunged forward like a madman, yanking my arm in a death grip as he shouted, “Dinner’s over. Let’s go home. I’ll make your favorite food later. Come with me now!”