Chapter 1

The prenatal report slipped from my hands as if jolted by electricity.

No wonder James Hunt was so quick to insist on IVF once I agreed to marry him.

Back then, I did not think much of it, assuming he just wanted a child as quickly as possible. Only now did I realize the truth. What he wanted was not a child with me, but with Natasha Smith, my stepsister.

For six months, I endured morning sickness, sleepless nights, swelling, and emotional collapse. Yet the baby I carried was not truly mine, but his and Natasha's.

I suffered through everything, and now they were planning to take my life as well.

"Mr. Hunt, here's this month's medication. If she keeps taking it, the baby will absorb nutrients faster and grow stronger.

"But if it gets too big, she won't be able to deliver naturally. She'll need a C-section." Through the door, I listened in shock as my husband calmly discussed how to risk my life.

My face went pale, and my nails dug hard into the railing along the hospital corridor. A storm of pain and bitterness churned inside me.

I wanted to burst in and confront James, but my feet felt like they were glued to the floor. In a daze, I stumbled against the door, making a noise.

"Who's there?" James asked, his voice panicked.

I quickly drew a breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "It's me, James. Are you finished? I'm tired, so I want to go home to have a good rest."

The moment the words left my lips, he rushed out, worry written all over his face. His eyes were filled with concern—so real and convincing.

"What's wrong? Were you standing too long? You should sit and wait for me. What if something happened to the baby?" He kept fussing over me, his voice full of care.

In the past, before I learned the truth, I would have been deeply touched. But now I knew that his concern was not for me, but for the child.

"Don't be afraid, Jenna. I spoke to the doctor, and there's no problem. The baby's just developing really well."

I stayed silent, my chest aching like it was being carved apart.

Back at home, James barely let me sit down before handing me a packet of medicine from the hospital.

"Here are your prenatal supplements. Take them." His smile was warm, almost cheerful.

But the memory of what I overheard made bile rise in my throat. "I don't want to take these anymore. If the doctor says the baby's healthy, I shouldn't need them, right?"

His expression darkened instantly. His brows were knitted, and his gaze was sharp.

His voice turned cold. "Be good, Jenna. I already asked the doctor. Even if the baby's healthy, you still have to take it."

Without giving me a chance to resist, James shoved the pills into my mouth. One by one, they slid down my throat as I gagged.

I tried to spit them out, but he pinched my nose, forcing my mouth open, and tipped a glass of water between my lips until I swallowed everything.

Only then did he slip back into his gentle facade. He began wiping the water from my lips carefully.

"Good," James murmured. "Just hold on a little longer. Soon, all of this will be over."

His gaze was gentle, and his touch tender. Yet all I felt was an icy chill spreading through me.