Chapter 2

What was going on? How could Michael have heard Ava as well?

I was extremely nervous, but I immediately remembered it was because I had not fallen for Ava's tricks, so she had no choice but to turn her target on Michael.

I had to immediately calm myself down.

I furrowed my brow and looked at Michael in concern and confusion, "What? I didn't hear anything. Michael, have you been working too hard recently? Maybe you're hearing things."

I reached out for his hand hanging in mid-air and pressed it on my face, continuing, "Do you want to go and rest? The children are doing well. They're not causing me any trouble."

Michael looked at me with suspicion and shock. He opened his mouth as if about to say something to me, but nothing came out.

Under my concerned gaze, in the end, Michael shook his head and forced a smile.

"Y-You're right. Maybe I've been quite stressed out at work."

I led him to rest before turning to touch my belly and thinking of ways to stop Ava.

Unfortunately, things did not go my way. While I was deep asleep that night, Ava started her act.

"Daddy, help me! Bella's trying to have Mommy all to herself. She's stopping me from giving birth. Why can't Mommy hear me? Daddy, only you can protect me."

I was woken up by her voice, only to see Michael turn around and grunt.

I knew he had fallen for Ava's tricks.

The next morning, Michael stared at my belly with a complex gaze. I touched it, looking at him with worry.

"Michael, why are you looking at me like that? Did something happen to our children?"

Michael was caught off guard, and then he stuttered, "I-It's n-nothing."

"No! Bella has already tried to absorb my hands and legs! Mommy, Daddy, I'm afraid!" Ava screamed, continuing to try to accuse Bella.

I rubbed my belly and looked at Michael. "Michael, you think I don't know you well enough? I know you're feeling uneasy. Why don't we go to the hospital to get a proper check-up? That way, you can be assured as well."

That was the first step of my plan. With proper medical reports as proof, no matter what Ava said, it would be a lie.

Michael was still spooked by that eerie voice, so when he heard my suggestion, he immediately agreed to it without any hesitation.

He looked at me rather sheepishly.

"Wendy, please don't blame me. I'm a first-time father. My mind is just a mess."

At the hospital, Michael accompanied me to undergo the most detailed checkup.

The doctor looked at the ultrasound scan and said to me with a smile, "Please be assured that both babies are growing well. Their hearts are beating strongly."

The two fetuses could be seen hugging each other on the screen.

Michael stared at the screen, pressing on, "Doctor, a-are their limbs all in order? A-Are there any developmental abnormalities?"

Before the doctor could reply, I frowned and questioned, "Michael, what's your point? Are you suspecting me of having a deformed child?"

Michael immediately softened his tone to coax me. "No, Wendy, I'm just worried…"

The doctor chimed in, "Don't worry. Your children are healthy."

I secretly sneered, but I still hugged Michael's arm and said, "See, I told you you were overthinking."

When we returned home, before I could take a breather, Ava had noticed that the check-up was not great for her.

"Daddy, I'm starving. Bella's taking all the nutrients for herself. Could you get Mommy to eat more?"

Michael was stunned, but he still believed her. He got the housekeeper to make a feast for dinner.

He placed an especially fatty piece of pork on my plate.

"Wendy, eat more. For the children. You're too skinny."

I looked at the piece of pork, and my stomach started to churn nauseatingly. In my previous life, I was forced to overeat, which caused me to have trouble in labor.

However, I did not refuse. I smiled movingly at Michael, then I took a bite.

Surely enough, after a few bites, I started to retch. I ran to the bathroom and puked everything out.

Tears streamed down my face.

Michael saw how pale I was. He patted me on the back.

"Michael, I really can't eat such fatty foods. Didn't you hear the doctor? The children are healthy."

Seeing what a mess I was in, that was the first time I noticed conflict in Michael's gaze.

At night, my back was facing Michael. I felt Ava throwing a tantrum.

Her voice was no longer calm and gentle. Instead, it had become shrill and angry.

"Mommy! Why aren't you listening to me? Why didn't you eat? Are you trying to starve me to death?!"

After a brief pause, she asked, "Can… Can you actually hear me?"