Chapter 1 The

I stared at the profile photo of the mom named Ysabel, and thought she looked oddly familiar.

She was still bragging in the chat, saying, "She's my son's free nanny. I'll let her raise him after giving birth—pretending they're twins. This way, I can focus on my career. A woman's place isn't at home; a career is what truly matters! I've invested too much in conceiving alone. Only useless women become full-time moms!"

Many in the chat agreed with her, though a few questioned her claims, and she snapped right back at them. I alone sat frozen, staring at her background photo with unease prickling through me. The picture was taken in my neighborhood, and the ring on that hand around her waist was identical to my husband Scott Camden's.

What terrified me more was the memory of my doctor telling me I was pregnant with twins. Yet my belly didn't look nearly big enough for two.

A dozen suspicions clawed their way into my head, so I rushed to another hospital for a checkup, and the results confirmed it—I was carrying only one baby. The moment I saw the report, my mind went blank.

Then, within minutes, a wave of rage and despair crashed over me. That was when I realized Scott had been lying to me all along. My vision blurred; I almost collapsed right there, and a passerby hurried me to the ER.

By the time Scott arrived, panic was written all over his face. "Honey, are you okay? What are you doing here today? Did you get another checkup?"

I took a moment to steady myself, but the smell of perfume clinging to him hit me hard. My stomach turned, and before I could stop myself, I threw up all over his shirt. Scott turned grim instantly. Without a word, he rushed to clean up.

Once the nausea passed, I finally felt a bit better and muttered, "Sorry. The perfume on you was too strong."

He frowned. "It must've rubbed off from a client. I rushed here to see you and didn't have time to change. By the way, honey, what brought you to this hospital?"

"I was just passing by. I wanted to stop at the bakery ahead, but I started feeling sick on the way."

Scott let out a sigh of relief, saying something about how there were people he knew at my regular hospital, and insisted on having me transferred.

Only after confirming I was fine did he calm down. "Honey, you're carrying twins—you really have to be careful. Don't go out alone next time."

His concern was so earnest that even the doctor nearby remarked, "Your husband's really good to you."

"Of course he is. I married him and am carrying his progeny—if he doesn't treat me right, that'll be ungrateful of him, won't it?"

The doctor's face turned awkward, and Scott's expression darkened again.

I smiled faintly at him. "I'm just teasing. You know I appreciate how good you are to me—it's not just because I'm pregnant."

Only then did his shoulders ease. "You always understand me best, honey."

Just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and said, "It's from the office."

"Go on—answer it. Don't let me hold you up."

But I'd already seen the name flashing on the screen: Bella-Boo. He wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

I sneered inwardly and turned away, pretending not to notice. After the doctor finished giving me some instructions, he stepped out—but I saw it. He tilted his head slightly toward Scott before leaving, and Scott followed him out.

At the far end of the corridor, inside the emergency stairwell, Scott lit a cigarette.

"Scott, are you really set on this?" the doctor asked quietly. "She's pitiful, you know. Raising two kids alone—she won't be able to handle it. Your parents aren't coming to help, and she's got no one to lean on. You're taking this too far."