Chapter 2
The stronger his grip became, the deeper my fear
grew.
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I could barely imagine what kind of hell awaited me if I went home with Jaiden like this.
Chains, dog cages, and complete social isolation…
Could Leven still be called “human” then?
I struggled desperately to break free, but Jaiden only grew more agitated.
He covered my mouth with one hand while the other yanked viciously at my hair.
I bit down hard on the flesh between his thumb and forefinger, then screamed at Grace with all my strength: “The baby in my belly isn’t mine and Jaiden’s! It’s Jaiden and Layla’s! They switched the embryos behind my back!”
Jaiden’s face went pale instantly, his eyes turning vicious: “Don’t listen to her nonsense. She’s just emotionally unstable from pregnancy, her head’s full of delusions.”
He appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was already panicking.
“Could she have seen that data sheet in my car? If she gets her
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hands on it, Layla and I are finished!”
B
Cold sweat poured down Jaiden’s face, while Layla’s eyes
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reddened: “How could you say such things about me? I’m your reddened: “How could you say such own sister!”
I screamed with every ounce of strength I had: “Then how do you explain why every time you were hospitalized perfectly matched the dates of my embryo transfers!”
My emotions were on the verge of collapse, but more than that, I was heartbroken.
My dearest sister and my husband of nearly ten years had been carrying on behind my back–it was absolutely disgusting.
I inched closer to Grace, my voice trembling: “Mom, no matter what, I absolutely will not give birth to this child.”
SLAP! My face was struck to one side.
I looked up in a daze, tasting blood in my mouth.
Grace said: “No matter how angry you are, you’ll do as you’re told. You must give birth to Layla’s child!”
I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound.
Then another sharp slap landed across my face.
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I was knocked to the ground, my vision going black, unable to get up for a long time.
Grace continued: “We’re just asking you to have a baby for Layla -is that really worth getting so angry about? How can you be so ungrateful?
Don’t you know how much damage pregnancy does to a
woman’s body? How could you bear to let Layla go through that herself? What’s wrong with helping her have the baby and then giving it to her!
After all these years, you still haven’t figured out your place. If Layla hadn’t gotten sick as a child, why would I have had you?”
I clutched my face in agony, my eyes filled with disbelief.
It wasn’t until my gaze swept over the table full of food that I smiled bitterly.
Right–I was never the one who was loved.
The dishes on the table looked nutritious and elaborately prepared, but not a single one was something I liked to eat. They were all made to Layla’s taste.
The only reason I came into this world was because Layla was sickly as a child and might need blood or organs from a close relative at any time.
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So Grace had me. And my existence was solely for Layla’s sake.
I stood there disheveled, long–suppressed resentment churning in my heart.
Why, when we’re both human beings, could I only live as Layla’s appendage?
I glared at Layla angrily: “If you like Jaiden, why didn’t you marry him? Why did you have to steal my happiness?”
Layla bit her lip lightly, her face full of conflict and pain: “I’m too stupid–I don’t know how to take care of a man. I was afraid Jaiden would suffer if he was with me.
Besides, I never thought about having children back then. How could I irresponsibly marry someone?”
She looked up at Jaiden, her gaze gentle and shy.
A sharp pain shot through my stomach, and nausea surged up.
So even when heartbreak numbs you, you can still feel sick.
At that moment, I realized from Jaiden’s thoughts that I couldn’t waste any more time–I had to escape immediately.
Once these beast–like family members caught me, my future would be nothing but darkness.
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I forced myself to stay calm and said: “I want to go outside to cool down. I’ll be back in a bit.”
I turned to leave, but Jaiden clearly had no intention of letting
me go.
He wrapped his arm around my waist, his large hand clamping down on my arm like a vise: “I’ll come with you. There must
be some misunderstanding between us—we can talk it through slowly.”
Jaiden’s thoughts echoed in my ears again: “I need to get Ellie to the car first, knock her out with the stun gun, then take her home and teach her a lesson slowly.
The embryo switch absolutely cannot be exposed! If people find out, Layla’s and my reputations will be ruined!”
