The pregnancy test in my bag was still warm, fresh from the clinic, when Brenda threw my suitcase out of the front door. Austin stood right next to her. He looked helpless, but he couldn't even look me in the eye. "You see how it is, Chloe. We’ve been married for three years and still no baby. My mom wants a grandkid, and she’s running out of patience." "Let’s just get a divorce. I’m not getting any younger. I can’t waste any more time on this." My hand slipped into my bag, tightly gripping the positive pregnancy report. But in the end, I let go. "Fine. See you at the courthouse tomorrow to sign the papers." Since your family has a royal empire to inherit... I’ll take my baby and let them inherit someone else’s empire. 0 "Pack your trash and get out. Don't block the door for the new lady of the house." Brenda sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, eating pistachios and spitting the shells everywhere. One shell landed right at my feet. I knelt on the floor, packing my clothes. My fingers brushed against a wool scarf in the corner of the closet. Austin had wrapped it around my neck himself on our wedding day. Now, it was buried under a pile of junk, covered in dust. I paused for a second, then left it right where it was. "Hold on," Brenda said suddenly. I looked back. She was pointing at the mahogany coffee table in the living room. "My son bought that furniture. You’re not taking it." I let out a cold laugh. "Brenda, I bought that with my own salary." "So what?" She stood up and walked over to me, looking incredibly smug. "You’ve lived under Austin’s roof for ten years. Everything you ate and wore came from him. What's wrong with leaving some furniture?" I took a deep breath. Forget it. It was just a piece of wood. Austin walked out of the bedroom, holding a credit card. "There’s thirty thousand dollars in here. Consider it compensation." He paused. "Just sign the waiver to give up your rights to the house, and we can end this cleanly." End this cleanly. What a joke. I took the card and threw it straight into the trash can. "No thanks. I can support myself." Brenda’s face twisted. "What do you mean by that? Are you still trying to sue for our assets?" "I don't care about your assets." I zipped up my suitcase and stood up. "I just hope your new girl can actually produce the heir you’re begging for." With that, I turned around and walked out. Behind me, Brenda spat on the floor. "How dare she! A barren woman has no right to talk about sons!" Dragging my suitcase into the elevator, the moment the doors slid shut, I couldn't stop my tears from falling. It wasn't because I missed him. It was because I was finally free. When the elevator reached the lobby, I saw a white Audi parked outside. A young woman in a beige trench coat was leaning against the car. Her hand was resting on her belly, and she was smiling like a rose in full bloom. Hailey. I had seen her pictures before. Last month, Austin left his phone on the sofa, and I accidentally saw their Snapchat messages. "Oh, Mrs. Vance... wait, I should call you... ex-wife now." She walked up to me, intentionally pushing her belly forward. "Austin told me you agreed to the divorce. I’m really grateful." I gripped the handle of my suitcase. "Congratulations." "Thank you." Her smile grew even wider. "By the way, I’m three months pregnant. Brenda said it's definitely a boy." Three months. Which meant they were already sleeping together long before we even talked about divorce. A sudden wave of nausea hit me. It wasn't morning sickness. It was pure disgust. Seeing me stay silent, Hailey took a step closer and intentionally bumped her shoulder against mine. Instinctively, I protected my stomach and took two steps back. That single movement was caught by a man standing across the street. He wore a long black coat and stood under a maple tree, holding a cigarette. I knew that face very well. Ethan Vance. My college classmate, and my current boss. Seeing me, he stubbed out his cigarette and walked over. Hailey noticed him too. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly fixed her hair, stepping forward to greet him. But Ethan ignored her completely. He walked straight to me. "Give me the suitcase." He took my bag and guided me toward his car. Hailey stood frozen on the sidewalk, her face turning pale. I got into the passenger seat. The moment the door closed, I finally let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." "Don't mention it." Ethan started the engine and glanced at me. "Does your stomach hurt?" I froze. "How did you know?" "Your sick leave request was extremely obvious. If I couldn't figure it out, I shouldn't be your boss." He spoke casually, but a warm feeling rushed into my heart. In the last ten years, no one had ever cared about me like this. Once I got to my hotel room and lay down, my phone rang. It was my mother, Karen. "Chloe, your brother Tyler is getting married. Send me thirty thousand dollars right now." I closed my eyes. "Mom, I got divorced. I don't have any money." "Divorced?!" Her voice instantly screamed through the speaker. "Why would you get divorced? Do you have any idea how much effort I put into getting you married to Austin?" "Go back right now! Kneel down and beg Brenda to forgive you!" I didn't say a word. I hung up the phone. Then, I blocked her number. The phone buzzed again. It was a text from Austin. "Don't forget. 9 AM tomorrow at the courthouse. Bring your driver's license and ID." I looked at the message and sneered. So afraid that I would back out, huh? I replied: "Don't worry. I'll be there." **Chapter 2** 0
The next morning, I arrived at the courthouse. Austin was already waiting. To my surprise, Brenda was there too. She was wearing a flashy red designer dress and holding a large designer handbag. Behind her stood a middle-aged man in glasses. "This is Mr. Davis," Brenda said, pointing at the man with a smug grin. "He’s a top lawyer. He’s here to make sure you don't take a single penny from my son." Looking at her ugly attitude, I just wanted to laugh. Austin walked up to me, looking slightly guilty. "To fulfill my mother's wish... I've had to wrong you." "I don't feel wronged at all." I pulled a document from my bag and slapped it onto his chest. "The asset waiver. I’ve already signed it." He froze, holding the paper. Brenda snatched it away instantly, scanned it quickly, and her face lit up with joy. "Now that's more like it." She turned to the lawyer. "Mr. Davis, take a look. Is there any loophole?" The lawyer checked the paper carefully. "The agreement is perfect. All signatures are valid." Brenda nodded happily and stuffed the document into her bag, as if she was terrified I would take it back. Watching her, I sneered in my heart. She thought I was giving up millions. She had no idea that what I was taking away was their priceless "family heir." While we were processing the paperwork, Austin’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his face instantly turned awkward. I caught a glimpse of the screen. It was a Snapchat message from Hailey, attaching an ultrasound photo. I laughed inwardly. The dates on that ultrasound were completely wrong. According to her timeline, if she was really three months pregnant, the gestational age on the scan shouldn't look like that. In other words, that baby probably wasn't even Austin's. Austin noticed me looking and quickly locked his screen. "I’ll text her back later," he mumbled. I said nothing and continued filling out my form. The drama was just getting started anyway. Once the paperwork was finalized, the clerk handed us our divorce certificates. I took mine and stuffed it into my bag without even opening it. Austin looked like he wanted to say something, but I had already turned my back on him. Just as I reached the exit, a sudden wave of nausea hit me. I covered my mouth and couldn't help but gag. Brenda immediately took three steps back in disgust. "We’re already divorced, so stop acting sick. It's bad luck." I took a deep breath, forcing down the urge to throw up. Right at that moment, a black Maybach pulled up in front of the steps. The window rolled down, revealing Ethan Vance in the driver's seat. "Get in. Your prenatal appointment is booked." The air instantly froze. Brenda's eyes went wide, and Austin stood frozen in shock. Without hesitating, I pulled open the door and stepped inside. Austin finally snapped out of it and rushed forward, banging on the car window. "What prenatal appointment? Who is pregnant?!" Ethan rolled down the window just an inch, casting a freezing look at him. "None of your business." He stepped on the gas, and the car sped away. In the rearview mirror, I saw Austin standing frozen on the pavement, his face as pale as a sheet. Brenda’s mouth was wide open, looking like a fish gasping for air. God, that felt good. **Chapter 3** 0
"Water." Ethan handed me a bottle of warm water. "Drink slowly." I took the bottle and took small sips. The car was dead quiet, save for the soft hum of the AC. Suddenly, my phone started vibrating like crazy. It was Austin. Call after call, like he had completely lost his mind. I glanced at it and shut my phone off. Ethan glanced at me and said calmly, "Trash like him isn't worth ruining your mood for." He paused, then added, "That girl, Hailey. Her past isn't clean." I was surprised. "You investigated her?" "Just a casual search." He kept one hand on the steering wheel, his voice indifferent. "Three ex-boyfriends, two current flings. The child she's carrying is highly unlikely to be Austin's." I couldn't help but chuckle. I knew that ultrasound looked fishy. "Don't tell Austin yet." "Why?" "It’s much more fun to let him find out on his own." Ethan didn't say anything, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. A month later, my morning sickness got incredibly severe. Every morning, the first thing I did was run to the bathroom and throw up until my stomach felt completely empty and tears filled my eyes. But I couldn't stop working on our corporate projects. I grit my teeth, put on light makeup, and wore a loose blazer to cover my waistline. In the conference room, I successfully secured a five-hundred-thousand-dollar contract. The client shook my hand, showering me with praise. "You're incredibly talented, Chloe." I smiled politely, but all I could think about was going down to the convenience store to buy some crackers. At the end of the day, my colleague Sarah came over to gossip. "Chloe, did you know? Your ex-husband is having a miserable time." I packed my things and asked casually, "What happened?" "His mistress is throwing tantrums every single day." Sarah lowered her voice. "She’s demanding expensive organic foods, designer bags... your ex's salary can't keep up with her spending at all." "And she keeps claiming the pregnancy is unstable, making him run around like crazy." "A few days ago, he even posted on his Snapchat story complaining about the stress, saying he's getting gray hair." Hearing this, I just wanted to laugh. He deserved it. "Oh, by the way, he’s waiting for you downstairs right now," Sarah pointed out the window. I walked to the window and looked down. Austin was standing by the entrance, holding a paper bag, looking around anxiously. I pulled back, grabbed my purse, and walked out. As I exited the lobby, Austin saw me and immediately rushed over. "Honey..." He paused, correcting himself, "Chloe." I looked at him blankly. "Is there a problem?" "I... I bought you some pastries." He handed the bag to me, offering a pleading smile. "The ones from that bakery you love. I took a thirty-minute detour just to get them." I didn't take the bag. "Austin, we’re divorced." "I know, but..." He scratched his head, looking incredibly embarrassed. "With Hailey... I've realized she’s a bit..." He hesitated. I waited for him to finish. But after a long silence, he only managed to squeeze out: "Can you lend me some money?" I laughed out loud. So he was here to beg for money. "No." I tried to walk past him. He chased after me, blocking my path. "Just five thousand dollars. Or even three thousand. Hailey is pregnant and needs prenatal supplements. My salary isn't enough." Looking at him, I felt like I was looking at a complete stranger. When we were married and I got sick, he never even bought me medicine. Now, for Hailey, he had the nerve to beg his ex-wife for cash. I snatched the bag from his hand and threw it straight into the trash can next to us. "Austin, let me make this very clear." I said every word slowly. "We have absolutely nothing to do with each other anymore." "Never contact me again, and stay away from my sight, or I will call the police." I turned to walk away. Behind me, his voice drifted over. "Chloe... did you gain weight?" My footsteps paused. My hand instinctively moved to protect my belly. Right then, Ethan walked out of the office building. He wrapped his arm around my waist, looking at Austin with a freezing glare. "Still not leaving?" Austin stared at us, his eyes dropping to my slightly rounded belly. "You..." "None of your business," Ethan cut him off coldly. "Stay away from her." He guided me to his car. The moment the door closed, I saw Austin's face go completely pale. **Chapter 4** 0
A month later, I received an invitation to an exclusive industry gala. The host was a famous investment firm, and the guests were all high-level executives. Ethan asked me to be his date. "Wear something gorgeous," he said, not even looking up from his paperwork. I looked down at my stomach. At four months, it was getting harder to hide. "Can I even go looking like this?" "Yes." He looked up, his eyes serious. "Being pregnant isn't a crime. What are you afraid of?" On the night of the gala, I wore a loose, elegant black gown. The waistline was designed to drape perfectly, hiding my bump. When Ethan saw me, his eyes lit up. "You look beautiful." The venue was filled with dazzling lights and elite guests. As I walked in holding Ethan’s arm, we immediately drew a lot of attention. People began whispering. "Is that Mr. Vance's girlfriend?" "She looks so young." Suddenly, a familiar, annoying voice sounded behind me. "Oh, look who it is! Chloe?" I turned around and saw Hailey walking toward us in a tight-fitting designer dress. Her belly was quite noticeable now, and she was deliberately pushing it out. Austin was following behind her, looking highly uncomfortable. "Long time no see," Hailey said, eyeing me up and down. "I heard you're doing well lately?" I remained silent, looking at her coldly. "But then again, after getting kicked out of the Vance... oh wait, the house, you had to find a new sugar daddy, right?" She then turned her gaze to Ethan. "Mr. Vance, you should be careful. This Ms. Chloe is quite famous for..." She paused, lowering her voice intentionally. "...being defective." The surrounding guests immediately started whispering. I felt dozens of eyes locking onto me. Hailey looked extremely pleased with herself and continued loudly, "Austin's mother told me she couldn't get pregnant even after three years of marriage." "The doctors said she’s barren. She can never have children in her life." "That's why Austin divorced her." She rubbed her own belly proudly. "After all, a respectable family needs to carry on their legacy." A few low chuckles broke out from the crowd. To make things worse, Brenda suddenly pushed her way through the guests. "Exactly!" She pointed at me, her voice shrill. "A barren woman like her is a curse to any man who marries her!" I stood there, feeling my face grow hot. Not out of shame. But out of pure rage. Ethan was about to step in, but I held his hand to stop him. I took a deep breath and walked right up to Hailey. "Are you absolutely sure that child in your belly belongs to Austin?" Hailey’s face instantly changed. "What do you mean by that?" "Nothing." I smiled, then turned my gaze to Austin. "Did you know? That infertility report was fake. Your mother paid off a doctor to forge it." Austin froze. "What?" "The one who is actually infertile is you." I spoke slowly and clearly, making sure everyone in the room could hear me. "Low sperm motility. Do you remember your check-up three years ago? The doctor told you it would be nearly impossible for you to get a woman pregnant." "That’s why your mother panicked. She forced you to find a younger girl to 'get lucky' quickly." The room erupted into gasps. Austin's face turned completely white. Hailey went absolutely hysterical. "You’re lying!" "Whether I'm lying or not, you know the truth in your heart." I looked at her rounded belly and smiled meaningfully. "The timeline of your pregnancy doesn't match up." "You told everyone you're four months pregnant now. But when you first met me a month ago, you said you were three months." "If the timeline is fake, I bet the father is fake too." Hailey’s face flashed between green and white. Furious, she reached out to push me. I easily stepped aside. She was wearing high heels, lost her balance, and fell straight onto the floor. "Ah! My baby!" she screamed, clutching her stomach. The crowd quickly rushed over to help. Suddenly, a wave of intense nausea hit me, and I couldn't help but gag loudly. Ethan’s face changed instantly. He supported me immediately. "Call an ambulance!" his voice was filled with panic and urgency. "Save the mother and the baby!" The air in the room completely froze. Everyone was stunned. Austin turned around slowly, his eyes locked onto my belly. His voice was trembling violently. "Ba... baby?" "What baby?" "Whose baby is it?!"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "NovelMaster" app ? search for "456528", and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster