Chapter 4

The day my prenatal test results came back, I sat on a bench in the hospital corridor in a daze.

The doctor said everything was normal, the baby was healthy, and told me to watch my nutrition and rest.

The baby is healthy. I repeated those words three times.

"Vivian?"

I looked up. Blair stood at the end of the corridor holding a bag of fruit.

She smiled and walked over. "What a coincidence! You're at this hospital too?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Visiting a friend." She sat down next to me and casually glanced at my hands.

I turned the test results face-down, but her eyes had already caught something.

"Obstetrics?" Blair's tone changed, no longer that sweet enthusiasm.

She stared straight at my face.

"Vivian, you're not..."

"It's none of your business."

"Pregnant?"

I stood up. "Blair, this isn't your concern."

"Of course it's my concern." She stood up too. "If it's Ethan's child, then it is my business."

People were passing back and forth in the corridor. She lowered her voice and moved closer.

"Vivian, are you planning to hide this from everyone and have the baby? And then what, use the child to threaten Ethan?"

"I don't need to threaten anyone."

"But Ethan won't want this child." Blair's tone was certain. "He said his child should be born into a complete family. The family he's chosen doesn't include you."

"He told you that?"

"He tells me everything." Blair pulled out her phone and played a voice message.

Ethan's voice came from the phone: Blair, once I get through this busy period, we'll have a wedding ceremony. We'll deal with the future later. Just settle in for now.

"Did you hear that? He's already planning our wedding. If you show up pregnant now, everyone will think you're being clingy and desperate."

I took a deep breath.

Blair watched my reaction, as if confirming something.

"Vivian, I have a suggestion. Get rid of the baby, and we'll go our separate ways. I won't tell Ethan, and I won't tell anyone."

"Or else?"

"Or else I'll tell him. What do you think he'll do when he finds out?"

She pulled an envelope from her bag and handed it to me.

"What's this?"

"Open it."

Inside the envelope was an ultrasound report with Blair's name at the top, dated two weeks ago.

It clearly stated: Intrauterine early pregnancy, 7 weeks.

"I'm pregnant too." Blair put away her smile and looked at me seriously. "Ethan already knows. He's thrilled. He bought a ton of pregnancy supplies."

"So you understand now? His first child can only be born to me."

I stared at that ultrasound report.

Seven weeks pregnant. Blair had only returned to the country yesterday. Seven weeks ago she was abroad, but this ultrasound had the stamp of the city's maternal and child health hospital.

The timeline didn't match.

But I said nothing. Now wasn't the time to expose her.

"Think about it." Blair patted my shoulder. "Before things get messy."

She turned and left.

I clutched that ultrasound report.

You say you're pregnant too. Seven weeks ago you were abroad, but the ultrasound has this city's stamp.

"Blair, what the hell are you?"

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