Chapter 3

The paternity test would take a week, and they were already impatient for the results. Any later, and it would delay Scarlett’s auction. My suffering was clearly of no concern to them.

In front of everyone, people started pointing and whispering about me.

After the doctor took samples, Julian dropped another bomb: “Also take samples from my two brothers. Test them all together.”

The crowd immediately ignited.

“What the hell?! Is this woman playing such a wild game? With three men?!”

“Why else would he bring his newly pregnant wife for a paternity test? Turns out he doesn’t know whose seed it is!”

“Her husband is tall and handsome, and she still cheats? She’s so ungrateful. If I were her husband, I’d beat her to death!”

The doctor, who’d initially shown me pity, now felt deceived. Without anesthesia, her hands were heavy. A sharp pain tore through my belly, making my vision go black. Tears slid down my cheeks.

I clung to the wall as I came out. Julian strode forward, ready to hug me.

But then Scarlett ran off, her eyes red.

Julian’s two buddies immediately followed her.

The arm of the man who’d just wrapped around me stiffened, then let go. I landed hard on my backside on the floor.

“You go home first. I need to check on Scarlett.”

With that, he turned and ran in the direction Scarlett had left.

Look at him. He ran to her.

The onlookers, seeing my pathetic state, openly gloated at my misery.

“A slut who’ll sleep with anyone, serves her right for her husband running off with someone else!”

“Hey, beautiful, wanna swap SnapChat IDs? How much for a night with you? I can definitely afford it.”

“She wants money? Free of charge! You call her, and she’ll be in your bed!”

I grabbed the handrail and slowly pulled myself up, keeping my head down, staring fixedly at my toes as I shuffled out.

By the time I hailed a taxi and got home, it was already dark.

I leaned against the doorknob, breathing heavily. As I pushed it open, a humid, intimate scent immediately hit me.

The sounds of Scarlett and Julian’s desperate coupling almost pierced my eardrums.

I slammed the door shut, crumbling against the wall, burying my head in my arms.

Enough. This is truly enough! I don't want to hear it! Not one bit!

I don't know how long passed before the door opened again.

Scarlett was dressed lightly, her face flushed, tiny red marks dotted along her slender neck.

The sound of water trickling from the bathroom reached my ears.

She leaned against the doorframe, looking down her nose at me with ruthless malice in her voice.

“You shamelessly keep trying to seduce Julian into having a baby with you. Where do you get such nerve?!”

“So eager to have a baby, happy now? With just one word from me, I got all three of them to sleep with you. Next time, how about I toss you into a homeless shelter?”

As she spoke, she moved closer to me, forcing me to retreat step by step.

“So what if you made Julian marry you? He only has eyes for me. Have you ever seen how passionately he was with me just now, you pathetic thing? You’re only fit to be a sex toy!”

Scarlett's red lips opened and closed, revealing white teeth, but all I saw was the jealousy etched across her face.

I scoffed internally. Was she envious of me, after being violated by three men, left shattered and broken?

No, she was only envious of my one-third chance of carrying Julian’s child.

Thinking this, I instinctively touched my lower abdomen.

But this small gesture made Scarlett fly into a rage.

“A bastard whose father is unknown, what makes you so proud of that, do you even deserve it?!”

Worried Julian might hear, I feigned ignorance. “Scarlett, what are you talking about? I don’t understand. I don’t know why Julian would take me for a paternity test, but the baby in my belly is definitely Julian’s!”

She was absolutely consumed by jealousy! “Who gave you permission to carry his child? Who permitted it! I can’t have his child, and neither can you!”

With that, she raised her hand and violently shoved me.

My heel caught on the stair. I tumbled backward, my vision blurring, my body in excruciating pain, my stomach even worse.

Julian heard the commotion and rushed out.

Scarlett pretended to fall to the ground, crying out:

“I call you my sister-in-law, Alice. I saw you were pregnant and came over to help you clean the house. Did you really have to hit me first?!”

“Why did you throw yourself down the stairs? Are you trying to frame me for pushing you? I really didn't! Alice, why would you do this to me?!”