Chapter 1

I FaceTimed my fiancé, Isaiah, but a ten-year-old boy answered. He looked exactly like Isaiah.

He stared at me, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot. Then, he let out a heartbreaking cry, "Mom!"

I froze.

I was only one month pregnant and not even married yet. How could I have a ten-year-old son?

Before I could say anything, the boy shook his head, tears streaming down his face.

"Mom, I'm your unborn baby from the future."

"Please, don't marry Dad. He’s been sleeping with Chloe for a long time."

My instinct was to deny it, but the boy seemed to be running out of time. He screamed urgently:

"If you don't believe me, go to our new house right now..."

The call abruptly disconnected.

I couldn't believe my ears.

Everyone knew my best friend, Chloe, and Isaiah were sworn enemies.

They couldn't stand each other. They bickered every time they met because of me.

How could they possibly be together?

Confused and anxious, I called back. This time, Isaiah’s face appeared on the screen.

He looked at me with a warm smile.

"Hey, Eliana. What's wrong? Are you feeling sick from the pregnancy?"

I hesitated, shaking my head. I was about to tell him about the weird video call.

But then, I noticed the curtains behind him. They were the custom-made ones we ordered for our new place.

"Where are you?"

He looked guilty for a split second, then sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"I'm working overtime at the new place. I want to get everything done so work won't ruin our wedding the day after tomorrow."

Suddenly, a familiar female voice echoed in the background. Before I could hear what she was saying, the call was abruptly hung up.

A text message came through immediately after.

[I'm getting busy, Eliana. I'll text you later.]

I stood there in silence. The seeds of doubt began to sprout and grow wildly in my heart.

Without even grabbing a proper coat, I rushed out of the apartment and drove straight to our new house.

But when I pushed the door open, the scene wasn't what I had feared.

Isaiah was sitting on the floor, putting up the wedding backdrop. Chloe was standing next to him, tying ribbons onto balloons.

Both of them gasped when they saw me.

"Eliana? What are you doing here?"

Isaiah rushed over to support me and guided me to the sofa.

"You're pregnant. You need to be careful."

I stared at them, totally confused. "What... what are you two doing?"

Isaiah rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish.

"I wanted to surprise you. I didn't expect to run into her..."

Chloe immediately chimed in, rolling her eyes.

"As if I wanted to run into him. If it weren't for your happiness, Eliana, there is no way in hell I'd stay in the same room as this guy."

"If you hadn't lied to Eliana, she wouldn't have rushed over here so worried!"

Seeing them on the verge of fighting again, I quickly grabbed Chloe’s hand.

"Alright, alright. I'm fine. Both of you are doing this for me, so please stop arguing."

Chloe gave him one last glare.

Seeing them bicker just like they always did, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Maybe that video call was just a sick prank.

I looked up at Chloe and noticed her eyes were red.

"Chloe, what's wrong? Did he bully you?"

Chloe froze for a second, then shook her head. She wrapped her arms around me.

"No. I'm just getting emotional. You're getting married the day after tomorrow, and I'm feeling a bit lonely."

I gently patted her back.

"Even after I'm married, we can still hang out. It's not like I'm disappearing from your life."

She didn't reply. She just held me tightly for a long time before letting go.

"Alright, I'll stop being a third wheel. I'm going home."

Seeing that it was pitch black outside, I grabbed my car keys from the coffee table, intending to drive her back.

Isaiah gently pressed my shoulder and took the keys from my hand.

"You're pregnant. I'll drive her home."

With that, he walked straight out the door.

Chloe glanced at me, said nothing, and followed him.

Watching their retreating figures, a strange, uneasy feeling crept into my chest.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was the little boy again.

I demanded immediately, "Who on earth are you?"

He didn't answer right away. He just stared at me through the screen with intense emotion. Finally, he lowered his head.

"Mom, I really am your child. My name is Aiden, and I came from ten years in the future."

"If you don't believe me, go look under the bed in the master bedroom."

I looked at him skeptically. But his face held no guilt or deceit.

Even though I didn't believe in time travel, I walked into the bedroom and knelt by the bedside.

With just one look, my breath caught in my throat.