Chapter 3

A week after returning from the hospital, Ethan tormented me countless times.

The doctor said the cysts in my uterus were growing, making pregnancy unlikely and painful for both me and any child.

Ethan didn't care. "If you can't get pregnant, you'll still try. What about Clara's baby?"

Countless late nights, I refused him, but it only brought force and mockery. "Didn't you always want to climb into my bed? Now I'm giving you what you want, and you're playing hard to get? It's just a kid. Once Clara's baby is born safely, we'll have our own child."

I curled up on the cold sheets, the burning in my stomach lingering, my body aching with fresh tears of pain.

Ethan's words stabbed my heart like poisoned needles.

"Ethan, am I just a surrogate to you?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

He dressed slowly, his eyes dripping with disdain. "What else? You've been in the Caldwell house for five years. Everything you eat, wear, use, it's all Caldwell money. If you give Clara's son a healthy heart, maybe you'll finally be worth something as Mrs. Caldwell."

He left the bedroom without a glance.

The door closed, but I still heard faint voices outside. "Ethan, isn't this too cruel to Lily? Maybe I should just get rid of the baby."

Ethan soothed her softly. "She took five stabs for me and didn't die. What's a kid?"

I knew Clara said it for me to hear.

These days, every night, Clara lingered by my bedroom door.

She glared at me with venom, as if saying, "Ethan only touches you because of me. Try anything funny and see what happens."

Since Ethan dragged me back, my uterus showed signs of worsening cysts.

I needed treatment, swallowing handfuls of pills daily.

Late at night, Clara sneaked into my room countless times.

She stole my painkillers repeatedly. "Ethan said you survived a knife attack, so what's a little pain?"

I trembled in bed, wracked with agony, but to her, it was just a joke.

She pressed a blade to my face, smirking. "My baby's actually fine! I just got pregnant by someone else and couldn't explain it to Ethan. So I came up with this perfect plan. We'll cut the baby out of you early, and I'll fake a miscarriage. That way, I get rid of you and the baby in one go."

The pain nearly made me faint, my voice weak. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell him?"

Clara laughed coldly. "Go ahead. Who do you think Ethan will believe, me or you?"

As she spoke, the bedroom door opened, and Ethan walked in.