Chapter 1

Three years into my marriage, I'd been unable to get pregnant.

After a year of grueling IVF treatments, I finally got pregnant—with quadruplets.

The pregnancy was agonizing. I'd been vomiting nonstop for months, and my belly swelled up like a beach ball.

The doctor recommended fetal reduction, but my husband Ethan Miller refused outright.

"Rachel, these are all our babies. I couldn't bear to lose a single one."

My face pale, I nodded as I caressed my belly. I truly couldn't bear it either.

When I was six months pregnant, Ethan and his friends placed bets on the babies' genders.

It ended up being three boys and one girl. Ethan won the bet, making ten million.

Later, I overheard a conversation between Ethan and his friends.

"Ethan, that idea of yours is genius, getting Rachel Scott to have babies for four different women in one go."

Ethan said nonchalantly. "I can't make any of them be my wife, so the least I can do is to give each a child.

Since Rachel took this position, she's only doing what she deserves."

Hearing this, a chill ran down my spine.

So, the four babies in my belly weren't mine at all.

...

"Ethan, you're really the man for pulling that off! You solved the problem of letting all four women have your kids at once."

Kevin Young chimed in, "Yeah, the four mothers are drop-dead gorgeous—those kids are bound to be stunning."

He then sighed. "Too bad about Claire Wilson, though. She was the campus belle back in school, and to think she'd get a terminal illness and die so young.

"Good thing our Ethan is a good guy and left her a child, just waiting for Rachel to give birth to it."

"Sophia Reed is also completely devoted to you, Ethan—had a crush on you for almost twenty years. Since she couldn't be in love with you, she just begged for your child."

Another person added, "Too bad Ethan's heart belongs only to Abram Wilson. That's why Ethan came up with this trick—having Rachel carry all the babies for him! This way, he doesn't betray Abram, and the other women can still have his children."

"I just wonder what Rachel will do when she finds out? If she finds out the four babies in her belly aren't hers, she'll probably have a complete breakdown, right?"

Ethan's tone was dismissive. "So what if she finds out? She can only blame herself for taking a position that wasn't meant for her."

The others sneered. "Yeah, she'll just give birth obediently anyway. After all, they're still Ethan's children—her husband's children!

"Rachel went to such great lengths to marry Ethan. She will never leave him no matter how hard he hit or yell at her

"Even if she get mad and leave, she will just rush back like a loyal puppy."

The group burst into laughter, their words dripping with malice and mockery.

Standing behind the door, I felt a coldness creep up from my feet to my head.

I stared down at my heavily swollen belly, my nails digging deep into my palms until they hurt.

What did that mean?

The babies in my belly... weren't mine?

I've suffered so much over these six months: vomiting violently every day, my feet swollen so badly I could barely walk, clumps of my hair falling out in the shower.

Not to mention the year of IVF—the countless injections, all the medication I had to take.

These babies, whom I had endured so much pain to carry... weren't mine?

The conversation in the living room went on, but I couldn't hear a thing.

I knew the Claire they were talking about.

We had gone to the same school, and she was apparently Ethan's first love.

I'd heard a while ago that she had passed away from a terminal illness, and I'd even felt a twinge of sympathy for her.

She was already dead, yet I was carrying her and my husband's baby.

How absurd!

My entire back went numb with an indescribable terror, cold and prickly.

I struggled to calm down, barely keeping myself from storming out.

Outside, they had already started placing bets on the gender of the babies in my belly.

Every now and then, Ethan's voice would cut through the chatter—made me tremble.

Four years of marriage, and I realized I never truly knew the man sleeping beside me.

I raised my hand to my belly, so swollen it felt like it might burst at any second.

There were four babies inside. One was Claire's, one was Sophia's.

So, what about the other two?

I was familiar with Sophia. She and Ethan were childhood sweethearts. She'd loved Ethan for so many years—loved him desperately but could never have him.

Seen this way, Ethan was truly kind. He couldn't be with her, so he gave her a child instead.

I suddenly started to laugh, but as I laughed, tears began to fall.

Since Ethan wanted to give them children, why did he make me carry them?

How could he be so cruel...

I clenched my fists tightly, my lip bitten until it bled.

I used to think Ethan's concern and care for the babies was an expression of his love for me.

The nutritional supplements he sent, the special instructions—they all felt so sweet.

But it was all a lie.

Chapter 2

The commotion outside showed no sign of stopping, unusually lively.

"I'm betting on two boys and two girls."

"I bet all four are boys."

Just then, a cloyingly sweet female voice chimed in. "Why's everyone betting on boys? I think girls are lovely. I'll bet on three girls and one boy."

Turning her head, she asked, "Ethan, do you prefer boys or girls?"

The voice was a little familiar, seeming to be Ethan's secretary.

Ethan said cassually, "No matter boys or girls, I like them both. Boys are a bit better, girls are too delicate."

Kevin pressed, "So what's your bet, Ethan?"

"Since Amber said she likes girls, I'll bet on three boys and one girl."

Amber?

So it was her.

I let out a bitter, hollow laugh. They were having an affair right under my nose, and I never even knew.

Was it because they were too good at acting… or because I was just that stupid?

Amber's voice turned coquettish. "How are girls delicate?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow and pulled her into his arms.

"Not delicate? Who was too scared to get pregnant because of the pain? Who cried several times during the egg freezing process?"

"But it was painful."

After Amber pouted, she seemed to remember something and added, "Oh, right, Rachel never seemed to cry. With such long needles going in, and her going through IVF for so long, she never shed a tear once?"

Ethan scoffed, "Rachel's thick-skinned and tough as nails. Of course she didn't mind the pain. Not like you—you cry over a tiny scrape."

Kevin chimed in with flattery, "Amber, Ethan dotes on you so much, so you afford to be fragile. If no one cares for you, you have to endure it like Rachel."

"Exactly. Ethan didn't want to ruin your body because of pregnancy, so he came up with this plan—having Rachel to carry the babies for you."

"Rachel's is swollen like a balloon. Tsk tsk, I wonder what she'll look like after giving birth to four kids?"

"Even naked in bed, our Ethan wouldn't have given her a second glance before. Now..."

Their words were crude, accompanied by vulgar laughter that was nauseating to hear.

I stumbled backward, unable to support myself, my face deathly pale.

Just because I'm tough, does that mean I'm not afraid of pain?

Of course I am.

But thinking I could have Ethan's and my children, I endured it with all my might, never once crying out in pain.

Even when my nails broke, even when I bit my lip until my mouth filled with blood, I didn't make a sound.

And all that suffering had earned me nothing but "thick-skinned and tough as nails."

I could still remember the day the IVF succeeded, had held my hand, his face filled with "concern."

"You've suffered for our children, Rachel."

He would touch my belly, pretending to scold the tiny, unformed lives inside. "Be good. Don't torment your mom."

When I was so nauseous I couldn't eat, he would hold a bowl and feed me spoonful by spoonful.

"You have to eat something, even if you don't feel like it. You've lost weight since getting pregnant.

"When they're out, I'll be sure to teach them a good lesson for you."

It turned out his "worry" for me had been a lie. His only concern was for the babies.

I was nothing more than a vessel to give birth to these children.

I closed my eyes, wiped away the tears, and called the hospital to schedule an abortion.

Ethan, I don't want you this time.

And I'm not having the child you want so much, either.

Chapter 3

By the time I came out, Kevin and other Ethan's friends had already left.

Only Ethan and Amber were in the living room.

I deliberately made some noise to give them time to compose themselves.

I wasn't ready to confront them yet.

The blush hadn't faded from Amber's face as she pretended to report on work to Ethan.

"Mr. Miller, there's an urgent meeting tonight that requires your presence. The car's already waiting outside."

When she turned and saw me, her tone oozed false warmth. "Mrs. Miller."

Her gaze drifted to my belly, and a meaningful smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Your belly looks even bigger. What a blessing, carrying quadruplets for Mr. Miller all at once."

Looking at her hypocritical face, I simply couldn't muster the energy to deal with her.

Noticing my indifference, Amber offered to leave, but just as she reached the door, she glanced back at Ethan.

Like some kind of secret signal.

When Ethan saw me come out of the first-floor room, he furrowed his brow slightly, his tone carrying a subtle hint of probing.

"When did you get back? Why didn't you say anything?"

My eyes stung at the lingering wetness on his lips.

It was all so obvious now. How had I been so blind to it before?

I gave a self-mocking smile and lowered my gaze.

"I was exhausted when I got back, so I slept in the guest room. Just woke up."

Ethan seemed to let out a sigh of relief, his expression returning to normal.

"How did the prenatal checkup go today?

"I promised I'd go with you, but something came up at the company unexpectedly."

He acted very guilty, and in the past, I truly would have believed he was. I would even comfort him, saying work was more important, that I didn't mind going alone.

But now, I no longer believed him.

"Yes, it went well. The doctor said all the babies are healthy."

Ethan asked a few more detailed questions before he seemed reassured.

He was always like this, asking in great detail every time. I always thought it was his way of caring about me.

Only today did I understand who that concern was really for.

Ethan stepped closer and gently touched my belly, murmuring soft words to the babies inside.

In the past, this scene would have filled me with pure happiness

But now, I only felt my heart bleeding.

I had to clench my fists tightly to keep myself calm, but I still couldn't control the stinging in my eyes.

Ethan didn't notice anything was wrong with me, because he didn't care.

"I have an urgent meeting tonight, so I might be back late. Take good care of yourself at home."

I forced a smile and nodded. "Okay."

After Ethan left, I leaned against the staircase and slowly made my way up to the second floor.

My belly was so big I couldn't see the steps below me, so after I was five months pregnant, I moved into the first-floor guest room.

The second-floor bedroom... I hadn't been in here for a long time.

Pushing the door open, I froze at the faint traces of intimacy still left on the bed.

And on the wall behind it, our wedding photo was still hanging.

How ironic...

A throbbing pain clenched my chest, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

But I hold back my emotions , wiped away my tears, and pulled out all my documents.

Before heading downstairs, I wandered to the window almost instinctively, gazing down at the driveway below.

The car parked at the entrance hadn't left—its erratic movements thudded against the silence, unmistakeable.

I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to bear the sight.

My stomach churned so violently I felt nauseous, a sickening mix of revulsion and heartbreak rising in my throat.

In the middle of the night, Ethan returned, the scent of Amber's perfume clinging to him.

He reached out and gently stroked my belly, his movements careful and reverent.

But all I felt was a surge of nausea.

I kept my eyes shut, pretending to sleep, my mind replaying countless memories as tears soaked into my hair.

I still couldn't understand.

But it didn't matter anymore.

Early the next morning, I left for the hospital.

The doctor looked at me, his brow furrowed. "You're almost seven months along. Terminating the pregnancy at this point is very dangerous. We generally don't recommend inducing labor."

I kept a blank expression as I casually made up a lie.

After a series of examinations and evaluations, the date for the induction procedure was set.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted.

The procedure was scheduled for three days later, and within those three days, I had to make all the necessary preparations.

And I had a big "surprise" planned for Ethan.