Chapter 1

After five years of marriage, the man I snatched from my stepsister's hands was taken back by her.

Everyone around me said I deserved it. They were childhood sweethearts, a perfect match, while I was just the other woman who came along later.

The man I had schemed so hard to steal said my blood was too dirty to bear his children.

Yet after I miscarried, he brought my pregnant stepsister to my door:

"Didn't you want a child? I'll give you one."

I chose to take the money and leave.

But he begged desperately: "You can have as many children as you want, even if they're not mine."

After five years of marriage, I finally got pregnant with Gabriel and my first child.

But it happened right after he reunited with his first love.

I stared at the report in my hand, feeling dazed.

Would Gabe welcome this child?

"What are you looking at?"

The bed dipped, and a familiar voice sounded near my ear. A warm arm wrapped around my waist.

My heart tightened, and I quickly stuffed the report under my pillow.

"Nothing, nothing."

Gabriel didn't notice my unease and pulled me into his arms.

"Did you miss me?"

His thin lips pressed urgently against mine, passionate enough to make one want to drown in it.

The next second, feeling the weight on my stomach, I suddenly woke up and struggled to move away.

"No, Gabe, I'm not feeling well today."

Hearing this, Gabriel's handsome face suddenly darkened, and he sprang away from me as if afraid of touching something dirty.

"I thought your period wasn't due for another two weeks. It's half a month early this time, isn't it?"

If it were anyone else, hearing that their husband remembered their special time of the month would only feel sweet.

But I knew Gabriel was afraid I might get pregnant with his child.

"Gabe, actually I..." I tentatively began.

Probably sensing something was off, Gabriel's expression immediately turned serious.

"You've been taking the morning-after pill every time, right?"

His eyes were sharp, his gaze intense, his tone brooking no argument.

"You know I don't want children."

"Mm."

I hid my bitter smile and nodded in response, "Don't worry, I always remember."

Seeing this, he finally seemed to relax.

"Sophia, don't forget how you became my wife."

"We agreed, just be content being Mrs. Young, and don't even think about having children."

Gabriel tidied his clothes and left the room.

The sound of the front door closing followed shortly after.

I looked at the empty space beside me, my heart sinking deeper and deeper.

Mrs. Young?

I felt more like a bedmate for hire.

Laughably, in these five years, we had never slept in the same bed.

Every time Gabriel finished satisfying his desires, he'd leave with a reminder not to forget the pill.

He gave me the status, position, and money of Mrs. Young.

But when it came to children, he remained stubbornly opposed, not allowing for any deviation.

Yet a month ago, I had secretly stopped taking the pills.

And now I had this child.

I used to think his opposition was simply because he disliked children.

Until my phone lit up at that moment.

The photo in the message shattered my illusions.

It was an identical hospital report.

Clinical diagnosis: 8 weeks pregnant

Patient: Rachel Sullivan

[Sophia, it's time to return what you stole to its rightful owner.]