My name is Violet Petrov. I’m pregnant and taking care of my longtime companion cat, Lucy. My husband’s sister, Riley Jacobs, urged me to get rid of Lucy, but I refused. Later, while I was not home, she secretly killed Lucy and threw her into the neighborhood trash bin. After I safely gave birth, she went around bragging, “If I hadn’t killed the cat to prevent her from getting toxoplasmosis, how could she have had a healthy baby?” Later, my daughter Nora Jacobs became more and more outstanding, while her son couldn’t even graduate from middle school. Riley completely broke down and pushed me and Nora off a cliff during a trip. When I opened my eyes again, both she and I had been reborn. She looked at me holding Lucy with a mocking expression. “This time, I won’t try to persuade you again. Let’s see if you can still have a healthy baby!” ***** “Violet, yesterday Riley saw online that cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, so pregnant women shouldn’t keep cats. “Why don’t you just take her advice and get rid of Lucy?” Aaron’s mother, Emily Jacobs’ voice came through, snapping me back to reality. It wasn’t until my fingers touched my slightly rounded belly that I realized I had been reborn. Seeing me stay silent, Emily turned to Riley. “Riley, say something.” Riley stood up, tone full of disdain. “What do you want me to say?” “If she’s so determined, then let her raise it.” “Don’t worry about it anymore. She insists her cat is very clean, so why bother persuading her? We should respect others’ choices.” As soon as these words were spoken, I knew Riley had been reborn too. In my past life, she always claimed it was for my own good, but in reality, she just couldn’t stand me spending money on my cat. I had already discussed with my friend to send Lucy to her place. But Riley wouldn’t listen to me at all and insisted on killing Lucy. She even pretended to persuade me, “Why spend so much money on a cat? You might as well buy a few more outfits for my son!” “I’m doing this for your own good! If you catch toxoplasmosis and have an unhealthy baby, you’ll regret it!” I held the things I just bought online for Lucy, feeling heartbroken. Emily criticized Riley behind my back. “Violet already said she’d give the cat away, why do you have to kill it?” “What if she’s too upset and it affects my grandson?” Riley sneered and said with a smirk, “Mom, you’re too naive. She says she’ll give it away, but isn’t she still thinking about it every day?” “Look at how much stuff she bought for that cat! This money could have paid for several classes for my son!” “Besides, what right does she have to use Aaron’s money to raise a cat? Even if I kill that cat, so what? Who would be sad over an animal?” Emily was actually convinced by her and nodded repeatedly. “True, Aaron works so hard to earn money, and she doesn’t work, just spends recklessly.” I was so furious that I trembled all over, had a big fight with Riley, and almost went into premature labor. She sold everything I bought for Lucy and took all the money. When Nora was born, she went around bragging that it was because she killed my cat that my daughter didn’t end up a fool or disabled. Later, on the day Nora got into a prestigious middle school with the top score in the city, she asked me to help get her useless son into the same school. I directly refused, “The school isn’t mine, I really don’t have that ability.” Her face immediately darkened. “Isn’t your daughter the top student? Tell her to go to the principal and say if they don’t accept my son, she won’t go either!” “Pull some strings, slip in some money to smooth things over, and my son will definitely get in.” I was stunned by her shameless words. I shook my head in disbelief. “No way. Have my daughter threaten the principal? How do you think people will see her?” “Besides, that middle school isn’t just somewhere anyone can get into. You…” I hadn’t finished speaking when she interrupted me. She angrily said, “Your daughter has what she has today all because of me! I killed that cat to save her!” “Is this how you treat your savior? If I had known, I wouldn’t have agreed to Aaron marrying you.” “You ungrateful person!” I completely broke ties with Riley. Later, Aaron kept speaking up for Riley, trying hard to reconcile us, and even arranged a family trip. Only then did I reluctantly let it go. But I never expected that crazy Riley would actually push Nora and me off a cliff.
Thinking of that inexplicable tragic death in my past life, I clenched my fists, hatred surging in my heart. Seeing that I remained silent and Riley didn’t try to persuade me, Emily sighed and hesitated before speaking, “Violet, this cat…” I held Lucy tightly in my arms, gently nuzzling its soft fur with my cheek, and said firmly, “Lucy is like a child to me, I will never give it away.” I shot a cold glance at Riley, my tone suddenly turning icy. “If anyone dares to touch my cat, don’t blame me for turning hostile.” Riley instantly got angry. “Violet, don’t think I’ll kill this cat for your child’s health like I did in our past life!” “I’d like to see what happens to your child without my help!” Emily looked completely puzzled. I gently put Lucy down and unceremoniously kicked Riley out the door. “Are you even human? Cursing your own niece! Get out! Get out of here right now!” Riley stumbled from my push, almost falling. She furiously yelled, “Violet, you bitch! Just you wait and see!” After Riley left, Emily looked at me with reproach in her eyes. “No matter what, Riley is Aaron’s sister. How could you fall out with her over a cat?” “Now that you’ve kicked her out, where is a single mom with a child supposed to live?” I ignored her, held Lucy, and turned back to my room. When I was 25 weeks pregnant, Riley divorced her husband and left with her child, taking nothing. Emily kept complaining to me about how hard life was for Riley. Aaron also repeatedly assured me that Riley wouldn’t affect our lives, so I agreed to let Riley and her son move in. But from that day on, Emily’s heart completely leaned toward Riley’s son. I didn’t say anything, just made up my mind, “When my baby is born, if Emily doesn’t have time to help, I’ll hire a nanny.” In my past life, that was indeed my plan. But in the end, I couldn’t make it happen. Emily said, “I can take care of them, why spend extra money on a nanny?” But in the end, I was the only one taking care of the child. Every day, I had to work on illustrations for others, take care of my daughter, and still find time to cook and clean. Emily and the unemployed Riley refused to do anything. Under such circumstances, I single-handedly raised Nora. But Riley’s son, Anton James, was raised by Emily herself. Compared to Nora, she favored Anton more and even allowed him to bully Nora. After Nora and I died, she hated me for dragging Riley to death with me. She didn’t bury us but instead allowed Anton to scatter our ashes. Aaron watched all this happen and then turned around, took my house and property, and married the woman he had been involved with during my pregnancy. I am now 29 weeks pregnant, lying in bed, stroking my belly and thinking about divorce. Half-asleep, I drifted off. Until a piercing cat’s cry startled me awake. “Beast! How dare you bite me!” Aaron roughly grabbed Lucy by the neck, a fierce look on his face as he was about to walk out. I jumped out of bed, rushed in front of him, grabbed Lucy, and screamed, “What are you doing? What do you want to do to my cat?” A trace of impatience flashed in Aaron’s eyes, followed by a fake smile. “Better not keep this cat. Didn’t Riley say cats have toxoplasmosis, which isn’t good for kids?” “For the sake of the child, let’s send it away.” Before I could speak, Riley’s mocking voice came from outside the door. “Aaron, don’t waste your effort. What does it matter to you if she keeps a cat?” “Anyway, she’s carrying a girl. If the baby turns out to be a fool, just divorce her.” Emily immediately asked nervously, “Riley, did you go with Violet for the ultrasound? Is it really a girl?” Riley said confidently, “Mom, trust me, she’s carrying a girl.” “Then let her keep the cat. If she gives birth to a fool, she’ll be the one to regret it.” Emily stayed silent, and Aaron didn’t say a word either. I couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. Riley is Emily’s daughter, and she loves her dearly. But when it comes to me, they don’t want me to have a daughter. It’s ridiculous. I stared at Aaron, my gaze cold. “Aaron, there’s no need to wait until the baby is born. Tomorrow, we’ll file for divorce.”
The three of them were all stunned. Aaron was the first to react, instinctively reaching out to grab me, but I pushed him away. He suppressed his anger and asked me, “What nonsense are you talking about? You’re divorcing me over a cat?” I looked at him expressionlessly, my tone cold. “Aaron, you know very well why I want a divorce.” “Now, take your mom and your sister, and leave this house immediately.” Riley’s gaze was like a knife, wishing to tear me apart. “This house belongs to Aaron too! What right do you have to kick us out?” I sneered, “Do you even have the nerve to mention that? Did he contribute a single cent?” “His meager salary barely covers the utilities, and I pay for everything else. To put it bluntly, I’m supporting your whole family!” “You have no gratitude towards me, only endless complaints. I’ve put up with you for so long.” Seeing the argument between Riley and me escalating, Aaron shouted, “Enough! Riley, say less!” He turned to me, his tone gentle yet helpless. “I don’t know what upset you, but since you don’t want to see us right now, we’ll leave for now.” “I’ll take them to a hotel for a few days. When you’re feeling better, we’ll come back.” “Don’t get too upset, take care of the baby in your belly.” They casually packed a few clothes. Seeing that I never spoke to ask them to stay, they hesitated before getting ready to leave. Just as they were about to leave, I suddenly spoke, “Aaron.” He turned back in surprise. “Are you…” I interrupted him, “Monday at 9 a.m., we’ll go handle the divorce procedures.” Aaron froze but ultimately said nothing and left with them. The originally sound-asleep Anton was woken up and cried uncontrollably. Riley held him, glaring at me with a vicious look that sent a chill down my spine. At that moment, Lucy suddenly appeared out of nowhere, crouching by the door. Riley didn’t even look and kicked hard. Lucy slammed into the chair leg, letting out a painful cry. I held my stomach, carefully squatted down to pick up Lucy, and spoke harshly, “Riley, if you don’t want your foot anymore, I’ll chop it off for you!” She gave me a sidelong glance, a mocking smile curling at her lips. “If I don’t kill this beast to teach you a lesson, you can wait to give birth to an idiot.” “I will teach my son well, make sure he gets into a good school, and countless honors will belong only to him!” Aaron stood by as always, blankly watching Riley humiliate me and the baby in my belly, without saying a word to defend me. I no longer had any expectations of him and slammed the door shut. Outside, Emily’s wails echoed, “How did my son end up marrying such an unreasonable woman!”
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