My husband, Jaxson, had lost everything in a terrible investment. He’d racked up massive debts, and the creditors had kidnapped him, threatening to sell his organs if I didn’t pay up. Over the phone, his voice choked with tears. “Forget about me, Harper. Maybe we’ll find each other in the next life…” To save him, I made the agonizing choice to abort my two-month-old baby. Then, I agreed to the creditors’ demands: I would become a surrogate. Four months later, I stumbled upon Jaxson and his widowed sister-in-law, Sera, sharing a dark secret. “Don’t worry, Sera,” Jaxson’s voice was smooth, reassuring. “The doctors say *our* triplets are perfectly healthy.” Sera’s voice, sugary sweet, followed. “Besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, I can give you everything. The fortune, the children—they’re all yours!” “Once Harper delivers, I’ll find an excuse. I’ll say she’s tainted, and I’ll never touch her again!” Jaxson promised. “I belong only to you!” I laughed. A hollow, bitter sound. My heart didn’t just break; it shattered into a million irreparable pieces. Fine. If that’s how it is, then the role of Mrs. Hayes? You two can have it.
“Mr. Hayes, your children with Ms. Blackwood are perfectly healthy. However, as they are triplets, there’s a risk of premature birth for the surrogate. Please be prepared.” I thought I’d simply overheard someone else’s private conversation. I was about to slip away quietly. But then, *his* familiar yet chillingly unfamiliar voice echoed from the room. “As long as the babies are fine. *She’s* not important.” My heart clenched. My steps froze at the doorway. “Oh, Jaxson,” Sera’s voice was a soft, helpless sob. “It’s all my fault for having a weak body, for not being able to carry a pregnancy. Otherwise, I’d truly want to bear your child myself.” “But isn’t this unfair to Harper? After all, she aborted *your* child just to…” A sharp, derisive laugh cut her off. “She had it coming!” Jaxson’s voice was so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. “If she hadn’t secretly messed with the condoms, how would she have gotten pregnant in the first place? But even if she tried to trick me, I’d never have let her keep that baby!” His voice softened, directed at Sera. “Sera, besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, my fortune and my children are *only* for you!” “Besides, you’re so fragile, so delicate. You deserve to be pampered. Dangerous things like carrying a child? Of course, *she* should handle that.” It felt like someone had violently smashed my chest. A silent, excruciating pain spread through me, and cold sweat drenched my back. Jaxson’s voice continued. “You’re just too kind, always thinking of her. Truth is, I haven’t wanted her for a long time… But since she insists on being Mrs. Hayes, then she’ll pay the price!” “Once she gives birth, I’ll just find some excuse, say she’s tainted, and never touch her again!” “Sera, relax. I belong only to you!” I stood outside the door, my body stiff, my heart a stone thrown into the deep ocean. I was suffocating, unable to make a sound. My prenatal check-up was supposed to be this weekend, but these past few days, I’d been plagued by a gnawing unease. I was terrified something might go wrong with the babies inside me, jeopardizing the ransom. That’s why I’d rushed to the fertility clinic today. But I never imagined I’d walk into *this*. No wonder! No wonder when I told Jaxson I was pregnant, he only stayed silent. And within days, he claimed his investments had failed, that he owed a massive debt. For months, I’d lived in constant fear because of him, plagued by sleepless nights. I even aborted my own child and risked my life with this high-risk surrogacy, all just to get him back safe and sound. Turns out, this entire charade, from beginning to end, was a calculated scheme against me! My fingers trembled, my legs felt like jelly, my breath came in ragged gasps. Tears, hot and unstoppable, flooded my eyes. I fought back the rising nausea, forcing myself to turn around. My steps faltered as I stumbled out of the clinic. With every step, the crack in my heart widened. I pulled out my phone, my fingers so cold they barely gripped it. Scrolling to a message buried deep in my inbox, I slowly typed a reply. “Damian, I’m in. I’ll do what we talked about.” “Please help me arrange the surgery again. This weekend.”
When I got home, the moment I pushed open the door, a flurry of hurried movement erupted in the living room. Jaxson’s lips still bore a tell-tale smudged lipstick mark, while Sera, head bowed, fumbled to straighten her skirt. Back then, when Sera offered to buy our house and let us continue living there, I was so grateful I almost wept. I thought she was so thoughtful, so kind-hearted. But now, I saw it for what it was: a convenient arrangement for her and Jaxson to meet. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to act as if I hadn’t seen anything. I turned to change my shoes. Jaxson approached me, his face plastered with that fake smile. “Harper, why are you out by yourself with your belly so big? You make me worry.” Once, I would have thought that was genuine concern. But now, I finally understood. He wasn’t worried about me. He was worried about *his* babies with *her*. I said flatly, “My stomach felt bloated. I went for a walk.” Sera’s eyes flashed with panic at my words. She reached out, attempting to touch my belly. “Are the babies okay? Have you been eating something you shouldn’t have?” Instinctively, I recoiled sharply, pushing her hand away, my voice cold. Her smile instantly froze, replaced by a wounded whine. “What are you doing? I was just trying to show concern!” I took another deep breath. “Sera, if you love children so much, why don’t you have your own?” Jaxson’s face darkened. He strode forward, his voice low and sharp. “Harper! Sera means well. How can you talk to her like that?” Then his gaze shifted to Sera. She stood with her head down, lips trembling, the very picture of pitiful vulnerability: “I know you look down on women like me who have health issues and can’t have children. But I simply love kids. Please don’t misunderstand, okay?” Jaxson’s brows furrowed. His voice was low and cold, but clearly biased. “See! What nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Sera, now!” My chest felt as if it were being ripped open by a sharp blade, cut by cut. The pain was so intense I couldn’t even breathe. The gentle, caring husband I once knew now only showed impatience and anger. I bit my lip hard, my throat dry. Too exhausted to argue, I turned and went back to my room. After the house was sold to Sera, Jaxson had said with a smile: “It wouldn’t be right for us to stay in the master bedroom.” “Why don’t you just stay in the small guest room on the first floor? That way you don’t have to go upstairs. It’s safer.” Back then, I was foolishly grateful for his thoughtfulness, believing he had my best interests at heart. But now, it was clear. All of it was just to make it easier for him and Sera to enjoy their undisturbed life upstairs. He followed me in, sitting on the edge of the bed, putting on that mask of fake tenderness. “Harper, don’t overthink things. Once the babies are born and we’ve paid off the debt, we won’t have to live under anyone’s thumb anymore!” He reached out, gently stroking my hair, his voice as soft as it used to be. “Then, we’ll have a baby of our own, and we’ll be a family, forever!” For a fleeting second, I almost wavered. I wanted to ask him. Had he ever dreamed of the baby who never got to come into this world, like I had? If he loved Sera so much, why didn’t he just marry her a year ago after his brother’s accident? Why had he suddenly proposed to *me* then? But all the words caught in my throat. I watched him reach out, seemingly wanting to touch my belly, but his movement halted when he saw my swollen abdomen and the faint stretch marks already appearing. A flicker of instinctive revulsion crossed his eyes. In that instant, his fake tenderness couldn’t hide the coldness and disdain in his gaze. My heart felt like it had been carved out with an ice pick, completely shattered into pieces. I let out a cold laugh, the corners of my lips curving into a smile that was uglier than a cry. Looks like some questions don’t need asking anymore. Seeing my silence, his face darkened. “I know you’re hormonal during pregnancy, but you chose to be a surrogate to help me pay off my debts. So stop being so passive-aggressive and making things uncomfortable.” I lowered my head, my throat tight, my heart chilling to the core. Yes, I chose all of it. I brought this upon myself. Seeing my expression, he put on his “tender and caring” facade again, gently comforting me. “Alright, don’t be mad. I have to go out for a few days. Sera helped me get a new client.” “I’ll definitely be back to accompany you before your prenatal check-up this weekend. I’ll bring you a gift.” I looked at the extreme hypocrisy in his tender expression, a slow smile spreading on my lips. “Okay. I’ll have a gift for you too, then.”
At the hospital, the doctor frowned. “Ms. Stone, you got pregnant again so soon after your previous miscarriage, and now you’re carrying triplets… If you miscarry again this time, you might never be able to conceive.” I froze, my hand unconsciously stroking my swollen abdomen, my fingertips trembling slightly. “If… if I abort the babies now, what will happen to them?” I asked in a low voice, so hoarse it was almost inaudible. The doctor sighed, then slowly spoke. “Under normal circumstances, the hospital helps arrange cremation and a proper burial, as per family wishes.” “But if the family doesn’t request it, the babies are incinerated collectively.” He paused, a hint of anger in his voice. “However, the most outrageous thing is when some people promise their wives they’ll handle the burial properly, but then just throw the baby into the toilet.” “Later, the cleaning staff found the baby stuck in the toilet drain. They had to be forcibly flushed away. There was no proper send-off at all.” My head snapped up, my throat tight, my voice trembling. “What was the pregnant woman’s name? When did this happen?” The doctor flipped through his records. “I remember, it was about half a year ago. The pregnant woman’s name was…” “Mrs. Hayes.” BOOM— My head spun with a violent ringing, as if something had exploded in my ears. I slowly stood up, my hands clenched so tightly around my clothes that my knuckles turned white and my fingers trembled. That was *my* baby! From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I’d started fantasizing about our family of three after the birth. Imagining the baby growing up, calling me ‘Mommy’… But for Jaxson, I had no choice but to let go. He had held my hand that day, as I went into the operating room, promising me he would take care of our baby. He had even taken me to see that small grave mound after that day. But I never, ever imagined that little life, who never got to enter this world, would end up like *that*. Thrown away like trash by his own hands! I bit down hard on my lip, tears streaming down my face. My chest felt hollowed out, the pain so intense I could barely stand. I retreated inch by inch until my back hit the cold wall, a suppressed sob escaping my throat. The last shred of hesitation in my heart was utterly broken. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. I looked up at the doctor. “I’ve decided. I want the surgery immediately.” After the surgery, I lay on the hospital bed, gathering my strength. I dialed a number. “Damian, I’m ready. Come pick me up tonight.” That evening, Jaxson returned home, his face etched with impatience. The moment he pushed open the door, he roared. “Harper, why did the clinic call me today saying you missed your prenatal check-up?!” “Are you kidding me?! I already explained to you, Sera and I were meeting a client, that’s why we couldn’t make it back!” Sera followed behind him, clutching his arm, feigning comfort. “Harper, don’t be mad. Jaxson and I were working. Don’t think too much, okay?” I sat pale on the sofa, my gaze coldly fixed on her arm wrapped around Jaxson’s. A faint, scornful smile touched my lips. Sera’s smile stiffened. She shrank her hand back. Jaxson’s face instantly darkened, anger churning in his eyes. He threw his jacket violently onto the sofa. “What exactly do you want?! Don’t you dare act out just because you’re pregnant!” His voice suddenly rose, rage practically spewing from him. “Haven’t I been working this hard for *you*?! Are you trying to use the baby to vent your anger and threaten me now?!” With that, he kicked the sofa, with so much force that the cushion almost flew off. Just then, my phone buzzed. I slowly stood up and walked towards the door. Jaxson instinctively reached out to grab me, but I shifted, avoiding his hand. He turned livid, his voice laced with threat. “Fine, Harper. If you don’t explain yourself today, don’t expect me to tolerate you anymore!” I glanced back at him from the doorway, a cold smile slowly curving on my lips. “You’re right. Nothing can happen to the babies. I’m going to get checked right now.” Jaxson seemed to sense something different. His eyes froze on me for a moment. Then, his gaze dropped, landing on my slightly slimmer belly. His face changed instantly. Just as he was about to say something, I cut him off coldly. “Your gift is right by the sofa. Hope you both like it.” By now, Sera had already torn open the express box. A nauseating stench washed over us. She looked inside, her face instantly turning ashen. She shrieked, recoiling sharply, almost stumbling. Jaxson turned at her scream, his face stiffening. He froze, pupils wildly dilating, the shock and fear in his eyes instantly devouring all his anger.
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