During the ultrasound, I heard two babies arguing inside my womb. One voice was sweet and whiny. “Stop shoving me.” The other snapped back, fierce and territorial. “Get out. This is my space.” Overjoyed, I turned to the doctor. “It’s twins?” The doctor’s eyes flicked toward my husband, Julian Thorne, behind me, then he shook his head. “You’re mistaken, Mrs. Thorne. There’s only one.” Julian smiled, wrapping an arm around me. “You must have imagined it.” Really? But I heard the fierce baby’s sneer as clear as day. “He’d better keep his mouth shut. If he dares tell the truth, my father will end him.” His words instantly put me on high alert. What did this fierce baby mean? I touched my belly, my palms cold, a terrifying thought taking root deep within me. Julian carried over a glass of warm milk, placing it thoughtfully by my hand. “What’s wrong? Still thinking about twins? Don’t overthink it, the doctor said there’s only one. Let’s just focus on nurturing this one.” His smile was gentle, his eyes full of adoration, exactly as they were when I first met him. I lowered my gaze, hiding the coldness in my eyes, and obediently took the milk. Then I asked, feigning nonchalance, “Julian, a friend of mine is also pregnant, and she’s having twins. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had two babies too?” I stared intently at his face, not wanting to miss any expression. His hand, holding the mug, paused. “Twins are too risky. I just want you and our baby to be safe and sound.” His voice was still gentle, but tight with tension. That night, I pretended to be asleep in bed. Julian tiptoed in, believing I was truly asleep. He stood by the bed for a long time, so long I almost couldn’t keep up the act. Then, I felt his cold fingers gently rest on my belly. He seemed to be calculating something. I stiffened, barely daring to breathe. The soft baby whimpered, “I’m scared…” The fierce baby immediately soothed, “Don’t be. Just stay put, don’t let him find me.” A cold dread settled in my stomach. The fierce baby was afraid someone would discover him? Was he afraid of Julian? Just then, I heard Julian let out a barely audible sigh, then turn and walk out of the room. The next day, Julian told me he’d gotten me a new cell phone. “Less radiation, better for the baby,” he said, smiling. I looked at the old-fashioned phone, so basic it could only make calls and send texts, and a cold laugh echoed in my heart. Less radiation, or easier to monitor? He took my old phone, skillfully formatting all the data. My heart sank, piece by piece. Within two days, Julian’s mother, Amanda, suddenly moved into our villa. She brought an entire team: a nutritionist, a nanny, and two expressionless bodyguards. She said it was to take better care of me. “Elara Thompson, starting today, your meals will be Vera’s responsibility. She’s the most professional prenatal nutritionist.” Amanda sat on the sofa, speaking in a commanding tone. I looked at the woman named Vera; she adjusted her glasses, her gaze sharp. My life was completely taken over. I couldn’t go out, couldn’t see friends. My daily range of activity was confined to this villa. Julian came back every day, showering me with concern. But to me, it was no different from imprisonment.
The fierce baby seemed to sense the danger too. “That old witch is up to no good. She’s been adding something to the soup she gives you. It’s small amounts, but it’s consistent.” I held the bowl, even managing a placating smile at Amanda. “Thank you, it’s really delicious.” Amanda’s lips curved up in satisfaction. I tipped the bowl back, draining it completely. Then, I used the excuse of needing the restroom, rushed into the bathroom, and forced myself to vomit by sticking my fingers down my throat. I vomited until nothing but bile remained, then collapsed onto the floor, exhausted. I couldn’t sit idly by and wait for death any longer. I had to contact the outside world. I remembered I had a spare phone, hidden in an old briefcase in the innermost part of my walk-in closet. During a bodyguard shift change, I slipped into the closet and locked the door. I found the phone; thankfully, it still had power. Fumbling frantically, I called my best friend, Chloe Green. The phone rang only once before it was picked up. “Hello? Elara?” The moment I heard Chloe’s voice, tears welled in my eyes. “Chloe, I…” I only managed three words before the closet door was suddenly kicked open from the outside. Amanda stood at the doorway, two bodyguards behind her, a chilling smile on her face. “Elara Thompson, who are you calling?” She walked towards me, step by step, her heels clacking against the floor, each sound a hammer blow against my chest. I instinctively hid the phone behind my back. She didn’t give me a chance to react; with a single glance, one of the bodyguards rushed forward, roughly snatching my phone. Amanda took the phone and glanced at the name on the screen. “Chloe?” She let out a short, dismissive laugh. “It seems I’ve been too lenient with you.” With that, she smashed the phone to the floor right in front of me. The screen shattered instantly. “Anything or anyone that might disrupt your pregnancy, I will eliminate completely.” She finished, then turned and walked away. That night, when Julian returned, Amanda told him what had happened. I thought he would at least speak up for me. But he just listened in silence, then walked to my side and knelt down. “Elara, Mom is doing this for your own good. Right now, the most important thing is for you to rest and nurture our baby, don’t think so much.” His voice was as gentle as a placid lake, yet it sent a chill to my very bones. I looked at him, asking, enunciating each word carefully, “Julian Thorne, I am your wife, not some tool your family keeps for breeding.” His veneer of gentleness cracked. “How can you think that? I love you, Elara.” The fierce baby in my belly sneered. “Love? His love means locking you up and then trying to kill one of your children.” I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his hypocritical face anymore. From that day on, their surveillance tightened even further. Two bodyguards guarded my bedroom door, never leaving. I couldn’t even close the bathroom door when I used it. I started a hunger strike. It was the only way I could fight back. On the first day, Amanda watched with cold indifference. On the second day, she started threatening me. “Elara Thompson, don’t push your luck. If you harm my grandchild, I’ll make sure your whole family suffers the consequences.” My parents were my only weakness. I glared at her with reddened eyes. “You wouldn’t dare!” “Just watch me.”
She tossed a document onto the table. “Your parents’ restaurant, seems the recent health inspections haven’t gone so well.” I trembled with rage. I had no choice but to compromise. I started eating, but every bite felt like swallowing razor blades. I had to find a way; I couldn’t let them succeed. A plan slowly began to form in my mind. That afternoon, when the maid, Lucy, wasn’t looking, I secretly poured some shower gel on the bathroom floor. Then, I slipped and fell heavily. “Ah!” I cried out, clutching my belly. Lucy’s face went white with fright, and she screamed, running out to get help. Soon, Julian and Amanda rushed in. Seeing me on the floor, a faint trace of blood beneath me, Julian’s face instantly drained of color. “Quick! Call Dr. Miller!” Amanda shouted. My heart sank. Again, the family doctor. My gamble was that they would panic and send me to the nearest public hospital. I had lost my bet. But my mind raced, trying to figure out how to use this “injury” to create the next opportunity. Dr. Miller, the family doctor, arrived quickly. He performed a series of examinations, then shook his head at Julian and Amanda. “She took a significant fall. It has threatened the pregnancy, and she requires immediate, strict bed rest. I recommend starting her on a nutrient IV to stabilize the fetus.” I lay in bed, cold all over. I heard the fierce voice in my belly curse furiously. “Foolish woman! Do you think they’re blind? This pathetic sympathy ploy will only make them despise you more!” I closed my eyes in despair. Cold liquid flowed slowly into my body through the IV tube. Soon, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness washed over me. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Before I completely lost consciousness, I heard the soft baby whimper: “I feel so bad… my body’s so hot…” Immediately after, the fierce male voice roared: “Damn it! They’re drugging her! This medicine is meant for me! They’re trying to kill me!” My consciousness drifted in and out of the darkness, my body burning as if on fire. No, I couldn’t sleep. Summoning every last ounce of strength, I bit my tongue hard. The sharp pain brought me back to my senses, if only for a moment. I opened my eyes; the room was empty. On the back of my hand, the cold liquid continued to flow into my veins. This was it, this thing, it was trying to kill my baby. With my other hand, the one not hooked up, I trembled and ripped the needle from the back of my hand. A blinding pain made my vision go dark, a tearing, burning sensation searing through my veins. Ignoring the pain, I scrambled off the bed, stumbling into the bathroom and locking the door. I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face again and again, trying to stay awake. The drug was potent; my body grew hotter and hotter, but my limbs were starting to go numb. Inside my belly, the fierce voice also sounded weak: “Hold on… stupid woman… don’t fall asleep…” I slid to the floor, leaning against the cold wall, gasping for breath. Not long after, urgent footsteps echoed outside. “Elara! Open the door!” It was Julian’s voice, tinged with panic. I didn’t make a sound. “Break down the door!” Amanda’s sharp voice cut through the silence. The bathroom door was kicked open.
Julian rushed in, his face instantly contorted into a mask of pure horror as he saw me slumped on the floor, the pool of blood at his feet, and the pulled-out IV needle on the bedsheet. He quickly came forward, grabbing my arm. “Elara Thompson! Are you insane?! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” His grip was so strong it hurt. I looked up at his face, etched with concern and fury, and suddenly smiled. “What am I doing? Julian, why don’t you ask yourself what you’re doing?” I pointed at the IV bag still standing on the bedside table. “What’s in there? ‘Nutrient solution’? Do you take me for a fool?” “What exactly is that?! Why are you trying to kill our baby?!” I practically screamed. Julian’s expression froze, panic in his eyes quickly replaced by anguish. “Elara, calm down, it’s not what you think.” He tried to hug me, but I shoved him away. “It’s not what I think? Then what is it? Tell me!” Amanda stood at the doorway, watching our play-acting with cold indifference. “Julian, why waste words on her? Since she’s seeking death, then let her…” “Mom!” Julian abruptly cut her off, glancing back at her. Amanda’s face shifted, but she finally clamped her mouth shut, though the venom in her eyes remained undiluted. Julian turned back to me, a pained expression on his face. He knelt down, taking my hand, his voice hoarse. “Elara, I’m sorry, I’ve been hiding it from you.” “We are, indeed, having twins.” My heart skipped a beat. “But…” He took a deep breath, his eyes reddened. “Through the Thorne family’s most advanced genetic screening, we discovered… we discovered that the boy has a very severe congenital heart defect.” “The doctors said he wouldn’t live past one year old. And his presence would severely impact the healthy baby, and even you.” “So… we decided to only keep the healthy one.” He spoke tearfully, but I could sense his hidden triumph. “Bullshit! My heart beats stronger than anyone’s! He’s just trying to find an excuse to kill me!” The fierce voice, though weak, was full of conviction. Watching him fabricate lies without batting an eye, a chill settled in my heart. I lowered my head, my shoulders began to shake, faking sobs. “Really? Our baby… he…” I sobbed uncontrollably, my body trembling. Julian immediately pulled me into his arms, gently patting my back. “I’m sorry, Elara. I didn’t want to upset you, that’s why I kept it hidden. We were doing it for your own good, for the good of our healthy baby.” I buried my face in his chest, and from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Amanda at the doorway. The tense lines on her face finally relaxed, and she even gave Dr. Miller a knowing look. They both thought I believed him. I continued to “sadly” cry, my mind, however, racing. Heart defect? That lie was too clumsy. But why would they tell such a lie? Why were they so insistent on getting rid of the boy and keeping the girl? “Will you really die?” The soft, whiny voice sounded incredibly sad. “Don’t listen to his nonsense.” The fierce voice held a hint of impatience, but more soothing. “We’re boy-girl twins. They’re not afraid of me being sick; they’re afraid of me.” Afraid of him? Why would they be afraid of an unborn infant? Behind this, there had to be a much bigger secret.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “344661”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn
Leave a Reply