Chapter 3
I woke up to the agony of having my stomach pumped.
My throat felt like it had been sliced with a knife, and my stomach was completely empty.
Outside the hospital room, I heard Michael's voice.
"Emily, don't worry, the baby's fine." His voice carried a tenderness I'd never heard from him before. "The doctor said it was just an allergic reaction, and it's been taken care of."
"Michael..." My sister Emily's voice came through. "Food allergies can run in families... What if the baby is born with the allergy too? You need to have Olivia undergo desensitization treatment. This baby has to be perfect—my whole standing in the Phillips family depends on it."
"Okay, I'll arrange it tomorrow," Michael said. "I'll have her admitted to the hospital for the full desensitization treatment."
I closed my eyes, letting tears soak into my pillow.
The desensitization therapy was more brutal than I'd imagined.
Every morning at eight, a nurse would bring in a plate of shrimp and force me to eat it.
Then I'd have an allergic reaction, go into shock, and have my stomach pumped.
Day after day.
At first, Michael would come stay with me, but gradually, his visits became less and less frequent.
Instead, I got social media updates from my sister Emily.
Selfies at the ski resort, her smile radiant, Michael adjusting her scarf behind her.
Shopping bags piled high at the mall, with the caption: [Michael's so sweet, buying me everything.]
The most painful was the necklace around her neck.
That was the custom piece Michael said he was going to give me.
I stared at my phone screen, feeling like along with the allergens, my feelings for Michael were also being desensitized.
I couldn't stay locked up in this hospital forever. I had to find a way to leave.
On yet another day when Michael didn't come—I'd lost count of how many.
During rounds, a doctor named Joshua Thomas slipped me a note.
"If you want to leave, I can help you."
My heart started racing.
Was this a trap?
Or... was someone actually willing to help me?
Should I trust him?
Maybe I should.
I desperately wanted to leave.
That night, following the instructions on the note, I avoided Michael's men and left the hospital.
The doctor's car was parked at the back door. He waved at me. "Get in, quick!"
The moment I got into the passenger seat, a wet cloth covered my nose and mouth.
A strong medicinal smell flooded my nostrils.
I struggled desperately, but my body quickly lost strength.
Everything went black, and I knew nothing more.
When I woke up, I was lying in a rundown warehouse.
My head was splitting, my limbs weak.
I moved my fingers and felt my phone still in my pocket.
Joshua had his back to me, talking on the phone in a low voice.
I quietly pushed the phone back and closed my eyes, pretending to still be unconscious.
"Miss Smith, I've brought her out. Where's my money?" Joshua's voice was urgent.
Emily's lazy voice came through the phone. "I've changed my mind. Just kill her."
"Are you crazy?!" Joshua's voice shot up. "She's Michael's woman, at least in name! If I kill her, Michael will tear me apart!"
"Then just make sure you do it cleanly. I'll give you the money afterward."
"Miss Smith, I'm not stupid! We agreed—I just bring her out, you give me five million dollars! Now you want me to commit murder? That price isn't nearly enough!"
"Then how much do you want?"
"At least ten. And I want it all upfront!"
Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then Emily's cold laugh: "Dr. Thomas, are you trying to negotiate with me?"
"What else? Don't forget, if I hadn't helped you fake that birthmark back then, do you think Michael would really see you as his savior?!"
My whole body trembled.
A few years ago, my parents took Emily and me on a cruise vacation.
That evening, there was a dance, and I went back to my room to change.
When I opened the closet, I found a blood-covered man curled up inside, his wounds still bleeding.
Just as I was about to scream, he covered my mouth. "Don't make a sound. I'm just hiding temporarily, I won't cause you trouble."
His palm was ice-cold, his eyes both warning and pleading.
Just then, the door opened.
Emily walked in, saw the scene, and frowned. "Where did this dirty person come from? Throw him overboard."
I quietly protested: "No."
"Always meddling in other people's business. Hurry up, the dance is starting." She turned and left.
I silently pushed the man's hand away and closed the closet.
After changing, I thought for a moment, asked the cruise staff for a first aid kit and some food, and left them by the closet.
"For you," I said quietly.
When I returned from the dance, the first aid kit and food were gone—and so was the man.
Six months later, Emily tricked me into going hiking.
At the cliff's edge, she suddenly pushed me.
I tumbled down, hitting rocks.
When I woke up, the butterfly-shaped birthmark on my lower back had been cut out.
So that's what happened...
I suddenly understood everything.
That man was Michael, and Emily had known all along, so she found an excuse to cut out my birthmark and faked one herself.
She became Michael's savior.
"Oh my, I'd almost forgotten about that if you hadn't mentioned it," Emily said. "Thanks so much, Dr. Thomas."
Her tone was sarcastic, dripping with murderous intent.
Joshua seemed to sense the danger too, his voice becoming panicked. "Miss Smith, we had a deal..."
But the call disconnected.
Joshua cursed viciously and turned toward me.
He kicked me hard in the stomach.
I curled up in pain, unable to keep pretending, and screamed.
"Bitch!" Joshua's eyes were bloodshot as he kicked again.
I clutched my stomach, gritting my teeth. "You dare touch me? I'm carrying Michael's child! If anything happens to me, you;re done for!"
Joshua froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Michael's child? Who cares about the bastard in your belly?"
My heart sank.
"Oh, you probably don't know, do you? Michael had you act as a surrogate for your sister, but your dear sister never wanted you to give birth to a Phillips family child."
"She had me find a homeless man and used his sperm for your IVF."
The doctor crouched down, grabbing my face. "Tell me, who would care about such a bastard?"
My mind went blank.
"Since I can't get money from your sister, and there's no way I'm getting it from Michael either," Joshua's eyes turned vicious, "I might as well enjoy Michael's woman!"
His hands tore at my clothes.
I struggled desperately, my fingers finding an iron rod on the ground.
Just then, the door was kicked open.
