Death and Resurrection

Seven months pregnant, I was lured by David to an unfamiliar medical center for "fetal protection," where he and a nurse conspired to inject me with an unknown substance.

As my consciousness faded, I noticed something sinister in David's expression, but ultimately succumbed to the drug's effects.

"She should be completely unconscious by now."

A muffled voice drifted from somewhere distant. I felt myself being wheeled along, my body heavy as lead.

"Doesn't matter, continue." This was David's voice, but it sounded cold as a stranger's.

Around me, medical equipment beeped and footsteps echoed. The harsh surgical lights made my closed eyelids burn.

"How's the drug working? Is the uterine atrophy in place?" David's voice became clearer.

I wanted to open my eyes, wanted to speak, but my body refused to obey. I could only listen as they discussed "uterine atrophy."

"Very good, the atrophy is thorough," Karen replied. "As planned, we'll tell everyone it was a sudden uterine rupture that required removal to save her life."

What? Removal?

"This way she'll never be able to get pregnant again, and Lily can return without obstacles," David continued with satisfaction.

Lily... my parents' adopted daughter...

She suddenly went to Seattle before our wedding. I thought she was stepping aside for us...

David wants to kill me and our child... all for Lily...

I felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest.

Turns out, this so-called "perfect marriage" was just my wishful thinking all along. David never loved me—not even for a second.

His heart's been set on my sister. Fine then, I'm out. You two deserve each other.

I don't know how much time passed before I woke up in a white hospital room.

A tearing pain shot through my lower abdomen. I reached down and felt thick gauze.

David sat beside the bed. When he saw me wake, he immediately grabbed my hand, his eyes red and swollen.

"Emma, you're awake! I thought I was going to lose you..." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry, our baby... we couldn't save him."

I stared at him, the conversation I'd heard earlier echoing in my mind.

"The baby... what happened?"

"Sudden uterine rupture with massive bleeding," David closed his eyes in apparent anguish. "The doctors had no choice but to... had to remove your uterus to save you."

My heart stabbed with pain. The baby was gone, and so was my uterus.

"But Emma, as long as you're still here, we still have hope." David gently kissed my forehead. "I'll always be by your side."

Watching his "heartfelt" performance, I remembered what I'd heard:

"This way she'll never be able to get pregnant again, and Lily can return without obstacles."

Nausea rose in my throat.

David went downstairs to buy lunch, saying he wanted to help me recover.

I struggled to sit up and saw his backpack on the chair, laptop still open.

I dragged my weak body over and tried entering passwords with trembling fingers.

Our wedding anniversary—wrong.

Suddenly, a devastating thought flashed through my mind.

My birthday, indeed.

Lily and I share the same birthdate.

The screen unlocked.

Even his password was her birthday...

Emails, photos, chat logs—all secret communications between David and Lily.

I looked at the photos on screen, unable to breathe from grief: David and Lily embracing on a Seattle beach, her belly prominently rounded, David gently caressing it with a smile I'd never seen before.

The timestamp showed six months ago.

Six months ago, David told me he had to go to Seattle on business for a week.

I remembered how especially tender he was when he returned, even buying me a necklace, saying he saw it locally.

He was actually there for Lily's prenatal checkups...

I scrolled down. The chat logs were even more devastating:

David: "Once Emma loses her fertility, you can return openly."

Lily: "Are you sure this is fair to her? She is my sister, after all..."

David: "Our child must inherit all the Sullivan and Smith family assets. Emma is just a tool. She should be grateful to pave the way for us."

Lily: "What about the baby in her belly?"

David: "She'll never know. We'll say it was an accidental miscarriage."

I remembered this morning when I was frying eggs for David and suddenly felt a sharp pain in my temples.

"What's wrong? Emma, what happened?" His voice trembled with tension.

"Just a little headache, it's nothing. Probably didn't sleep well."

David shot up, his chair scraping loudly. "No! Emma, pregnancy hypertension can be fatal. We need to get to the hospital immediately!"

I was stunned.

Was it really that serious? I was confused internally, but seeing his panicked expression, warmth still filled my heart. David cared so much about me and our child...

"David, it's really nothing serious, just an ordinary headache." I turned off the stove and walked toward him.

He grabbed my hand, his palm sweaty. "Emma, I can't lose you! I've already contacted Dr. Williams. He says Cascade Medical Center has the most advanced pregnancy monitoring equipment."

"But we've always had our checkups at St. Mary's Hospital..."

"That place is too crowded. Cascade is more professional, more private." David was already grabbing his car keys. "We're going now."

Looking at his frantic state, my doubts were overwhelmed by emotion. This was the man I loved, so concerned about me and our child.

So, all of this was aimed at removing obstacles for Lily.

I continued scrolling. Bank transfer records showed David had sent Marcus fifty thousand dollars, noted as "Legal consultation fee."

So Marcus was involved too... my most trusted cousin...

Earlier chat logs completely devastated me:

Lily: "She trusts you too much, David. Sometimes I feel guilty."

David: "Guilty about what? She stole everything that should have been yours—our parents' love, the family fortune, and me. We're just taking back what belongs to us."

Lily: "But she really loves you..."

David: "That's her misfortune. Loving the wrong person comes with a price."

I remembered childhood memories.

When Lily was first adopted, I was still a five-year-old girl. I gave her my favorite doll, telling her: "From now on, we're sisters."

She cried and hugged me, saying: "Thank you, sister. I'll always love you."

On my 18th birthday, my parents had grown accustomed to the smart, beautiful Lily and seemed distant toward me, their actual daughter.

Lily held my hand and cried, saying: "I'm sorry, sister. I stole what should have been yours."

I comforted her: "We're sisters. There's no stealing between us."

Later she "voluntarily" stepped aside from her relationship with David, saying: "Sister, I won't compete with you. I sincerely bless you two together."

I was so moved I cried, thinking she was genuinely looking out for me...

I was such a fool, grateful for her "sacrifice," grateful for David's "love."

Since everyone only loves Lily, I should just leave.