Chapter 2

The moment I said those words through my tears, I clearly felt the air pressure around me suddenly drop. James let go of me with a cold face and laughed mockingly. "First, you drugged me to have sex with me, and now you're using pregnancy to lie to me. Sophia, is there anything you wouldn't do?"

"I'm not lying to you. I just went to the hospital for a checkup today!" I tried to explain anxiously, but James was obviously focused on something else.

"You went to the hospital?"

If I hadn't gone to the hospital, how would I have seen you being so close with Amelia, and heard Isabella call you "daddy" with my own ears?

I curved my lips in self-mockery and nodded slightly. James looked at me with an indescribable expression for a long time, his voice cold. "I used protection every time. You can't be pregnant. Sophia, while I'm still willing to give you some dignity, you'd better tell the truth right now."

"I'm not lying to you. If you don't believe me, you can see for yourself." With trembling hands, I pulled out the hospital's diagnostic report and handed it to James, but he just glanced at it casually and then made a phone call. "Robert, please bring the pregnancy testing equipment and come over now."

The Robert that James mentioned was Robert Davis, the private doctor hired by the Smith family. He was highly skilled and specifically responsible for taking care of James's grandmother, Indigo Smith. James trusted him a lot.

After being his wife for several years, I understood James's meaning almost instantly.

"James, am I really that terrible in your eyes? Even after showing you the diagnostic report, you still won't believe me and have to ask Robert to come and check for himself?"

"What else?" James sneered, the contempt and disgust in his eyes cutting like knives.

"Sophia, every cause has its effect. The day you used dirty tricks to marry me, you should have been prepared to bear all this."

He had already sentenced me to death in his heart. No matter how I explained, he wouldn't believe me.

At that moment, I felt like the most ridiculous clown in the world. But as I laughed at myself, my eyes started to sting. I wiped away my tears forcefully and gently stroked my still-flat belly, comforting myself.

It was okay. Once Robert came and did the examination, James would know I didn't lie to him. He would be just as happy as me, joyfully looking forward to this child's arrival.

But...

"Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith is not pregnant. This is the test report, please take a look."

"How is that possible? Robert, did you make a mistake?"

My body stiffened. I quickly climbed down from the bed, my voice trembling.

"When I was checked at the hospital today, the doctor clearly said I was three weeks pregnant. If you don't believe me, look at the report!"

I frantically handed the diagnostic report to Robert, so anxious that tears were about to fall, but he just glanced at it casually, his tone meaningful.

"Mrs. Smith, I don't know how you got this report, but I can only tell you that you are not pregnant. If you don't believe me, see for yourself." He handed me the freshly printed ultrasound report. Where there should have been a tiny fetus was now completely empty. I was thunderstruck, staring in disbelief with wide eyes.

"That can't be. I am pregnant. How could my child be gone? Robert, did you make a mistake?"

"Mrs. Smith, I've worked for the Smith family for over ten years. I even took care of Mr. Hayden Smith in his final days. By saying this, are you doubting me or the Smith family?"

"That's not what I meant, it's just..."

"Enough!" James furiously cut me off, startling even Robert.

He walked up to me with a cold face, his eyes terrifyingly icy. "Sophia, the evidence is right in front of you, and you still try to argue. Do you have no shame at all?"

"I didn't lie to you, James, please believe me!" I shook my head helplessly, full of fear.

This child—when I was examined, I clearly saw his existence, and the physical symptoms during this time couldn't be fake.

But why would Robert say I was not pregnant?

Could there be something wrong with my child that caused a misdiagnosis?

The more I thought about it, the more scared I became. I trembled as I grabbed James's sleeve. "Can you have Robert check again? I'm worried about the baby..."

He suddenly grabbed my neck. The pain made me unable to speak, and I could barely breathe.

At such close distance, I saw James's eyes full of violence, as if he wanted to kill me. "Sophia, if you still want to stay in the Smith family, stop playing tricks, or I won't let you off!"

"James, the baby..." All I could think about was the baby's safety. I struggled to grab his sleeve, forcing out a few words of pleading.

Almost at the same moment, James's phone suddenly rang.

"James, come quick! Isabella has a fever again!"

"Don't worry, I'll be right there!"

Hearing Amelia's crying voice, James's expression darkened. He finally let me go and left in a hurry with Robert without looking back.

He threw me on the floor like a broken rag doll. I gasped for air, and after a long time, I slowly picked up my phone.

Getting an appointment with Evelyn Thomas, the city's most authoritative obstetrician, wasn't easy, especially at this late hour.

I had to quickly write some code and successfully made an appointment. I slowly placed my hand on my belly.

No matter what Robert said, I firmly believed there was indeed a little life growing here.

After all, this was my child. How could I, as a mother, not sense my child's existence?

In the obstetrics office.

"Congratulations, Ms. Brown. You're three weeks pregnant." Evelyn's gentle voice said exactly the same thing as yesterday's hospital diagnosis. I asked nervously.

"How is the baby?"

"Don't worry, the fetus is developing well. However, your body is a bit weak. You need to get proper nutrition and rest."

My child was fine.

This news made me breathe a long sigh of relief, and the gloom in my heart lifted considerably. I hesitated, then took out the ultrasound report that Robert had given me last night from my bag.

"Could you please take a look at this? Why does this report show that I'm not pregnant?"