My Twins Have Different Mothers

Chapter 2

Vanessa lingered by the doorway, her face carefully arranged into concern, though the faint glint in her eyes gave her away.

"Joanne, are you okay?" she said, her voice soft and apologetic in that practiced way of hers. "This is probably my fault. Maybe my perfume made you feel sick. I won't wear it again, I promise."

She really could have fooled anyone. A natural performer.

I rinsed my mouth and slowly lifted my head. The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked drained, her skin almost colorless.

"I'm okay," I said, forcing a faint, unconvincing smile. "It's probably just regular morning sickness."

I steadied myself against the wall and walked out, each step feeling like it might give out beneath me.

"I'm a little lightheaded. I think I need to lie down for a bit."

As I passed through the living room, my foot slipped without warning, and my body pitched forward, straight toward the sharp edge of the coffee table.

"Ah!"

Derek and Vanessa shouted at the same time.

Derek rushed forward and caught me, but it was too late to stop the impact completely. My forehead struck the corner of the table, and a sharp pain flared as the skin reddened instantly.

"Mom, are you okay? I'm scared..."

"You useless host, you almost scared me to death. What if you hurt me!"

"Joanne, were you even watching where you were going?" Derek snapped, his arms tightening around me, his voice thick with lingering fear.

I knew exactly who that fear was for. Not me, never me, but the child he cared about more than anything.

I pressed my hand to my forehead, my eyes filling as I looked up at him.

"Derek, it really hurts," I said, my voice trembling just enough. "And my stomach doesn't feel right either. Can we go to the hospital and get it checked out?"

"Let's go to the clinic where we did the IVF," I added, holding his gaze. "Dr. Warren knows my situation better than anyone."

I had to see him.

He was the only c***k in this entire setup.

On the drive over, I sat in the backseat with Derek on one side and Vanessa on the other, their presence closing in on me from both directions, like I was being escorted somewhere I didn't choose to go.

At the hospital, they stayed glued to me, even inside Peter Warren's office, never giving me a moment alone.

Peter studied my report with a professional calm, then spoke in the same rehearsed tone doctors always used.

"Everything looks good. Both fetuses are developing normally, and one of them is particularly strong."

As he said it, his eyes flicked briefly toward Derek, and the two of them exchanged a subtle look that didn't need words.

"Did you hear that? I'm the strongest one."

"Mom... I... I still have strength..."

My heart sank, heavy and cold.

So he was part of it too.

When it was time for the ultrasound, a nurse asked Derek and Vanessa to wait outside.

I lay back on the cold exam table, staring up at the ceiling for a moment before shifting my gaze to the ultrasound tech beside me. Her face was blank, unreadable, young enough that she couldn't have been out of school for long.

I couldn't let this slip away.

The second she turned to grab the gel, I reached out and caught her wrist.

"Please," I said under my breath, the words rushing out before I could lose my nerve. "You have to help me. Save my baby."

She startled, nearly dropping what she was holding, her eyes widening as she looked at me.

"Miss, try to stay calm," she said quickly, lowering her voice. "If something's wrong, you can tell me."

"One of the babies inside me isn't mine," I said, each word deliberate despite the urgency pressing against my chest. "It belongs to the woman outside. They've planned this. They're trying to kill my child."

She froze, shock spreading across her face, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

"Are you... under a lot of stress?" she asked carefully.

"I'm not imagining this," I insisted, gripping her hand tighter. "Please, you have to believe me. Can you call the police for me? Or just let me use your phone for one minute, that's all I need."

She hesitated, her gaze shifting, her resolve clearly wavering.

Right then, the door to the ultrasound room opened.

Peter stepped inside, wearing that same polished, professional smile.

"Emily, how's it going in here?"

At the sound of his voice, Emily immediately pulled her hand free and lowered her head, avoiding both my eyes and his, as if she didn't dare meet either of our gazes.