Chapter 1
At twelve weeks pregnant, I started hemorrhaging out of nowhere and got rushed to the ER in the middle of the night.
When I came to, a strange woman was sitting by my bed.
She saw my eyes open and said flatly, "The heartbeat's still there. The baby's fine."
My hand went straight to my belly, and I asked, my voice all scratchy, "Where's Oliver?"
"Paying the bill."
I looked at her. "And who are you?"
She glanced at my stomach. "I'm Oliver's wife."
My ears started ringing.
Three years ago, he'd told me he wasn't engaged. Two months ago, when we found out I was pregnant, he'd held me and said we'd get married once the baby came.
The door swung open. Oliver walked in holding the receipt.
I locked eyes on him. "Is she telling the truth?"
Oliver came over in a hurry and put his hands on my shoulders. "Take it easy. It's not good for the baby."
The woman looked at my belly.
"Oliver and I have been married four years. I've got a bad heart. I can't have kids. So this baby, we've been waiting a long time for it."
I stared at Oliver, my voice shaking no matter how hard I tried to hold it steady. "Then what am I?"
Oliver tucked the blanket around me. "Just focus on having the baby. I'll make sure you get your money and the house."
I raised my hand and slapped him across the face as hard as I could.
He turned his head back, and he actually smiled.
"Your mom didn't have a ring on her finger when she had you either, did she?"
I went completely still.
Oliver leaned down to look me in the eye. "Hasn't your mom ever told you why I came to you of all people?"
I stared at Oliver, frozen. "What do you mean?"
He didn't answer. Instead, the woman by the bed stood up.
She was very thin. On her left ring finger, she wore a simple wedding band.
It matched the one Oliver always wore around his neck.
For three years, I'd asked him about it more times than I could count. He always said it was an old keepsake his mother had left him.
She offered her hand. I didn't move, and she didn't seem to care.
"I'm Grace Hart. By blood, you should be calling me sister."
Something exploded in my head.
"You're lying."
Grace looked at Oliver.
"You haven't told her yet? At this point, what's the point of hiding it? Emma, your mother was with my father when she was young. You're my half sister."
I shot up in bed, a sharp pain tearing through my belly. "That's impossible!"
Oliver reached out to steady me. "Easy, take it easy."
I grabbed the water glass off the nightstand and hurled it at him. "Get away from me!"
He didn't dodge. The glass hit his brow bone, and blood started trickling down. "You done? If not, keep going."
My whole body was shaking. "So three years ago, when you came after me..."
The room went quiet for a few seconds. Then Oliver finally spoke. "Yeah, I did it on purpose."
Those words cut through me like a knife.
Three years ago, on a rainy day, I'd run into Oliver outside a convenience store.
He'd shoved his umbrella into my hands and walked off into the rain. The next time we met was at a company event.
After that, he'd pursued me for seven whole months. He remembered I didn't like parsley.
He knew I got stomachaches when I was nervous.
He'd fly back overnight just to spend my birthday with me, even after working for hours.
I'd counted myself lucky so many times, thinking I'd finally found someone good.
Turns out, every coincidence had been written in advance.
Grace pressed a hand to her chest. "I had my first heart surgery when I was twelve. I've been on meds ever since. The doctors told me years ago I couldn't carry a child. I don't have any viable eggs either. But both the Bennett and Hart families wanted an heir. And lucky for us, you're my sister. Your baby carries Hart blood too."
I turned to Oliver. "So you picked me?"
His Adam's apple bobbed. "At first, yeah."
Tears started falling before I could stop them. "And after that?"
He looked up. "After that, I fell in love with you."
I laughed, but the tears kept coming.
"You love me? Oliver, you had a wife. You lied to me for three years. You got me pregnant. And now you're telling me you love me?"
He reached out to wipe my tears, but I turned my face away. "Don't you ever touch me!"
His hand stopped in midair.
"Emma, I was wrong to lie to you. You can punish me however you want. But keep the baby."
I whipped my head toward him. "Why?"
His voice dropped low. "Because I won't let you hurt yourself out of spite. You are mine. And your baby? Mine."
I stared at him for two seconds. "Fine. Then I'll go get rid of your baby right now."
Before my feet could even touch the floor, Oliver bent down and scooped me back onto the bed.
I kicked and fought with everything I had. "Let go! Oliver, let me go!"
He let me scratch at his neck, just held me tight. "Emma! If you hate me, take it out on me! Don't hurt the baby!"
I sank my teeth into his shoulder. He didn't let go, just rubbed my back gently and shushed me.
"Emma, please don't cry. You just had a bleed. Please, just get your strength back first."
I was crying so hard I could barely breathe. "Oliver... how could you do this to me?"
Grace had been watching us quietly the whole time. Then she smiled. "Emma, don't hate him. I was the one who sent him your photo. And I was also the one who told him to go after you."
