Devil in the Womb

My baby's voice slithered through my mind like a curse, dragging me back to the nightmare of my past life.

Back then, Julie had just severed ties with me. I spent my days drowning in tears, unable to eat or sleep.

Sean, worried for both me and the baby, kept urging me to take care of myself. But it was during that very time, the baby inside me chose to speak again. And this time, he let Sean hear him.

One moment, Sean's eyes were full of tenderness. Next, he was yanking me by the arm, dragging me to the hospital.

I thought he was afraid something had gone wrong with the baby, so I cooperated obediently with every test and examination. It wasn't until the day we received the paternity results that I realized… he suspected the child in my womb wasn't his.

Impossible. I had never once betrayed him.

Yet the report claimed my second child and Sean shared no biological connection.

That was the day Sean chose to believe the baby's voice instead of me.

And now, in this life, it was happening again. Sean's expression grew tight and still as he listened to the voice I could also hear.

"I'm so pitiful! I haven't even met my real dad yet! He's young and handsome—the most handsome guy at the bar. Way better than this gullible fool! Mom, didn't you say once I'm born, you'll divorce Sean and take me to meet my real dad?"

My blood ran cold.

I had no idea who this so-called "handsome guy from the bar" even was. I'd never set foot in a bar my entire life.

But Sean's face darkened by the second, his eyes clouded with suspicion.

"You're so desperate to abort this baby…" he said. "Could it be because—"

"This baby is yours," I cut him off before he could finish. "If you don't believe me, we'll do a paternity test right now!"

He blinked, startled by how firm I sounded. The tension in his brows eased a little.

"Honey, it's not that I don't believe you. I just—"

Before he could finish, Ashley jumped in with a bright smile, trying to smooth things over.

"Oh, come on, you two. It's just a paternity test. I can handle it for you. We'll get the results in four hours, tops!"

I let out a cold laugh and looked her straight in the eye.

"Thanks, Ashley. But I'd prefer to do it at another hospital."

"No!" A flicker of panic crossed her face. "I mean… why bother? I'm a doctor and your best friend! Why go to all that trouble? Don't tell me you don't trust me?"

Trust her?

I didn't dare.

After all, in my previous life, she was the one who "helped" me with the paternity test and the one who branded me a cheating wife, ruined my marriage, and left me with nothing.

And when I was driven out of my home in disgrace, Ashley used my baby's manipulative little "truths" to take my place and marry Sean herself.

She'd gained everything from my downfall. How could I possibly believe she and this baby weren't connected?

So I feigned righteous sincerity and turned to Sean.

"A paternity test is a serious matter. Ashley may be my best friend, but shouldn't we make sure the results are absolutely accurate? Can you really feel at ease letting her handle it?"

He hesitated, clearly wavering.

Just then, the baby's gleeful little voice echoed once more, "Mommy, you're so clever! That fool would never guess you've already bribed the doctors. No matter which hospital you go to, the report will say I'm his biological son!"