Chapter 3
But I was faster–sitting down first, I immediately called for the doctor and nurse.
When Hugh came rushing out, I was already on the floor, clutching my belly in pain and shouting for help, “The fruit is from Isaac–he said you like cherries. Even if you don’t want them, you shouldn’t push me!”
Hugh was extremely traditional and controlling. Although he was often away at sea, he had very high standards for Maria’s purity and didn’t allow her to interact with other men.
When he heard me, he immediately asked, “How does Isaac know Maria likes cherries?”
I feigned innocence. “When you’re not home, Maria always calls Isaac when something comes up. They’re good friends, often eating and hanging out together. Isn’t it normal for friends to know each other’s preferences?”
Hugh looked suspicious, and Maria panicked, grabbing at me. “Laura, stop talking nonsense. Whenever something goes wrong at home, I always call you, not Isaac. We’ve never had any private contact. It’s you who likes cherries, so Isaac just shared some with me!”
In my previous life, Maria had used this same excuse to deceive Hugh.
Back then, I was naive, thinking she was just a woman trying to
Chapter 3
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I struggled violently, shouting at everyone around me, “Maria’s baby is already dead! She’s trying to swap her stillborn for mine!”
Isaac and Maria’s faces changed instantly. But Maria quickly pulled out her phone: “Laura, accusing me like this is slander. I’ll have you arrested!”
She dialed the police, and as she did, she mouthed at me with a vicious smirk. “Go to hell, bitch.”
I laughed. She could call the cops, and I could get backup too.
Before long, the sound of sirens blared from downstairs. The bystanders started pressuring me to apologize. “You cursed someone’s baby, calling it a stillborn—how cruel can you be? Apologize now. Or would you rather be taken away by the police? Who’s going to take care of your kid then?”
The crowd just wanted to smooth things over and move on.
But Maria wasn’t about to let it slide so easily. She pointed at me and shrieked, “An apology isn’t enough. A woman’s reputation is everything I want her to come to my house every day for a month and do all my chores. That’s a real apology!”
Unbelievably, the onlookers actually sided with her. “Come on, isn’t that better than going to jail? You’re not carrying a royal heir or anything. Stop acting so delicate. Just agree to it.”
I let out a cold laugh. “Agree my ass.”
The crowd immediately bristled. “How could you talk like that?”
