Chapter 8
“How could you possibly be pregnant?” Starla snarled, pointing a trembling finger
at me.
I rubbed my stomach casually.
“Samuel and I are already married. We’ve had the wedding; we’re just waiting on the paperwork. What’s so unusual about being pregnant? But you- why are you reacting like this? You‘ re acting more shocked than I am.”
I narrowed my eyes at Starla, my gaze sharp and probing, which made Samuel start sweating nervously.
“Cass, you’re overthinking it. Starla didn’t mean it like that. She’s just really happy for you,” Samuel quickly intervened, sitting down next to me.
“We should still get a checkup tomorrow, just to confirm. If you are pregnant, it‘ ll be a cause for celebration,” he added,
trying to soothe me.
Starla‘ s temper was clearly reaching its boiling point.
“Samuel…”
She gritted her teeth as she shouted, as if the moment Samuel was truly happy, she would spill everything.
I couldn’t help but let out a light laugh.
“Look at you two, so panicked. I’m not pregnant. It’s just that I’ve been feeling unwell and my period is a bit off,” I said.
Upon hearing this, both of them simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.
Although it was supposedly Starla’s
100
birthday, it was Samuel who spent most of the time in the kitchen, busily preparing
everything.
Starla looked at me with a smug expression.
“Cass, you‘ re so lucky to have found
such a great husband like Sammy,” she said.
I said nothing in response.
During dinner, Starla extended her hand toward me with an expectant look.
“Aren’t you going to give me my birthday gift?” she asked.
I looked at Starla, who acted as if it was her right to ask for it and shook my head.
“There’s been so much going on lately, I completely forgot. I’ll make it up to you next time,” I said.
Starla froze for a moment, then her face twisted with anger.
“What do you mean, Cassey? You come here to celebrate my birthday and you didn’t even bring me a gift?” she snapped.
In the past, I always went out of my way to get her the perfect birthday gift—
sometimes an expensive designer handbag,
other times a luxury bracelet. The price tag was never less than five figures.
It seemed she had gotten so used to expecting these things that she truly thought of herself as the rightful recipient.
“You’ve taken so many things from me before. This one time I didn’t bring you anything and you‘ re ready to turn on me?” I said, giving Starla a cold snort.
Samuel quickly stepped in to diffuse the
situation.
“Don’t be upset. Didn’t I get you a birthday gift? Hurry up and see if you like it,” Samuel said, pulling out a Van Cleef & Arpels box. The moment Starla saw it, her eyes lit up with excitement.
“Is it the bracelet I love?” she asked
eagerly.
I looked at the familiar box and couldn’t
help but let out a cold laugh. If I remembered correctly, this was the bracelet I had left gathering dust in my
jewelry cabinet. The last time I wore it, I accidentally spilled ink on it while painting.
No wonder Starla always seemed to be draped in luxury goods–it turns out she was just taking everything from me.
Starla was about to open the gift box when suddenly, her face drained of color. She doubled over, clutching her stomach, crying out in pain.
“Sammy, my stomach hurts so much! My stomach…” she moaned, her voice filled
with distress.
Samuel immediately panicked, hastily supporting her as she trembled in pain.
Starla was sweating profusely from the pain.
“My baby, Sammy, will my baby be okay? Please, help me, my stomach hurts so much.”
As she spoke, she looked down at herself
and froze in place.
A streak of blood slowly trickled down her
thigh.
