Chapter 5

What I didn't expect was that three months later, Victoria actually got pregnant!

When I heard the news, I was stunned. I immediately messaged the seller who'd sold me the drug, asking what was going on.

The reply came: "That's absolutely impossible. This isn't some ordinary fertility suppressant. If a man takes too much of this, he'll become..."

The rest of the message made me laugh—and confirmed one thing.

My father definitely couldn't get anyone pregnant anymore.

So whose baby was Victoria carrying?

My father was overjoyed at becoming a father again in his later years.

Not only did he have the master bedroom completely redecorated to Victoria's taste, he even insisted that Megan move into my room.

"Victoria said Megan gets scared sleeping alone. Let her stay with you."

Victoria stroked her still-flat belly and shot me a triumphant smile.

"Emma, you don't mind, do you?"

I smiled right back at her: "Of course not. Once you give birth to my little brother, we'll all be one big happy family."

Seeing us getting along so well, my father beamed with joy and announced that the whole family would go out for dinner that night.

When I got back to my room, Megan was standing in front of the mirror, trying on a pair of my wine-red stilettos.

When she saw me come in, she grinned: "Such pretty shoes. I'm just trying them on. You don't mind, do you?"

Those were a gift from my mother for my eighteenth birthday. The last gift she ever gave me.

I couldn't even bring myself to wear them.

I couldn't take it anymore. My face went cold: "Take them off. Now."

Megan sneered: "Dropping the act now that your dad's not around?"

Then she kicked her foot hard against the full-length mirror. The delicate heel snapped clean off, and the glass shattered with a deafening crash.

I stood frozen as hurried footsteps thundered up the stairs behind me.

Victoria came up clinging to my father's arm. She covered her mouth, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

"Megan! What happened to your leg? There's blood everywhere! Does it hurt?"

Megan clutched her bleeding shin, crying: "I'm sorry, Emma. I shouldn't have tried on your shoes. Please don't blame Mom."

The broken heel lay discarded on the floor—it looked exactly like I'd thrown the shoe in a fit of rage.

My father frowned, disappointment written all over his face: "Emma, I actually thought you'd grown up a little. Turns out you're two-faced!"

I instinctively tried to explain: "She's the one who—"

But my father cut me off, raising his voice: "Enough! You always have excuses! I think you just don't want this family to be happy!"

I shut my mouth.

My father made a phone call, then pointed at my closet: "Pack your things. You're an adult now—move out."

"I've already arranged a place for you. Don't come back unless it's absolutely necessary. Victoria needs to rest. She can't be stressed."

I nodded: "Fine. I'll go. But I'm taking one thing with me."