The front door finally swung open past midnight. 

I watched as my husband and daughter walked through the door with smiles plastered across their faces. But their smiles weren't meant for me. My younger sister, Jessica, was here too. Both of them had their arm wrapped around hers on either side, gently holding her like she was some precious jewel.

"We should go back again!" My daughter, Kayla, excitedly remarked on bouncy toes as she looked at my sister. "The pizza was so yummy."

"It was, wasn't it?" My sister responded, ruffling Kayla's dark brown hair with a kind smile. "We could also try the dessert next time."

"Oh, good. You're home." My husband's brown eyes met mine, an indifferent look etched onto his face. "Why don't you help your sister run a shower? She had a long day today." 

If it were any other day, I would have relented, I would have kept my mouth shut, and obeyed my husband's command. But today wasn't any other day. When I saw my husband and daughter walk in all smiles with my sister, something broke in me. 

"You missed my birthday."

I had spent the last few hours waiting by the dining table with the dinner I had prepared and the cake I had baked myself. My husband and daughter had promised that they would be back to celebrate this day with me. But I should have known better than to trust their words and empty promises. 

"The two of you left me waiting here alone for hours. Do you know how much time I spent preparing everything? You told me you are going to make it back, and I trusted you." 

A loud groan left my husband's lips as he ran a hand down his face. "Of course, you had to bring this up and ruin the mood," he sneered, irritation oozing from his tone. "It's just a birthday. We can celebrate it another day if you want. Is it really that important? Can't you be more understanding? We had more important things to do."

I didn't even have the chance to speak when my daughter chimed in, her brown eyes met mine. "Exactly, mommy. Auntie Jessica needed us today," she added, still clinging to my sister's arm.

Hot tears stung my eyes. He had said the same thing last year too, and now even my daughter was agreeing with him. My birthday was never important in his eyes. 

I was never important. 

For the last seven years of my marriage, I gave it my all and made the best of a horrible situation. But he never loved me.

"Lucas," my sister's honey-laden voice and demure smile immediately softened the look in my husband's eyes. My eyes were fused to her well-manicured fingers, curling around his forearm. "Don't be so harsh on Evelyn. She must be upset and disappointed that you and Kayla missed her birthday. You should make it up to her." 

She paused, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile; her bright green eyes met my gaze. 

"I hope you don't blame them, Evelyn. It's my fault that they missed your birthday. If I hadn't called Lucas for help, then this wouldn't have happened. And I know it's a little late, but happy birthday, little sister."

I nodded, wiping the tears away with the back of my hand. "Thank you, Jess," I muttered under my breath, mustering a smile when Lucas tossed something in my direction. 

It landed on the floor in front of me with a soft thud. I looked down to see a small plush blue box by my feet. 

"That's for you," Lucas' cold voice reached my ears. "Your birthday gift." 

Despite the steel in his voice, I couldn't help but feel hope blossom in my chest. Maybe he didn't hate me completely. After all, he still remembered my birthday. I picked up the velvety box and opened it with careful fingers, afraid of accidentally damaging it. 

Inside, a glittering silver bracelet greeted me, my eyes drawn to the single rose pendant dangling from it. 

"Lucas and Kayla specially picked it out for you," Jessica explained. "Isn't it pretty?" 

Yes, thank you. That was what I was going to say, but something caught my attention, and the words died on the tip of my tongue. I didn't notice it earlier, but my sister was wearing a dazzling diamond necklace. My bracelet was nothing compared to hers. It was like a rock next to pure solid gold. 

She must have noticed me staring as she spoke up, her fingers gently touching it. "Oh, this is just a gift. I—"

"Daddy and I got this pretty necklace for auntie Jessica! They even gave us a free rose bracelet!" Kayla happily blurted out, blissfully unaware of the tension thickening the air. 

It clicked in my head as I looked down at the bracelet in my hand. 

"You gave me a free gift?" I asked, hurt slipping through the crack of my voice. And here I was, stupidly thinking that something had changed. 

I had naively thought that Lucas would feel guilty or ashamed when he saw the disappointment and hurt on my face, but he only looked at me with the same arrogant look. "What? Are you too good for a free gift?"

"What if I wanted a diamond necklace too? Why does my sister get a diamond necklace while I am stuck with a tiny bracelet? Don't I deserve something nice as well?"

He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Why should you get a diamond necklace? You are just a housewife who stays at home all day. All you do is a few chores, is it so hard?" 

The box I was once holding fell onto the floor as I stumbled back upon hearing his harsh words. I let out a breath, and a stray tear fell from the brim of my eye. 

"How—how could you? I did everything for you. I even gave up my career to take care of Kayla because of her heart condition, and this is how you repay me?"

Before I was married to Lucas, I was a revered surgeon. I could perform some of the most complicated surgeries without making a single error. Patients from all around the world would ask for my help to save their friends and loved ones. But after I had Kayla, everything changed. 

I couldn't bear the thought of my daughter growing up lonely, I wanted to be there for her every step of the way. 

"I didn't tell you to quit your job, you did it willingly. Plus, it's your job as her mother to take care of her. What are you complaining about?" Lucas closed the gap between us and grabbed onto my wrist, his nails digging into my skin without a care.

"You are hurting me," I mumbled, but he didn't budge. Instead, his grip tightened. 

He leaned in to whisper into my ear. "Besides, you should be grateful that I even got you anything after what you did. Did you really think you could drug me and get away with it?"

For the past seven years, Lucas had always believed that I was the one who drugged him to sleep with him and ruined his engagement with my younger sister out of jealousy for her. When the news first broke out, it was huge, everyone knew, and rumours spread like wildfire. After finding out I was pregnant, I was forced to end my own relationship and marry Lucas. 

I struggled against his clutch. "I didn't drug you. It wasn't me! Why won't you believe me?" 

"Like I would ever believe a word you say. What can I say? Your little plan didn't work. I will never love you, Evelyn Hart." He finally released his grip on me, my arm falling roughly back to my side. "Now, why don't you make yourself useful and do something? Hmm?" 

My heart was thudding against my chest, my breathing loud. I didn't know when, but my sister was now by my side, her hands wrapped around me.

"Lucas!" She chided. "Evelyn is already upset. Why can't you just comfort her for once?" 

"You see this, do you see how mature and nice Jessica is?" His eyes left mine to meet hers. "I don't get why you are being so nice to her after everything. She's the reason why our engagement was ruined. She's the reason why I cannot be with you." 

Jessica let out a breath. "It's all in the past. I…" her voice trailed off as her knees buckled under her weight. I watched as Lucas rushed over to her side. His features were a mask of concern as he held her in his arms, looking at her the way he never did with me. "Are you okay? I'm taking you to the hospital." 

She nodded, giving him a faint smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I think I'm just tired."

My daughter rushed over too, her tiny brows furrowed, worry swirling in her dark brown eyes. "Is auntie Jessica okay? Will the baby be okay?" 

Silence descended upon us.

"Baby…?" 

...

To say I was shocked was an understatement. My eyes snapped to my sister's. "Jess, you're pregnant?" She pressed her lips into a tight line and nodded. I lowered my voice into a hushed whisper. "Who's the father?"

She averted her gaze, lowering her head as she mumbled the words. "It's this guy I had been seeing." Jessica had been going on dates with different men for the last couple of months, but that was as far as I knew. "He…he doesn't want anything to do with the baby." 

Tears spilled from her eyes as she sobbed silently into her hands, her shoulders shaking with each breath, while my husband comforted her with gentle pats on her back. She might have been my step-sister, and we weren't exactly the closest, but my heart still ached for her. I made my way over to her side, holding her hands in mine.

She lifted her head, looking back at me with glassy eyes. I reached up, wiping the tears off her pale cheeks. "He's not worth your tears. If you need anything, I'll be here to help you."

"Really? You don't have to…"

"You are my sister, of course, I have to," I assured, a smile touching my lips. 

"I'm so glad you feel that way, Evelyn."

It was my husband who had spoken up this time. 

"Since Jessica is pregnant, she needs someone to take care of her and attend to her needs around the clock. Since you have nothing to do at home, you can be the one to help her. She will be moving in for the time being, just until she gives birth."

I stared back at him in shock, his words taking me by surprise. I was all for helping my sister, but I had not expected that my husband would want her to move in with us. "What? But I—"

He arched a brow, a cocky grin on his face. "Didn't you say that if she needs anything, you'll be here to help? Well, here it is." He paused. "You know what? Why am I even telling you this? I'm the head of this household, I get to call the shots. Jessica is moving in with us, whether you like it or not."

Kayla, who had been quietly observing this whole time, was now tugging on my arm. "Please, mommy…I want auntie Jessica to move in with us. I can finally have a little sister or brother to play with!" 

I didn't correct her when she said sister or brother. I only looked down at my daughter's chubby, pleading face, the look on her face tugging at my heartstrings.

I knew how much Kayla wanted a little sibling, and how lonely she had been all this while. I wanted to give her a sibling too, but after the traumatic birth when I had Kayla, the doctors said there was a high possibility that I could never have kids again. It shattered my heart. 

Perhaps it was guilt or something else entirely, but I found myself nodding in agreement. "Okay, darling."

"Yay!" I watched as my daughter cheered, grinning from ear to ear as she ran over to hug my younger sister. 

Lucas looked over at Kayla, a warm smile on his lips. "Kayla dear, why don't you help auntie Jessica get her luggage from the car?" 

"Okay, daddy!" She chirped and disappeared into the garage holding Jessica's hand, leaving just Lucas and me alone. 

He fixed his cold stare on me. "At least you are sensible enough not to pick another fight again," He commented before he too joined the both of them. 

And suddenly, I was all alone in this huge house. 

***

I was getting ready for bed when a loud knock on the door startled me. 

I whipped my head around instantly, looking at the door that flew open. What greeted me was my husband, standing by the doorway with the same cold look on his face. 

"Get out."

I frowned, puzzled by his demand. "What? This is my room."

Ever since the day I found out I was pregnant with Kayla and was forced to break up my own relationship to marry Lucas, we had been sleeping in separate rooms. Over time, I grew used to sleeping alone, in fact, I liked being alone sometimes. This room was my safe space of some sort. 

But now, Lucas was here demanding that I get out for whatever reason. 

"Not anymore," his voice came, slicing through the tension lingering in the cool air. "You are moving to the spare guest room."

"Why? The guest room has not been used in years, it's all dirty and dusty."

"Do I look like a give a fuck, Evelyn? Pack up your things and move. Jessica will be using this room for the time being. Your room gets a better view and sunlight, which is good for the baby."

Oh, so that's why. I should have known, it was always for Jessica. 

"I am not moving," I insisted through gritted teeth, keeping my voice steady and my eyes trained on his. 

Before I knew it, he was already stalking towards me. His fingers reached for my arms, roughly yanking me off the bed as I struggled to shake him off. 

"What do you think you are doing!" I squealed, but my words fell on deaf ears. He only continued to drag me out without another word until I was out of the door. 

I watched as the door slammed shut in front of my eyes. When I reached for the knob, rattling it only to find that he had already locked it from the inside. 

"Open the door, Lucas!" I yelled, but all I could hear was the shuffling and shifting of things. 

When the door finally flew open again for the second time tonight, all my things were haphazardly stuffed into two bags and tossed onto the ground. "Now take your things and go."

I opened my mouth to fight back, but my daughter's voice reached my ears. 

"Mommy? Daddy? What's going on?" She asked, already dressed in her pyjamas, as she rubbed her tired eyes groggily. 

The indignant in me sputtered a little as I forced my lips into a smile, blinking back unshed tears. I didn't want to fight in front of my daughter again. "It's nothing, sweetheart. It's late, let's go to bed," I urged, guiding her back to her bedroom without looking back at Lucas again.

I spent the night tidying up the spare bedroom instead of sleeping. After all, I couldn't fall asleep with those thoughts keeping me up the entire time. It took me over an hour to get the room to a somewhat decent state, a place where I can actually rest and sleep. Feeling thirsty, I tiptoed out to the kitchen to get myself a glass of warm water when something caught my attention. 

Light spilled from a tiny crack in the door, hushed voices echoing from within. It was coming from my room—the room that was supposed to be mine. It seemed like my sister might be on the phone with someone, not wanting to pry, I moved to walk away when I heard another familiar voice.

I recognised that voice in a split second. Lucas.

What was he doing in Jessica's room?

I tried not to overthink it, but curiosity burned in my chest, and I found myself creeping over closer to the door that was left ajar. 

"Don't worry about it. She won't find out, I promise. How else am I supposed to take care of you and the baby? I need to know that you are in good hands," my husband's voice was low and gentle. 

"I don't know about this, Lucas…are you sure this is a good idea? What if she finds out that the baby is yours?"

...

The world stopped spinning entirely. 

I had to slap my hand over my mouth to stop the gasp from escaping. I stopped listening by then. Slowly, I backed away from the door, my heart still pounding in my chest so loud that I could hear it in my ears. Betrayal seeped into my bones, gradually eating me from the inside out. 

No. No. No!

I knew Lucas never loved me, and I could live with that fact. But I didn't think that he would go behind my back and do something so…so disgusting. Sleeping with my sister? I didn't want to believe it, I couldn't believe it. I would have never done something like this to him. As much as I hated this marriage, I would have never betrayed him. 

Heat crept up my neck as the bitterness in me transformed into something else much bigger. Anger began to spread inside of me like a wildfire I couldn't seem to control. All I wanted was to push open the door and confront them right this second. But just as I was about to make a move, something held me back. 

My daughter's face flashed past in my mind, and I halted my steps. My nails dug crescent moons into my palms as I stared at the door inches away from me. 

No. For the sake of Kayla. 

Call me stupid, but I didn't want to ruin this god-forsaken marriage, all because I didn't want Kayla to grow up in a broken family as I did. I knew how it felt, and I would never want my daughter to experience the same thing as I did growing up. And knowing Lucas, he would do everything in his power to take my daughter away from me. 

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I backed away and headed straight to the spare bedroom. 

I woke up early the next morning like every other day, preparing breakfast as though everything was normal. 

I set the table nicely, an extra set of plates and cutlery for my sister as well. There was cold milk in a jar, freshly baked sourdough bread, chopped fruits, eggs, and glazed honey ham slices arranged neatly. 

I was just about to head upstairs to wake Kayla up when I saw the three of them slowly making their way down the stairs, carefully holding onto my sister's arms. They were all already dressed and ready to leave. 

"Good morning, sister," Jessica was the first to greet me, and I fought back the urge to utter a snide remark as I glanced at the diamond necklace on her neck. 

Instead, I mustered a smile, giving her a perfunctory nod. "Good morning, Jessica." I turned to look at my husband and daughter this time. "Where are y'all heading to?"

"I'm taking Kayla out for breakfast," my husband answered without even casting a look my way. 

An incredulous chuckle slipped past my lips. "I already made breakfast. Go out another day."

I watched as my daughter ran over to my side. For a split second, hope rose in my chest, but the smile that appeared on my lips disappeared just as quickly when she shoved at me. "I don't want to eat your stupid breakfast! I want McDonald's!"

"I'm sorry, Evelyn," Jessica apologized, but it was only today that I noticed the smugness in his eyes. "I promised Kayla that I would take her out for her favourite McDonald's breakfast. She had been wanting to eat the hash brown for the longest time. Isn't that right, Kayla?" She asked, and my daughter nodded.

Lucas' eyes finally met mine. "Why are you being difficult? Just pack it up for tomorrow or something. Can't you see that Kayla is sick of your breakfast?"

"Yeah, mommy." My daughter crossed her tiny arms over her chest with a pout on her lips. "Why can't you be like auntie Jessica? She's a better mommy than you!"

A breath left my lips as my eyes darted between the three of them. "Fine. Go, go have your breakfast." I plopped down onto one of the chairs and started eating as my daughter's cheers echoed behind me, then the door clicked shut. 

It was only when I was all alone that I let the tears come streaming down my face. 

***

I spent the next hour or so cleaning, trying to distract myself from the words that had plagued my mind since last night. 

What if she finds out that the baby is yours?

The baby.

Lucas cheated on me with my sister. 

A shrill ring of my phone sliced through my thoughts. I looked over at my brightly lit phone to see that it was Lucas who was calling. 

"Hello?"

My husband's panicked voice came from the other end of the line. "Come over to the mall right now with Kayla's medicine. Her condition is flaring up again."

He had barely finished his sentence when I already grabbed everything Kayla needed and rushed down to the mall. I bolted past the crowd to get to McDonald's, only to see the three of them happily eating their food without a care in the world. 

Kayla looked perfectly fine.

"What? What's going on?" I rushed over to my daughter's side. "Kayla, are you feeling okay?" I asked, but she only looked at me as though I had grown a second head. 

"Yeah, mommy," she merely muttered before turning her attention back to the phone in her hands, engrossed in some mobile game.

What the hell?

"You made it just in time," Lucas said this time. "I lied, I know that was the best way to get you here as quickly as possible," he explained when he saw the puzzled look on my face. 

"You!" I sneered. "What do you want?"

"Come on, let's go. It's shopping time, Lucas announced before turning back to grab my arm. There was a smug look on his face when he looked at me. "You too. We need your help with the bags and…stuff."

For my daughter's sake, I didn't want to make a fuss in front of everyone else here. So, I pressed my lips into a thin line and let him pull me along. 

The first stop was a maternity wear shop. 

Turned out Lucas was the one who insisted on bringing my sister out to shop this weekend. 

"Are you sure about this? I don't think I will look good in these maternity clothes," Jessica mumbled coyly, her cheeks flushed pink. 

"Don't say that. You will look good in anything," Lucas was quick to assure her, even reaching out to tuck a piece of stray golden blonde hair behind her ear. "You will be the best mother and the most beautiful pregnant woman to ever exist."

It hurt to hear, but I didn't let it show. Instead, I watched quietly as my husband and daughter enthusiastically went around the shop, browsing rows upon rows of clothes, hand-picking each item carefully for my younger sister. 

When it was time to pay, of course, my husband eagerly offered to pay for everything. After all, he was the CEO of Smith Enterprise, money was never an issue for a man like him. 

There was a second stop, a third stop, and even a fourth, all meant to prepare for the arrival of the baby. 

Their baby. 

I didn't know exactly how much time had passed, but only that every minute felt like an eternity, like I was stuck in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Relief flooded me as we were finally heading towards the parking lot. I dragged my feet behind them, lugging multiple shopping bags in my hands.

The three of them were happily walking and chatting ahead of me. But in the next moment, the chatters died, and they froze only a few steps in front of me. 

And all I could see was the gun in the man's hands, pointing right at us. 

"Don't move."