Chapter 120th IVF finally worked. My husband's buddy called in French.
"Stupid bitch, no idea your marriage certificate's FAKE."
"Just a surrogate—carrying her most hated stepsister's baby."
Damon pulled me closer. Smirked.
"She called Natalie a mistress's kid."
"So I made her one for LIFE. Her punishment."
"Pretty wild in bed though—free pussy, you know."
I covered my mouth so I wouldn't scream.
He didn't know I spoke French.
And three days ago, the doctor said they screwed up—this IVF FAILED.
Punishment?
Your turn now, asshole.
...
Tears hit my hands. Burned like hell.
But nothing compared to my chest.
I got up. Locked myself in the bathroom.
Unblocked Natalie.
Since "marrying" Damon and leaving the Ashford estate, I'd never checked her feed once.
She had two pinned posts.
First one: Natalie and Damon, fingers locked, kissing in a flower field.
Caption: "99 days with crush."
Date: May 20, 2020—the day before our wedding.
Second post: A marriage certificate.
Caption: "Real couples don't need ceremonies. Love is enough."
I zoomed in.
The certificate showed Natalie and Damon—smiling, leaning into each other.
Comments full of congratulations.
I stared at those familiar profile pictures
My hand started shaking.
Some of them even came to my wedding—Damon's friends. Natalie's cousin.
My eyes landed on the last comment.
Someone asked Natalie.
"Aren't you worried your sister will see this? She'll be crushed."
Natalie replied: "Relax. She hates me."
"She's definitely blocked me. No way she'll see it."
That profile picture.
My dad.
He'd liked it too.
My legs gave out. Phone slammed into the floor.
Hurried footsteps outside.
Through the frosted glass, I saw Damon's blurry shape.
"Babe? You okay? Need help?"
"Did you slip? Floor's wet—let me help you out."
I picked up my phone.
"I'm fine."
"Go to sleep. Just washed my hands. Phone slipped."
How could he do this to me?
Years ago, Dad married Mom.
But when he filed the marriage license, he put Natalie's mom's name instead.
When I turned eighteen, Evelyn and Natalie showed up.
Suddenly, Mom was the mistress.
I was the mistress's daughter.
Dad told Mom: "I raised you for eighteen years. Why can't you just let it go?"
Mom couldn't let it go.
She got sick.
Overnight, everyone who used to kiss our asses disappeared.
Everyone except Damon, my childhood sweetheart, stayed.
He knelt by Mom's hospital bed. Swore he'd protect me forever.
When he proposed, he cried. "Thank you for saying yes!"
But later, he told his friend:
"Sure, I can't make her my legal wife."
"But I'll keep her as my mistress. For life."
I'd promised myself I'd love him right.
I thought this time would be different from my parents.
Turns out it wasn't.
I wiped my phone dry.
Opened a text thread I hadn't touched in years.
"Grandpa, I've made up my mind—I want a divorce."
"I'm bringing Mom's ashes back to France and claim my inheritance."
His reply came fast.
"Good. About time. I always said that boy was never worthy of you."
"I'll come get you myself in seven days."
I closed my eyes.
Then texted my lawyer.
"Sell all my shares and properties. I need the cash within this week."
"Also, l'm suing Damon for marriage fraud."
Lawyer replied: "Got it."
I turned off the bathroom light. Climbed back into bed.
Damon curled up next to me. Pulled his hand over my still-flat stomach.
"Babe, if something's wrong, tell me."
"I'm always here. You don't have to be strong. You can trust me. Lean on me."
I turned over.
"Okay."
"I know."
Damon, I already know what trusting you costs.
I'll never trust you again.
Chapter 2
Next morning, I dragged myself to the hospital for a follow-up.
The doctor flipped through my file. His frown got deeper.
"Miss Ashford, your body... it's been completely destroyed."
My fingertips went ice-cold.
"After your previous successful IVF, your partner repeatedly chose to terminate them."
"Your womb has completely shut down..."
"This has also caused severe damage to your overall health."
Everything went silent.
All those details I'd ignored came flooding back.
Twenty IVF cycles. Three years.
Both of us were healthy, but we never succeeded.
It wasn't bad luck.
Turns out I had gotten pregnant. Multiple times.
Damon had terminated every single one.
I stumbled out of the clinic, leaning against the wall.
Sunlight was blinding, but couldn't touch the ice in my chest.
On the way out, I opened Natalie's Instagram.
Latest post: A crystal-clear paternity test report.
Caption dripping with pride:
"After all this struggle, I'm finally pregnant. Can't wait to meet our little man."
Date: One month before my twentieth IVF cycle.
I got it now.
Damon hadn't been avoiding IVF with me because he didn't want kids.
He wanted Natalie's kid.
He wanted Natalie's child to be the heir to the Blackwell fortune.
He wanted me infertile. Childless.
Raising someone else's baby for the rest of my life.
Natalie was even crueler than her mother, Evelyn.
Tears pooled in my eyes. Didn't fall.
I remembered Mom's last days. She was so thin. Just skin and bones.
Damon had held her hand. Promised:
"I'll protect Kira. I'll stay with her forever."
Only then did Mom close her eyes.
But Damon—in the end, even you bullied me.
When I got back to the villa, I walked straight to the nursery I'd decorated myself.
The second I opened the door, my blood froze.
The room I'd filled with pink plushies and pastel colors for my daughter—GONE.
Destroyed. Replaced.
Toys were now cars and airplanes.
Pink walls painted deep ocean blue.
I remembered Natalie's post. "Our little man."
Baby wasn't even born yet. Damon had already prepared the room.
I heard footsteps behind me. Damon came up from downstairs.
When he saw me standing in the doorway, panic flashed across his face.
"Babe, I just thought—what if it's a boy?"
" Wanted to have both options ready, you know? Just in case."
"This way, no matter the gender, they'll have their own room."
He smiled. Like he was sure I'd cave—the way Mom forgave Dad.
But I didn't call him out.
He expected me to ask who he really loved.
Instead, I looked at him for a long moment.
Then stepped past him without a word.
"Fine."
Damon froze. Clearly wasn't expecting that.
He opened his mouth.
I was already walking back to the bedroom.
Closed the door. Phone buzzed.
Message from my lawyer.
"Miss Ashford, 10% of Blackwell Group shares have been sold."
"Evidence for the forged marriage certificate is compiled."
"We're ready to file whenever you say."
I stared at the screen. Fingers trembling.
Chapter 3
Three days later. My last hospital follow-up.
For the first time ever, Damon insisted on driving me himself.
But twenty minutes in, the car pulled into the Ashford estate instead.
Damon parked and turned to me.
"Babe, we're here."
I looked out the window, voice flat. "This isn't the hospital."
"We can reschedule the check-up."
He grabbed my hand. Tone firm. Almost commanding.
"Today's the family reunion dinner."
"We're all family. Time to let the past go."
"You're still part of this family. Can't avoid them forever."
Family?
My chest tightened.
When Natalie first moved into our house, she stole my room. Threw the bracelet Mom left me into the toilet.
Everyone told me to "be generous."
Except Damon.
Back then, he stood beside me. Held my hand tight.
His eyes were cold as ice.
"Touch Kira's things again. I dare you."
Later, when we got together, he gave me back everything I'd lost—doubled.
"Kira, if your family doesn't love you, I will."
"If you don't want to go back, we never have to."
Now my chest ached like I'd been stabbed.
I looked at him. Voice barely a whisper.
"I'm not going."
"Don't you remember? Mom and I were already kicked out of the Ashford.
"We're NOT family. We don't have inheritance rights."
Damon frowned slightly.
The warmth drained from his face.
"Kira, stop being childish."
"You're about to be a mother. Grow up. Stop holding grudges."
I stared at him like I was looking at a stranger.
The man who once shielded me from everything was now telling me to face the people who destroyed Mom and me.
Disappointment crashed over me.
Finally, I nodded.
"Fine. Let's go."
I didn't have the energy to fight anymore.
The second we stepped inside, every pair of eyes turned to me—judging, mocking, sneering.
Natalie stood there in a sleek gown.
Her gaze flicked to my flat stomach, eyes full of triumph.
"Oh, sis. You actually came."
"Thought you'd rather die than step foot in this house again."
He straightened up and lifted an ultrasound with pride.
"Guess what, sis? My husband got me pregnant too."
"And it's a boy. The Ashford family finally has an heir!"
I didn't react. Just watched as people swarmed toward her.
Then the whispers started.
"Natalie's too kind. Even after that bastard stole eighteen years of her life, she still treats him politely."
"Her mom was a homewrecker. What do you expect from her?"
"She doesn't even work—just lives off Damon. Total gold digger."
Natalie's eyes welled up with fake tears.
"Sis, I know you hate me for taking your place."
"If you don't want me here, I can disappear forever."
I caught the flash of satisfaction in her eyes.
She was waiting for me to break.
But I just said, "Move."
Natalie blinked, and tears instantly fell.
