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Seven months pregnant with twins, my world shattered with a single message.<\/p>\n
I had been folding tiny onesies, running my fingers over the soft fabric, picturing what my babies would look like when they finally arrived. My phone buzzed beside me, breaking the peaceful moment.<\/p>\n
It was from Veronica\u2014my husband\u2019s boss. My stomach twisted. Why was she texting me?<\/p>\n
A sinking feeling settled in my chest as I unlocked my phone.<\/p>\n
The message contained a picture.<\/p>\n
Eric, my husband, lay sprawled on an unfamiliar bed, shirtless, smirking at the camera like he had no care in the world.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t even have time to process the gut-wrenching image before my eyes landed on the caption.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time you knew. He\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
My hands turned to ice. The babies kicked, as if they sensed my distress.<\/p>\n
Eric. My Eric. The man I loved, the man I had built a life with, was cheating on me.<\/p>\n
With her.<\/p>\n
I called him immediately. Straight to voicemail. Again and again, I tried. Nothing.<\/p>\n
I lowered myself onto the couch, clutching my belly. My breath came in short gasps.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy, babies,\u201d I whispered, rubbing my bump as if I could soothe the storm brewing inside me. \u201cMama will take care of you. Always.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wanted to believe Eric would never abandon us.<\/p>\n
I was wrong.<\/p>\n
That evening, Eric finally came home. But he wasn\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n
Veronica walked in beside him like she owned the place, her head held high, her designer heels clicking against the floor. The type of woman who demanded attention just by existing.<\/p>\n
I forced myself to stand, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. \u201cEric\u2026 what is this?\u201d<\/p>\n
He sighed, rubbing his face like he was the one exhausted. \u201cLauren, let\u2019s not make this difficult. I\u2019m in love with Veronica. I\u2019m leaving you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words slammed into me like a truck. My knees nearly buckled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t be serious,\u201d I whispered, my voice barely holding steady. \u201cWe\u2019re having babies in two months.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLife happens,\u201d he said with a careless shrug.<\/p>\n
A shrug.<\/p>\n
Like he was discussing a change in dinner plans. Not abandoning his pregnant wife.<\/p>\n
Veronica crossed her arms, tilting her head. \u201cSince this is Eric\u2019s apartment, you\u2019ll need to move out by the end of the week.\u201d<\/p>\n
I blinked.<\/p>\n
I had nowhere to go. No family nearby, no close friends to lean on. I had put everything into this marriage, and now they wanted to toss me out like trash.<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth to argue, but Veronica cut me off.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwins, right?\u201d Her cold eyes swept over my belly. \u201cOr is it triplets? You\u2019re rather\u2026 swollen. I think I can offer you a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every nerve in my body went rigid.<\/p>\n
\u201cA solution?\u201d<\/p>\n
A slow, calculated smile spread across her lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll buy you a house and cover your expenses. But in exchange\u2026 I want one of your babies.\u201d<\/p>\n
I recoiled, horror ripping through me. \u201cWhat the hell did you just say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll never manage raising twins alone,\u201d she said smoothly, twirling a finger in the air. \u201cI\u2019d like to have a baby, but I have no intention of ruining my body. Think of this as a win-win.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach churned.<\/p>\n
Eric nodded along.<\/p>\n
Like this was some reasonable business deal.<\/p>\n
Like bartering our child was something we could discuss over coffee.<\/p>\n
I felt sick.<\/p>\n
Veronica ran a hand over Eric\u2019s chest, her nails trailing down his shirt. \u201cThe child will have the best nannies, the best schools\u2026 everything you can\u2019t provide alone. And in return, you get a home. A fair trade.\u201d<\/p>\n
My body trembled with fury.<\/p>\n
They thought they had me cornered.<\/p>\n
They thought I had no options.<\/p>\n
But they were wrong.<\/p>\n
I took a slow, shuddering breath, forcing tears into my eyes. \u201cI\u2026 I don\u2019t have anywhere else to go,\u201d I whispered, looking down as if ashamed. \u201cI\u2019ll agree to your deal\u2026 but I have one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Veronica smirked, thinking she had won.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmart girl. What\u2019s your condition?\u201d<\/p>\n
I sniffled. \u201cI want to pick which baby you take.\u201d<\/p>\n
She exchanged a glance with Eric. He nodded, buying my act completely.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d she said. \u201cBut don\u2019t take too long. Once they\u2019re born, we\u2019ll take the one you don\u2019t want.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wiped a fake tear and sealed the trap. \u201cAnd\u2026 one more thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Veronica sighed. \u201cWhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll buy me a house. Not rent. Buy.\u201d<\/p>\n
She arched a brow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need security,\u201d I said, voice firm. \u201cIf you don\u2019t agree, I\u2019ll walk. And you\u2019ll never see either of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric scoffed, but Veronica held up a hand. \u201cFine. It saves me the hassle of finding an alternative solution. But you better hold up your end of the deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded, looking every bit the helpless woman they thought I was.<\/p>\n
Inside?<\/p>\n
I was grinning.<\/p>\n
They had no idea what was coming.<\/p>\n
Over the next few months, Veronica bought me a three-bedroom house in a quiet neighborhood.<\/p>\n
She and Eric never even bothered to check the paperwork.<\/p>\n
When we signed the documents, I walked away with the keys to my home. And they remained clueless.<\/p>\n
I updated them on doctor\u2019s appointments, let Veronica touch my belly, and pretended to agonize over which baby I\u2019d give up.<\/p>\n
All the while, I was biding my time.<\/p>\n
Then, the babies came.<\/p>\n
Two perfect girls with dark hair and lungs that worked just fine.<\/p>\n
The nurse smiled at me. \u201cWant me to tell your husband and\u2026 friend?\u201d<\/p>\n
I cradled my daughters. \u201cTell them the babies are fine, but I need three days.\u201d<\/p>\n
The nurse looked confused but nodded.<\/p>\n
I named them.<\/p>\n
Lily and Emma.<\/p>\n
I memorized their tiny faces, their cries, their warmth against my chest.<\/p>\n
And I finalized my plan.<\/p>\n
On the third day, I called Veronica. \u201cI\u2019m ready to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
They showed up within the hour.<\/p>\n
Veronica was practically vibrating with excitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d she cooed. \u201cWhich one is mine?\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood, body aching, but voice steady.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her smile froze. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n
I met her gaze. \u201cI\u2019m not giving you my child, Veronica. Either of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric groaned. \u201cOh, don\u2019t start this dramatic nonsense\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two thought you could buy my baby? Like I was some desperate idiot? Well, newsflash: I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Veronica\u2019s face darkened. \u201cThen I\u2019m kicking you out of this house.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t. It\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face drained of color. \u201cWhat? No. Eric, tell her!\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric looked equally confused. \u201cWe signed the papers together!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. And you both signed it over to me completely. My name\u2019s the only one on the deed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Veronica stumbled back, realizing she had lost.<\/p>\n
And I wasn\u2019t done yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way,\u201d I said casually, nodding toward my phone. \u201cI posted everything. The messages. The pictures. Your sick baby deal. It\u2019s all online. I tagged your company too, Veronica.\u201d<\/p>\n
She lunged for my phone, scrolling in horror.<\/p>\n
Her career? Over.<\/p>\n
Eric? Fired.<\/p>\n
And me?<\/p>\n
I rocked my girls to sleep every night in my home, content in the knowledge that I didn\u2019t just get revenge.<\/p>\n
I won.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Seven months pregnant with twins, my world shattered with a single message. I had been folding tiny onesies, running my fingers over the soft fabric, picturing what… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n