The real heiress secretly conceived my husband's child
My fiancé Weston Thompson was furious about this incident, and my adoptive parents Robert Anderson and Maria Anderson urgently declared that they would never acknowledge Anna as their daughter.
To comfort me, Weston proposed to me as quickly as possible, while Robert and Maria immediately wrote a formal document severing ties with Anna, telling me to rest and recover peacefully.
Later, they told me that Anna had fled abroad and been sold into trafficking. She deserved it, and I believed their words.
Until our sixth Christmas after marriage, I actually saw Anna, who was supposed to be suffering abroad. She was leaning against Weston's embrace with a pregnant belly.
Anna said with emotion, "If I hadn't lost my temper and made that mistake six Christmases ago, Harper wouldn't have had the chance to marry you." Harper Anderson is my name.
She paused, then continued, "Fortunately, you and Mom and Dad all sided with me. Otherwise, that imposter would have sent me to prison long ago. She probably never imagined I've been living around her all this time, and I'm even carrying your child.
"Once I give birth, you can find some excuse to adopt the child, then make her spend her whole life as my nanny. Thank you for these Christmases, Weston."
Anna looked at Weston with loving eyes, and Weston's cheeks flushed red.
He said, "Don't say that! Only by marrying her could I let you continue living with a clean reputation. As long as you're okay, everything I do is worth it."
So it turned out that Weston, who I thought loved me deeply, had been deceiving me all along. Robert and Maria were just covering up for their biological daughter Anna's crimes.
Since they all treated me this way, I no longer wanted these so-called "family" and "lover."
*****
After seeing Anna at the maternity hospital—a sight I'll never forget—I stood frozen in place, feeling all the blood in my body flowing backward.
The pain of that Christmas knife piercing my abdomen still lingered in my mind, while Weston, who once cried saying he felt sorry for me, was now tenderly holding Anna and gently stroking her belly. Even from a distance, I could feel the fatherly love radiating from him.
It turned out that the marriage I had always considered my salvation was nothing but a complete fraud from beginning to end.
Robert and Maria told me they would always stand by my side, but they had long ago secretly destroyed the evidence of Anna's assault and forced Weston to marry me. They did this only to provide Anna with an extra layer of protection, ensuring she wouldn't go to prison for intentional assault.
How ridiculous!
I suppressed my grief and avoided Weston's gaze. Just then, my phone rang—it was Robert and Maria calling.
The urgent ringtone seemed to hint at how anxious the people on the other end were. I calmed myself down and answered the call.
Robert said over the phone, "Harper, where did you go? The housekeeper told me you left at noon. Did you go to the hospital? Why are you so disobedient? Your mother and I have told you many times that with your poor health, you must have someone with you when you go out. What would we do if something happened to you on the road?"
I dug my well-manicured nails into my flesh, trying to stay alert.
Was he asking these questions at this moment because he was truly afraid something might happen to me, or because he was afraid I might discover the truth?
Robert continued, "Harper, did you hear what I said? Where are you now? Your mother and I are already at the hospital. We'll come find you right away."
His caring inquiry cut into my heart like a knife.
I thought for a moment, then responded in a gentle voice, "I'm in the restroom at the obstetrics department. Dad, you and Mom are just too worried. I'm just here for a check-up. What could happen to me? Besides, I'm an adult now—I can't keep troubling you all the time."
I deliberately complained in a relaxed manner, which made Robert and Maria on the other end of the phone breathe a sigh of relief.
A few minutes later, Maria rushed into the restroom. She grabbed my hands and looked me up and down, asking, "Nothing happened to you, right? Did you get your check-up done?"
Her eyes were full of unease. Thinking about Weston and Anna who had hurriedly left earlier, I immediately understood.
Robert and Maria following me around constantly wasn't because they were afraid something might happen to me—they were afraid I might run into Anna and ruin their plan.
I said to Maria, "Mom, I'm fine. I felt nauseous as soon as I got to the hospital, so I was delayed for a while and haven't had time to get the check-up yet."
Maria instinctively responded, "That's good."
Soon, she realized her reaction was inappropriate and immediately turned to look at me seriously.
She continued, "Your father and I are both here. How could we let you face those cold machines alone? Let's go together."
Standing at the restroom door was a kind-looking middle-aged man—Robert.
Although I wasn't his biological daughter, I had grown up surrounded by his love. I always thought he was the person who loved me most in the world. Only today did I realize that in the face of blood relations, all the love I had felt before meant nothing.
Since they treated me this way, it was time for me to give them a "gift" in return.
Robert walked over to me, naturally positioning himself on my left side as he chatted with me. "Why did you come here alone? Are you okay?"
Maria shot Robert a playfully reproachful look, then rested her head on my shoulder.
She said, "Harper's fine. She's grown up now and knows how to care for us."
Robert pretended to be annoyed and gently pinched my cheek. "Either way, you can't come to the hospital by yourself. Do you hear me?"
Taking advantage of this moment, I slipped my phone, which I'd already set to record, into Robert's pocket.
I said, "I know I was wrong. I need to go for my checkup now. Dad, can you hold my phone for me?"
This was something we did regularly, so neither Robert nor Maria thought anything of it.
When we reached the gynecology office, I walked into the examination room alone.
Robert and Maria waved at me eagerly from the doorway, their eyes full of concern.
In the past, I would have felt grateful for having the best family in the world.
But now, I only felt afraid. It was like countless venomous snakes were crawling all over my body, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment.
After I finished all my tests, Maria immediately took the reports to consult with a specialist.
She asked, "How is Harper doing?"
Meanwhile, Robert pulled out the notebook he always carried with him. The notebook was filled with details about my preferences and dietary restrictions.
If I hadn't discovered the truth, I would have thought they were parents who deeply loved their child.
I said to them, "Dad, Mom, I need to use the restroom."
I playfully retrieved my phone from Robert, then walked into the bathroom with trembling legs.
Before playing the recording, I had mentally prepared myself countless times.
But when I heard the first sentence, my heart still felt like it was being stabbed with needles.
The recording captured my attending physician's voice: "Mr. Robert Anderson, Mrs. Maria Anderson, Miss Anderson has been recovering quite well these past few months. All her wounds from that time have healed. As long as she takes care of herself, she should be able to get pregnant soon. Should we stop the medication she's currently taking?
"I'm afraid if she continues taking it, she really won't be able to have children. Isn't that too cruel to her?"
He sounded somewhat guilty.
Depriving a woman of the right to become a mother was inherently cruel.
But the next second, Robert cut him off directly.
He said, "I didn't hire you to worry about these things. The medication cannot be stopped!
"It's just a child. We can adopt one, and it'll save her from the pain of childbirth."
Maria chimed in, "Harper's health has never been good anyway. Not having children is what's best for her. We don't need an outsider telling us what to do. You're just a doctor. Just do what you're supposed to do. Do you understand?"
Their tone was particularly harsh, so the doctor quickly agreed.
He said, "I didn't mean to overstep. Mr. Robert Anderson, I'm just reminding you that at this dosage, I'm afraid Miss Anderson might overdose. Not only will she be unable to become a mother, but it could also harm her health."
This sounded like a serious problem, but Robert didn't care at all.
He said, "I understand. That's not something you need to worry about. Just make sure her wounds heal properly. Everything else is none of your business."
The doctor replied, "Yes, sir."
The recording ended there. I felt cold all over.
All these months, I had been feeling incredibly guilty about not being able to give Weston a child.
Robert and Maria always comforted me, saying it wasn't my fault and that having children couldn't be forced.
It turned out they were the ones in the wrong all along. My inability to conceive was fake. They simply didn't want me to have Weston's child.
In their eyes, I wasn't worthy of bearing Weston's children—only their biological daughter Anna was.
No wonder after all these months, I was still taking medication.
Everything had been a lie. The doctor was fake, and their claims of "doing this for my own good" were fake too.
Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. My body trembled, and I felt completely drained of strength.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Maria had noticed I'd been gone for a long time. "Harper."
Maria was particularly anxious, knocking on each bathroom door one by one, terrified that something had happened to me.
I answered, "I'm in here."
After wiping away my tears, I walked out to Maria with red-rimmed eyes.
Seeing me in this state, Maria was shocked. She reached out to touch my face and asked, "What's wrong? Who upset you? Why were you crying? Talk to me, okay?"
The face before me looked no different from the past, yet I felt a wave of nausea in my stomach.
I told her, "I'm fine, Mom. I probably ate something bad, so my stomach's a bit upset."
I leaned against Maria's shoulder, hiding the hatred in my eyes. She helplessly ruffled my hair and took me back to Thompson Manor.
Weston had already learned I was home, so he was waiting at the door.
This man who had been touching another woman's belly just two hours ago now tenderly embraced me, gently rubbing my stomach.
He said, "I heard from Maria that your stomach was bothering you, so I rushed back to make you some soup. It's almost ready. Have some and then rest."
Only then did I notice he still had an apron tied around his waist.
If I hadn't witnessed everything at the hospital today, I never would have believed that Weston, who took such thoughtful care of me in daily life, had always loved someone else in his heart.
When we got married, he even moved near Anderson Manor specifically so I could be closer to home.
Even in his midnight dreams, he would call out my name, yet he still didn't love me.
The person Weston loved was Anna. For Anna's sake, he was willing to marry me and go through the motions with me for all these years.
I truly admired his acting skills.
I said to Robert and Maria, "Dad, Mom, come in and have dinner with us."
After helping me sit down on the sofa, Weston returned to the kitchen to continue his work.
Robert and Maria kept remarking how lucky I was to have found such a wonderful man.
But I found myself staring at a painting on the wall. I had never understood why Weston insisted on hanging this ugly-looking painting in the most prominent spot.
Now, seeing Robert and Maria's eyes drawn to this painting as soon as they entered, and noticing the letter "A" on it, I finally understood.
Because the person who painted it was important to them, this painting had to be displayed in the most visible place.
Weston emerged from the kitchen, saying, "Dinner's ready."
After all the dishes were served, I suddenly realized that throughout all these years, the food Weston cooked wasn't what I liked to eat at all.
For the past six years, I had kept this question buried in my heart, thinking, "These are dishes Weston loves. He works so hard taking care of me, so accommodating his tastes at mealtime is the least I can do."
But now I realized something. Were these really dishes he liked? Or were they what Anna liked?
Seeing my pale complexion, Weston worriedly placed some food on my plate. "Harper, what's wrong?"
Maria paused, her tone becoming stiff as she said, "Seeing you two so happy puts your father and me at ease. It's just that I don't know..."
Her unfinished words referred to Anna. Throughout all these years, she would inevitably bring up Anna during happy moments. I had always been grateful that they gave up their biological daughter for me, so whenever I heard her mention Anna, I felt too guilty to speak.
Robert continued, "I don't know how that child is doing now either. After all, she's still your mother's and my flesh and blood. We hope she's not suffering too much abroad and that she's at least alive.
Harper, don't blame your mother. She is, after all, a child your mother gave birth to. She's already paid the price for what she did. What's past is past. You should let go of the past too."
Robert sighed and echoed Maria's words. In their view, Anna had already paid a terrible price, and I shouldn't be so petty about it.
So I deserved to nearly lose my life?
I lowered my eyes, expressing my displeasure through silence.
Weston sensed my thoughts and showed me a cold expression for the first time.
He said, "Harper, Maria's getting older, don't be angry with her. It's been six years since what happened. You were the one who took Anna's place from the beginning, enjoying over twenty years of a life that wasn't yours. You shouldn't blame Maria. After all, blood ties create deep emotional bonds.
"No matter what, a mother can never let go of her love for her child. What's more, Robert and Maria owed Anna from the start.
"Didn't we prepare that suburban villa for Anna back then? I'll take Robert and Maria to see it this weekend as another way to honor her memory. If you don't want to go, you don't have to, okay?"
Though Weston's tone sounded like he was asking for my opinion, it carried an undeniable firmness. I looked up at the three people around the table. Weston's face was dark, and while Robert and Maria said nothing, the heavy atmosphere they radiated revealed their thoughts. Their expressions seemed to say that if I didn't agree, I'd be an unforgivable villain.
I answered calmly and obediently, "Sure. You should go. Anna was Mom and Dad's biological daughter, after all. As for what happened back then, I bear some responsibility too. It's right that you make this trip."
Seeing my agreement, Weston immediately brightened up.
He said, "I knew my wife was the most gentle and kind-hearted. Don't worry, I'll make sure to prepare all your favorite foods first before going out with Robert and Maria."
Maria wiped her tears with one hand while hugging me with the other.
She said, "Harper has been kind since childhood. I thank you on Anna's behalf. We failed Anna as parents."
Maria's burning tears fell into the hollow of my neck. I trembled, burying my head in Maria's embrace, my whole body going numb.
They had wronged Anna, so they'd been brainwashing me for these six years. Now I almost believed that Anna stabbing me with a knife was justified.
In my subconscious, I actually felt like I owed her, which was why she stabbed me.
But the hospital mix-up wasn't my choice. It wasn't my sin. My biological parents, Daniel Gomez and Mia Gomez, hadn't intentionally switched children either.
I had indeed enjoyed over twenty years of a life that wasn't mine. If Anna had wanted, I could have left the Anderson family at any time. I never wanted to compete with anyone for anything. What exactly had I done wrong to deserve their manipulation?
A sharp pain shot through my chest, and I couldn't help but dry heave before rushing to the bathroom. Weston followed closely behind, frightened, patting my back.
He asked, "What's wrong? Didn't you just have a checkup today? What did the doctor say? Is there something wrong with your stomach? You really need to get treatment if you're sick—don't put it off."
Weston's tone was gentle and caring. I couldn't help wondering, "Is he worried about my discomfort, or afraid I might be pregnant?"
Suppressing the uneasiness in my heart, I clung to Weston's arm playfully.
I said, "Weston, I'm pregnant.
"You're going to be a father soon. The doctor said it's a blessing that I could conceive. Are you happy? We're finally going to have a child of our own."
Weston's smile instantly froze on his face. He stared at my expression, searching for any trace of a joke, but found nothing.
He said, "Harper, don't joke around. You can't joke about something like this. Didn't the doctor say your body wasn't suitable for pregnancy?"
Weston's voice trembled, his eyes filled with panic. This was my husband.
I smiled and said, "I'm not joking. Aren't you happy?"
Holding onto my last bit of hope, I waited for his answer. Weston composed his panicked expression and looked at me seriously.
He said, "Honey, the doctor already said your current physical condition isn't suitable for having children. You should get an abortion. If something happens to you, what would I do?"
His "Honey" made me feel sick to my stomach—I nearly threw up.
I asked, "What if I don't want to?"
Weston didn't even blink before deciding to kill my child. I suddenly thought that maybe losing my fertility was actually lucky for me. At least my child wouldn't have to be born into such a terrible family.
Weston said, "Honey, I..."
I smiled and cut him off, burying my head in his chest. "I was just kidding. The doctor said I can't have children. Honey, thank you for staying with me all these Christmases."
In my heart, I thought: "And thank you for all the terrible things you've done to me these Christmases."
The weekend came quickly. Weston got up early, kissed my cheek, then made me lunch as fast as he could.
Then he whispered to me, "Harper, I'm taking Robert and Maria out. Stay safe at home. If anything happens, you must tell me."
I nodded. Then I opened my phone while tears streamed down my face.
Anna was right downstairs from my house. Before Weston even woke up, I'd received a photo from Anna.
In the photo, Anna was sitting in a car.
She kept sending messages to show off: [Harper, so what if you married Weston and became his wife? I'm the one who can give him children. You don't really think they're going to the villa to remember me, do you? Don't be so naive. I've been living in that villa all these Christmases. Today is the day I'm going for my prenatal checkup.]
[I just casually mentioned wanting the whole family to come with me for the checkup, and Dad, Mom, and Weston all agreed.]
[Just like what happened six Christmases ago—I just pretended to be pitiful and shed a few tears, and Dad and Mom sacrificed you to preserve my reputation. Your life is truly pathetic.]
Besides the messages, Anna also sent a bunch of photos. Over these six Christmases, Weston would always make time to travel with Anna. Sometimes they'd even bring Robert and Maria along, playing around like a family of four.
But I was such a fool—I used to get happy over the little gifts Weston would casually bring me.
Endless despair left my heart numb. I closed the chat window and bought a plane ticket for tomorrow.
Given Anna's temperament, she wouldn't let Weston, Robert, and Maria come back tonight, which gave me the perfect opportunity to use the remaining time to leave this place.
At noon, after eating just a few bites of food, I started organizing evidence. I really should thank Anna. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have gotten so much evidence proving how they schemed against me.
With these things, I could not only divorce Weston without him getting a single cent, but also completely expose their true intentions before leaving.
By the time I finished everything, it was already ten at night.
Sure enough, just as I expected, Weston had no intention of coming back. He video-called me. The camera was blurry so I couldn't see the background clearly, but I could definitely sense Anna was right beside him.
But I didn't call him out on it—I just smiled and promised him I'd take good care of myself.
The next day, I got up very early. Many people came to the house—they were the renovation workers I'd called. For all the things I couldn't take with me, I had them tear everything down.
As for those little trinkets Weston used to give me, I'd seen identical ones on Anna's Instagram, and mine were obviously the freebies.
I certainly didn't want things that others had discarded.
Two hours later, the renovation workers left with all the dismantled items. I took out photos of me with Weston, Robert, and Maria from all these Christmases, then pulled out a lighter and burned them all.
The fire alarm in the house went off with a piercing wail. I grabbed my suitcase and walked out the front door.
This was my final "gift" to Weston. By the time he rushed back, I'd be long gone from this city.
Download the My Fiction app, Search 【 326728 】reads the whole book.
My Fiction
SnackShort
Booklite« Previous Post
After bankruptcy, my husband intends to marry his first love