The harder Zack pulled, the more terrified I became. I couldn’t even imagine what kind of hell awaited me if I went home with him now. Would I even still be considered human if I were chained in a cage, with no contact with the outside world?

I fought back with everything I had, but Zack only grew more desperate. One hand clamped over my mouth while the other yanked my hair so hard it felt like my scalp would tear.

I bit down on his hand with all my strength and screamed toward Mom.

“The baby in my belly isn’t mine and Zack’s! It’s his and Elle’s! They switched out the embryo behind my back!”

Zack’s face twisted, his eyes turning vicious. He snapped, “Don’t listen to her nonsense. She’s just emotional because of the pregnancy. She’s imagining things.”

On the surface, he was calm, but inside, his thoughts betrayed him. “Did she see that report I left in the car? If she gets her hands on it, Elle and I are finished!”

Cold sweat poured down his back, while Elle’s eyes filled with tears.

She cried, “What are you even saying? How could you accuse me like this? I’m your sister!”

I screamed until my throat burned. “Then explain this! Why do your hospital stays and illnesses always line up perfectly with my IVF appointments?”

My emotions spiraled out of control, but the pain in my chest cut deeper than the anger.

The partner I’d been loved for nearly ten years and the sister I trusted most had been sleeping together all along. The thought of it was beyond disgusting.

Step by step, I staggered over to Mom’s side.

“Mom… no matter what, I’m not keeping this child. I refuse to swallow this humiliation.”

At that moment, her slap hit me so hard my head whipped to the side, blood instantly filling my mouth.

“You’ll have it whether you want to or not! You’re going to give birth to Elle’s baby!”

I stared at her, stunned. “Mom?”

Another slap cracked across my face. I collapsed to the floor, stars bursting before my eyes as dizziness swallowed me whole.

“All this fuss just because we want you to carry your sister’s baby? You ungrateful brat! You’re no daughter of mine! Don’t you know childbirth is dangerous? How could you be so cruel as to make your sister do it herself? You’re just giving her a child she can’t carry. What’s so wrong with that?

“You’ve never understood your place. If your sister hadn’t been sick, I never would’ve given birth to you at all.”

Tears blurred my vision as I held my burning cheek. Only when my gaze fell across the table full of dishes did I let out a bitter laugh.

Of course. I’d never been the loved one. The food looked fancy and nutritious, but not a single one was something I liked. They were all Elle’s favorites.

The truth was, the only reason I’d been born at all was because Elle had been frail as a child. My mother had me just in case she ever needed a sibling’s blood or organs to keep her alive.

I stood there, broken and humiliated, barely holding back the storm inside me. Why? Why did I have to live as nothing more than my sister’s shadow?

Rage burned in my chest as I glared at Elle.

“If you love Zack so much, why didn’t you marry him? Why steal my life instead?”

Elle bit her lip, her face full of guilt and struggle.

“I’m too clumsy. I don’t know how to take care of a man. I was afraid Zack would suffer with me. And besides, I never planned to have kids. How could I be so irresponsible as to marry him then?”

Her eyes softened as she looked shyly at Zack, her expression full of affection.

My stomach twisted violently, and nausea surged through me. So this was what it felt like when heartbreak and anger numbed you so much. All that was left was the urge to throw up.

However, as I listened to Zack’s inner voice, one thing became clear: I couldn’t waste time arguing. I had to escape. If these people—my so-called family—got their hands on me, my future would be nothing but darkness.

Forcing myself to sound calm, I said, “I just need to step outside and cool off. I’ll be back in a minute.”

I lifted my foot to leave, but Zack wasn’t about to give me the chance. He wrapped his arm tight around my waist, his hand clamping down on my arm like a vise.

“I’ll go with you. There must be some misunderstanding. Let’s talk it through.”

Then, his inner voice whispered again, “I’ll get Raye into the car first. I’ll use the stun baton to knock her out, then drag her home and break her at my pace. The embryo switch can never come to light. If people find out, what will they think of me and Elle?”

I stood my ground, refusing to get in the car with Zack, no matter what.

Mom and Elle rushed out when they saw us fighting, immediately trying to intervene.

“I should’ve never given birth to such an ungrateful child! Don’t you know how much Elle has done for you? Why can’t you just give her a baby first, then have your own later? It’s not going to kill you.”

The warmth Mom had shown me over the past few weeks was completely gone. Now, her eyes were colder than ice.

Beside her, Elle’s eyes filled with tears as she choked out, “If you want to blame someone, blame me. This has nothing to do with Zack.”

Zack kept up his polished facade. “Don’t worry. We’ll go home and talk this out. Everything can be resolved. I believe Raye is willing to sacrifice a little for her sister.”

However, in his head, his thoughts were wicked. “What a stupid woman. Once we’re back, I’ll skin you alive.”

Mom and Elle just stood there, watching me struggle in pain, yet neither of them moved to help.

Zack was already reaching for the car, about to pull out a stun baton. In sheer desperation, I fought back, slamming my elbow into his face and quickly pulling a small knife from my pocket.

“If you come any closer, I’ll take us all down with me!” My voice shook with fear, but I refused to back down.

While I was stuck with Zack, I screamed for help countless times. I thought in this unfamiliar city, no one would ever step in. However, within moments, curious neighbors began poking their heads out.

For the first time, hope flickered inside me.

I bolted toward the small crowd, screaming at the top of my lungs, “Help me! My family is trying to kidnap me. Please, someone, get me out of here! My husband and my sister swapped out my IVF embryo. They’re using me as a surrogate for their child. Please, I’m begging you. Help me!”

More and more people gathered, and one brave man even stepped in front of me.

“What kind of monsters do this? Let’s get to the bottom of this!”

I broke down crying, convinced I’d finally found safety. With so many people here, there was no way they could drag me away.

Zack approached slowly, towering over me, his smile cruel.

“Honey, your delusions are getting worse. When did you supposedly get pregnant? We don’t know anything about that…”

My mind went blank, my body frozen in place.

He chuckled softly, turning to address the neighbors behind me. “My wife has been like this for years. Her therapy hasn’t been going well. I’m so sorry for the trouble.”

“No… That’s not true!” I spun around, pale and frantic. “I really am pregnant! I have proof! I don’t have a mental illness!”

Zack put on a pitiful expression. “I’m at fault for letting a mentally ill woman disturb everyone’s evening. I’ll take her home right now.”

The neighbors’ gazes shifted back to me, but the concern from earlier was gone.

“So she’s mentally unstable. It’s best to stay away.”

“This man is remarkable, though. Even with a sick wife, he hasn’t abandoned her. What a good husband.”

I watched helplessly as Zack pinned me again, forcing me toward the car.

His inner voice spilled out. “The proof of pregnancy is in the house. If she runs back to get it, I’ll just lock her inside forever. She’ll never get out. If she can’t prove it, there’s no chance she’ll escape tonight.”

I fought with everything I had, still crying out for help. However, no one paid attention anymore. I was like a dying fish flopping helplessly on the shore, struggling for life while hope slipped further away.

Zack’s patience snapped. His hand clamped around my throat, cutting off my voice.

“Don’t even think about escaping.”

His cold, cruel eyes bore into me as his grip tightened. I couldn’t breathe.

I glared back at him, a bitter, mocking smile tugging at my lips. “The one who should be running… is you.”

With trembling arms, I lifted a finger, pointing at the space behind him.

Zack’s head whipped around, and when he saw what was standing there, his eyes widened in shock.