“Ross, can I come in?”

I was accompanying my wife, Blair, on a visit to her family’s rural hometown. Blair had just stepped out when her younger half-sister, Becky, pushed open my door in her pajamas.

From the very first moment I saw Becky, I knew she was interested in me.

Those big eyes would flutter, sending me covert signals. Now, taking advantage of her sister’s absence, she barged right in.

I was showering. Startled, I hurriedly wrapped a towel around myself, my face flushing crimson.

“Ross, you have such a good physique… you must be amazing in bed, right?”

Becky bit her red lip, then deliberately squeezed the grapes in her hand. The implication couldn’t be clearer.

My wife and I had a strong relationship. Girls at my company had tried similar tactics before, but I’d never wavered.

My expression turned cold. “Becky, that’s inappropriate! Get out!”

“Oh, I was just joking, Ross. You really can’t take a tease.”

Becky snorted and put the fruit down.

Not long after, I heard the sisters chatting in the courtyard.

Knowing Blair was back, I finally felt safe enough to step out.

Becky greeted me casually, as if nothing had happened. Mrs. Lee bustled about, urging me to have some late-night snacks.

Gradually, I let my guard down, convincing myself Becky had just been joking.

Blair’s family compound was large. Blair and I had our own separate courtyard, which was considered quite well-off in this rural area.

I wasn’t sure where Blair had gone, but I noticed she was wearing a new bracelet that evening, humming happily.

I decided not to mention the afternoon incident, instead tentatively asking when we’d return to the capital.

Blair seemed reluctant. “Honey, you know Becky and I are half-sisters, but we’re really close. And remember, I’ve lived with Aunt Deb since I was twelve. After Dad passed, they’re the only family I have left here. I want to spend more time with them!”

I didn’t press further.

That night, though, I slept restlessly.

Vaguely, I caught a whiff of a strange fragrance. My head grew heavy and foggy, and I started dreaming.

In the dream, a pair of cold hands crept over my stomach, tugging at my waistband.

“Honey, stop messing around…”

I murmured, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Becky!

I shoved her away violently.

Becky shamelessly pressed closer.

“Ross, don’t you really want me?”

Beside me, Blair was sound asleep. Strangely, my wife, usually a light sleeper, seemed unusually comatose today.

Furious, I was about to wake Blair when that same strange fragrance hit me, and I blacked out.

When I woke the next morning, I couldn’t tell if it had been a dream or reality.

I dressed quickly and went out to the courtyard. Becky was brushing her teeth by the water basin and greeted me perfectly naturally.

If what happened last night was real, she couldn’t possibly act so normal, could she?

Had I been too stressed lately, leading to that bizarre dream?

Back in the room, I woke Blair and asked if she’d heard any strange noises during the night.

“What are you getting at? You’re being paranoid!” Blair rubbed her neck as if she had a crick.

I massaged her neck while stammering, “It’s just… have you noticed Becky looking at me strangely lately?”

Blair paused, then suddenly laughed. “You’re overthinking it. Becky’s such a good girl. Even if she had any ideas, she wouldn’t dare act on them.”

I couldn’t fathom how Becky was “good.” As far as I knew, she’d dropped out after high school and apparently had an abortion while still in school. Now, relying on her looks, she did borderline inappropriate content creation online.

Not wanting to damage the sisters’ relationship, I sighed heavily and leaned against the windowsill to smoke.

Unexpectedly, when I looked up, I saw Becky doing a striptease in the opposite room.

Black stockings, swaying hips.

I swallowed hard and instinctively looked away.

Few men could resist that kind of temptation.

For several days, I deliberately avoided Becky.

Blair, however, was out every day attending clan gatherings. Someone seemed flush with cash, always gifting her jewelry – bracelets, necklaces – which she’d share with Becky and Mrs. Lee.

Mrs. Lee was overjoyed, flattering Blair endlessly. “It’s all thanks to Ross! Blair married well, so we get respect when she visits. The whole clan is trying to curry favor!”

Hearing the praise directed at me did stroke my ego.

That evening, however, as I was preparing snacks for Blair, Becky suddenly appeared and whispered chillingly in my ear.

“Ross, your wife is cheating on you!”

Clang!

The snacks slipped from my hands. The splashing water drenched Becky’s nightgown, making the lace pattern starkly visible.

I immediately turned my back, but Becky pressed against me. “Ross, stop pretending. You saw me dancing, didn’t you?”

Boom!

A wave of shame and anger surged to my head. “Becky!” I hissed, keeping my voice low. “Don’t talk nonsense! And my wife would never cheat!”

“Then where do you think all that gold and silver jewelry came from? Aren’t you curious?”

Honestly, I was financially comfortable. I owned a small company in the capital, and Blair never lacked for anything in terms of daily life. She even got ten to twenty thousand in pocket money monthly.

She had no reason to cheat in this backwater place.

Becky seemed to read my mind. Her lips brushed my earlobe as she whispered, “Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘The grass is always greener on the other side.’ Besides, Blair’s stealing time with her childhood sweetheart!”

I returned to our room with a heavy heart. Blair was chatting on her phone, her face lit up with an irrepressible smile.

“Sweetheart, who are you talking to?”

“An old friend from junior high! We haven’t spoken in ages!”

Blair cheerfully showed me the chat screen. “Look at her second baby, so adorable!”

My heart stirred. “Honey, maybe we should have a baby too?”

Blair’s eyes sparkled, seeming even more excited than me. Without a word, she started unbuttoning my pants.

Honestly, the seemingly gentle and quiet Blair was incredibly skilled in bed. The pleasure she gave me was something no online tease could ever match.

If she were really cheating, why would she be so generous and passionate with me?

My worries eased.

The next day, I confronted Becky sternly, warning her not to sow discord between Blair and me anymore! Otherwise, I’d expose her true nature!

Becky scoffed dismissively. As I turned away, I faintly heard her mutter, “Idiot…”

For the next two weeks, Becky did seem to behave.

Blair and I were approaching our departure date.

However, the night before we left, Blair said she was having a final get-together with her girlfriends. They drank a bit and didn’t return, though she did send me photos later.

Learning we were leaving, Becky approached me, begging for a favor.

A local nouveau riche had been harassing her, and she wanted me to pose as her boyfriend to scare him off.

I refused outright.

But then Mrs. Lee personally intervened. “Ross, Becky and I get looked down on out here in the countryside. You’re the only son-in-law I have. Please help Becky!”

I tried calling Blair to discuss it, but her phone was dead and switched off.

Meanwhile, Becky had already dragged me to a barely passable café about ten kilometers away.

“See? This is my boyfriend!” Becky shoved me into a seat opposite a heavyset man whose face instantly darkened.

“What good is just being handsome? Becky, come with me, live the good life!”

Becky snorted and naturally wrapped her arm around mine. “Sorry, my boyfriend owns a company in the capital. His cars, his houses… they’ll all be mine!”

I tried to pull my arm back, but Becky was too quick. Smack! She planted a kiss right on my cheek. “Right, darling?”

The sudden move made me flush crimson instantly.

The heavyset man stood up, furious, and stormed out.

I pushed Becky away. “Have you no boundaries? I’m your brother-in-law!”

Becky giggled and kissed my cheek again. “Okay, brother-in-law!”

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

I looked up, startled. Blair stood in the corner, her face icy, her gaze sharp as shards of glass.

“Blair!”

Before I could explain, a glass of ice-cold water hit me squarely in the face.

Blair turned and walked out.

I looked back; Becky was sticking out her tongue, clearly enjoying the show.

Blair locked me out. Mrs. Lee was nowhere to be found. I had no one to vouch for me.

In desperation, I went to Becky, demanding she explain the situation.

Becky retorted, “Why explain? Blair’s cheating anyway. Why not just be with me? I’m pretty, you’re rich. We’re a perfect match!”

“Shut up!” My reputation was utterly ruined by Becky!

Finally, in the evening, Mrs. Lee returned. I practically dragged her to explain to Blair, who reluctantly seemed to believe me.

But once a seed of doubt is planted, it grows.

Without further ado, I packed our bags that night, determined to take Blair back to the capital.

Unexpectedly—

Early the next morning, I came down with a high fever, vomiting and suffering from diarrhea.

I suspected it was from the cold water dousing the day before.

We had to cancel our flights.

Just then, Blair answered a phone call and her face changed dramatically.

“Ross, my friend’s been in a car accident! I need to go help her immediately!”

Blair rushed off without another word.

The person who picked me up from the hospital was, to my dismay, Becky.

For three whole days, Blair didn’t answer my calls.

On the fourth day, she finally messaged: [Sorry Ross, I left in a hurry without my charger. My friend is badly hurt. I’ll be back a couple of days late. If you need to go, head back to the capital first.]

How could I possibly do that?

I couldn’t leave Blair here alone.

But days without her made the nights lonely.

Holding Blair’s nightgown, I fell asleep quickly, but again, a faint, heady fragrance made me dizzy.

I had that strange dream again.

Becky pushed open the door, slowly shedding her clothes. Her figure was tantalizingly visible.

“Ross, are you feeling better? Let me help you, okay?”

The seductive whisper sent my nerves jangling.

I tried to push her away, but my body felt limp, like cotton.

She pulled my clothes open. Becky wore a potent, alluring perfume, showering me with kisses.

Dogs barked outside, but I felt only a crushing heaviness pulling me under.

“Brother-in-law… do you want me?”

My nerves snapped. I reached out and gripped her alluring shoulders.

“I want…”

Becky’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

But the next instant, I shoved her hard onto the floor.

“NOT!”

I snapped fully awake, having secretly smeared menthol oil under my nose earlier.

Right on cue, Blair pushed the door open.

I immediately threw myself into her arms.

“Blair! Control her! She sneaked in while I was asleep and tried to harass me!”

“That’s a lie!”

“I have proof!”

Without hesitation, I pulled out a hidden camera and showed Blair the video on my phone.

The footage clearly showed Becky lighting drugged incense in the courtyard, its smoke laced with knockout chemicals to incapacitate the victims. Once I was drowsy, she crept in and started groping me!

“Becky, no one trips over the same stone twice! Good thing I was prepared this time!”

Blair watched the video, utterly shocked.

I seized the moment to clear the air. “Last time, she must have timed that kiss perfectly for when you arrived, just to drive a wedge between us! Honey, your half-sister is vicious! After everything you’ve done for her!”

The commotion woke the neighbors. Soon, people were peering over the walls.

In a small community like this, news spread fast. Within days, everyone would know.

Becky paled, tugging at Blair’s clothes tearfully. “Blair, it was a joke! I was just testing Ross’s loyalty for you!”

Slap!

The usually mild-mannered Blair delivered a stinging slap across Becky’s face.

Mrs. Lee rushed in, helped Becky up, and began wailing dramatically.

“Oh heavens! Stop fighting!”

“Sisters should get along!”

“What are you doing, airing our dirty laundry for the neighbors?!”

Blair closed her eyes briefly. “We’re leaving tomorrow. And don’t expect any more monthly allowance from me!”

Becky sneered coldly. “Acting all high and mighty! As if you’re any better! Even your own birth mother—”

Blair lashed out, kicking Becky hard to the ground.

But the next second, Blair suddenly clutched her stomach, her face contorted in agony.

“Ross… my stomach… it hurts so bad…”

“Blood! Blood! Blair’s bleeding!”

Mrs. Lee’s shriek pierced the air as Blair collapsed.

The pregnancy was a complete shock. Just one month along.

Fortunately, prompt medical attention saved the baby.

Knowing she’d almost killed her niece or nephew, Becky hid at her aunt’s house next door.

Blair regained consciousness the following afternoon.

“Ross, I’m so sorry… I had no idea Becky could be like this…”

“I completely misunderstood you! I almost lost our baby!”

“From now on, let’s just focus on us. I won’t let anyone come between us again!”

I held Blair close, a massive weight lifting off my chest.

However, Becky’s words that had enraged Blair echoed in my mind. They seemed strange.

I knew Blair’s birth mother had passed away when she was young. To avoid hurting her, I’d never probed deeply.

No, I must be overthinking it, influenced by Becky’s manipulations.

Blair’s pregnancy was unstable. Traveling long distances was risky. We decided I would commute between the capital and the countryside for the next few months.

With me not constantly present, Becky couldn’t cause much trouble.

I gave Mrs. Lee a sum of money to take good care of Blair and keep an eye on Becky.

Less than two weeks later, however, Becky called me, sobbing hysterically.

“Ross, please! Help me! Blair keeps setting me up on blind dates! I don’t want to marry that guy!”

“I truly didn’t know Blair was pregnant before! I never would have upset her if I’d known!”

“I admit I was wrong!”

She wept uncontrollably, her voice trembling violently, painting Blair as some kind of monster.

I was about to respond when a cold, stern voice cut through the line.

“Becky, who are you talking to?”