Chapter 2

Under the cold hospital lights, the entire family's gazes were glued to Mom's slightly rounded belly.

I shyly curled up, rolling halfway in the warm womb.

[Oh no! So many people are staring at baby! I'm shy!]

Dad and Kyle's bodies subtly jolted at the same time. Grandpa Richard and Grandma Eleanor also exchanged surprised glances. They had all clearly heard that sweet, baby-like complaint.

Vivian, oblivious, only found their sudden, more eerie silence strange.

The dagger in Dad's hand clattered to the floor.

He stared intensely at Mom's belly, his expression shifting from dark to utterly bewildered and uncertain.

Mom looked up at him, asking confusedly.

"What fake pregnancy? Honey, are you too excited to be a dad?"

"And Mom, Dad, Kyle... why do you all look so upset? Aren't you happy I'm pregnant?"

No one present paid attention to Mom's confusion. Their eyes were filled with deep resentment.

"Doctor!" Dad suddenly yelled towards the door. "Arrange a full prenatal check-up for her immediately!"

Vivian, the fake sister, quickly grabbed Dad's sleeve, her voice laced with urgency.

"Ethan, in the past life, didn't you personally see her 'big belly' was just a pillow? And the private doctor I hired explicitly said she wasn't pregnant. Why check again?"

Hearing that, my tiny foot lightly kicked the uterine wall.

[That bad woman is lying again! In the past life, Mommy *was* pregnant with me, but a bad person pushed her down the stairs, and she lost her baby. That's why she held a pillow every day and sang lullabies.]

[I could only become a little ghost, wiping away Mommy's tears.]

[My little hands ached from struggling for countless days! to finally get this chance to be reborn and come back to Mommy's tummy.]

Thinking this, my nose stung, and I couldn't help but rub my cheek gently against the uterine wall, like a tiny kitten.

[Mommy, don't be scared. This time, I'll definitely protect you. I'm excited to see this world, excited to see Daddy and Mommy.]

"Shut up, everyone shut up!" Dad suddenly covered his ears, his pupils constricting violently as he stared at Mom's abdomen.

"Doctor! Immediately, now, a prenatal check-up!"

A flicker of panic crossed Vivian's eyes.

Kyle couldn't help but frown either.

During the examination, when the cool ultrasound gel touched Mom's belly, I wiggled curiously.

[Wow! The chilly gel feels like Jell-O! Is the doctor looking for me with that probe? I'm here, I'm here! Let Daddy see me!]

Dad unconsciously held his breath, staring intently at the screen.

Kyle instinctively took a half-step forward, and Grandpa Richard and Grandma Eleanor clenched their hands tightly.

The ultrasound machine suddenly emitted a strong, rhythmic thumping sound.

A tiny, bean-like outline appeared on the screen, actively kicking its little legs.

"14 weeks gestation, fetal heartbeat is strong and normal," the doctor said, pushing up his glasses. "Ms. Chloe is indeed pregnant, and the baby is very healthy and active."