Chapter 3

The color drained from Vivian's face completely, and she quickly spoke.

"Impossible! In the past life, you all saw it! She accused me of pushing her down the stairs, and after her 'miscarriage,' it was a pillow that fell out! Ethan, you saw it with your own eyes, how could she really be pregnant?"

The whole family was stunned, but what echoed in their minds was my earlier thought: [was pushed down the stairs by a bad person, and lost her baby].

Especially Dad. Listening to my cheerful inner voice and seeing the indeed existing tiny bean on the screen, his expression was incredibly complex.

Vivian saw their expressions soften.

She immediately put on that pitiful look, speaking softly and weakly.

"Maybe we truly misunderstood Chloe in the past life. Perhaps she was really pregnant but miscarried accidentally, then had a breakdown and mistook the pillow for her baby."

"It's just... I can't understand how someone intellectually impaired and mentally unstable could be so cunning, capable of plotting against us and causing our deaths."

Hearing this, Kyle immediately scoffed, his eyes filled with vigilance and hatred.

"So what if she's not faking her pregnancy?"

"It's an undeniable fact that Chloe ruined our family in the past life!"

"And what kind of good could come from that vicious woman's belly? Probably just a little monster, here to make our lives hell!"

[Wah! Uncle's mean! How can he call me a monster? I'm here to bring good fortune!]

I pouted aggrievedly, turning over unhappily in Mom's tummy.

Kyle choked on his words at this sudden protest, and went silent.

Mom seemed to sense something, gently stroking her belly.

She looked at her family even more confusedly.

"You're all so strange. Pregnancy, and you're talking about past lives?"

No one had the mind to explain the past life to a beautiful, simple-minded woman with low intelligence.

Vivian's eyes turned cold, but when she looked at Kyle, Richard, and Eleanor, her voice became sugary sweet.

"Kyle, how can you speak of Chloe and her unborn child like that? Chloe doesn't know anything right now, and her intelligence is low. Perhaps the maliciousness from the past life..."

"Enough!"

Dad abruptly cut her off, his voice sharp.

He rubbed his temples, his mind filled with my thoughts of "becoming a little ghost to wipe Mommy's tears" and "struggled for countless days." A strange pang twisted in his chest.

"Even if she was bad, the child is innocent."

Though his tone was still firm, the killing intent from before was clearly gone.

Grandpa Richard also frowned, looking at his daughter's bewildered, innocent eyes and her bulging abdomen, speaking in a low voice.

"Until things are completely clear, everyone, speak less."

His gaze swept over Vivian, carrying a flicker of scrutiny.

Grandma Eleanor looked at the little life on the screen, and a subtle softness also flashed in her eyes.

Vivian felt a jolt of panic seeing them hesitate, but on her face, she managed to look even more wronged.

"That's true, maybe this time our family can have a good ending!"

At her words, the various events of the past life seemed to replay before everyone's eyes, preventing them from letting down their guard or their hatred.

Vivian saw that she had achieved her desired effect and immediately looked at Mom provocatively.

"Chloe, everyone cares about you so much. You really must 'keep' this baby safe."

Mom completely missed the malice in her words, returning a bright, silly smile and nodding vigorously.

"Uh-huh! Thank you, Vivian, for your concern. Baby and I will do our best!"

Vivian choked at her pure reaction, almost failing to maintain her expression.

Back at the family estate, the atmosphere remained heavy.

Though Dad no longer mentioned "tormenting Mom," his gaze was still cold.

Grandpa Richard and Grandma Eleanor were silent, and Kyle had moved to the guest house furthest from the main residence, adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude. Yet, in his ears, he still seemed to hear "Uncle's mean."

It was the weekend family dinner.

A critical bidding document from Grandpa Richard's study had vanished without a trace.

"Search! Search everywhere!" Grandpa Richard roared, his face ashen with fury. "Only family members knew where that document was kept!"

All suspicious glances instantly focused on Mom.

After all, in the past life, it was Mom who had leaked company secrets.

Vivian, supporting Grandpa Richard, appeared worried but every word was carefully manipulative.

"Chloe, you're the only one who entered Dad's study these past few days. I know your memory isn't great during pregnancy, but the document is very important, can you please try to remember where you put it?"

Mom looked bewildered, trying hard to recall.

"I did go into the study to bring Dad ginseng tea, but I didn't touch any documents..."

[Ahhh! That bad woman wants Mom to take the fall again! That bad woman clearly snuck into the study last night herself, took Grandpa's document, and hid it under the rug.]

[I saw it all! You want to frame Mommy again, you bad person!]

I was so furious I kicked and thrashed inside Mom's belly.

Dad, Kyle, Grandpa Richard, and Grandma Eleanor's faces all changed simultaneously!

Their gazes shot towards the rug in the corner of the study!

There, indeed, was a small, barely noticeable bulge.

Vivian noticed his stare, her face changing abruptly. She instinctively moved her hand to block it.

Dad's face was as dark as a storm cloud, his gaze icy as he stared at her.

"Get the document you hid under the rug, out!"

Vivian flinched back: "Ethan, I didn't..."

"Get it out." Dad's tone brooked no argument.

Finally, the lost document was found under the rug.

The setup was undeniable, the evidence ironclad.