Chapter 4

My Sister-in-Law Wrecked My Career and My Future, and After Getting the Test Results I Endured the Pain of an Abortion

After leaving the hospital, I went home and rested for half a day.

The next day I showed up on time at the client's company.

My team had worked ourselves to the bone for three months to land this project.

Once we signed with the client today, everyone's bonus would double.

My boss had promised that when the project was done, he'd promote me to vice president.

For those three months I stayed late every single day. Last month I traveled out of state for work, and it made me miss my period.

It wasn't until I collapsed at the station and got rushed to the hospital

that I found out I was pregnant.

When I held the pregnancy test in my hands, my heart was full of joy.

Anthony and I had wanted this baby for so long.

I hailed a cab home right away to tell him the news.

At first Anthony was thrilled, busy showing off the news to everyone.

Then Hester pulled out a notebook and, with one word — impossible — turned the whole thing on its head.

Anthony had doted on this sister since they were kids. In college, she'd gone off to work and sent him money all the time.

He felt he owed her.

Whatever Hester said, he believed.

The meeting went smoothly, right up until the signing. Then the door banged open.

Hester came storming toward me.

She raised her hand, and I could see the slap coming down.

A coworker beside me was quick, catching her arm.

His voice stayed even. “Whatever this is, settle it in private.”

Hester shook off his hand, her eyes sharp.

“I hadn't even come looking for you, and here you are handing yourself over.”

Clay Whitney was a young intern, fresh out of school. Under Hester's interrogation, his face flushed red.

“I don't know you.”

“Ha. Of course you don't know me. It's enough that I know you.”

Caught off guard by the sudden scene, everyone in the room froze where they stood.

I stepped forward and pulled at Hester. “What are you making a scene for? Whatever it is, let's talk outside.”

Hester refused. “So now you're worried about embarrassment? You weren't worried when you cheated on my brother. When you were fooling around with this pretty boy, why weren't you thinking about my brother then?”

Every face in the room was hungry for the drama.

My boss and the client both went dark.

I raised my voice to stop her. “Hester, what are you talking about! I haven't done anything wrong!”

“Yesterday you had the nerve to hit my brother. What's wrong with him buttering up Ms. Lawrence? He did it for this family.”

So she'd come to avenge Anthony.

“Don't let Jacqueline fool you all with that prim little act. She's already carrying another man's kid, and she still wants my brother to play the sucker!”

“Hester! One more lie out of you and I'll sue you for defamation!”

Clay finally understood what was going on.

He shook his head frantically. “Team Lead Summers and I are completely innocent. There's nothing between us.”

Hester's face said she didn't believe a word. “Last month it was you who went on that business trip with my sister-in-law, and she came back pregnant. My brother can barely have kids. What a coincidence!”

“It really wasn't me!”

Clay was almost in tears.

My boss called security. As Hester was hauled out, she kept shouting that the baby in my belly was a bastard.

Once Hester was gone, the conference room went dead silent.

I stood there, furious and mortified, every pair of eyes fixed on me.

I bowed to the client's representative over and over, apologizing again and again, and the contract was signed on time.

On the way back to the office, I saw my boss's face and knew the promotion was gone.

I apologized to Clay, who'd done nothing.

I took my annual leave and shut myself in at home.

During that time, Hester kept goading me online.

I quietly recorded my screen, saved it all, and sent it to my lawyer.

Two weeks later, I brought a videographer to film every step, and went to the hospital to have my blood drawn for the DNA test.

By the time Anthony and the others arrived, I'd already finished the procedure.

When Hester saw me, her phone was livestreaming.

She shoved the camera right in my face.

A smug little scoff at the corner of her mouth.

“Sister-in-law, here's some good news for you. My brother just landed that big project of Ms. Lawrence's.”

“Just like I said, once he was rid of you, his career took off.”

My face went pale, and I pressed a hand to my belly. “Hester, do you really hate me that much?”

Hester was quiet for a moment, then said with pure venom, “Yes. If it weren't for you……”

Just then a nurse came out holding the DNA results and called out, “Is Anthony here? The report says the baby is yours.”

Hester's face changed. Her livestreaming phone dropped to the floor.

Anthony held the report, checking it over and over.

Joy broke across his face and he ran forward to hug me. “Honey, we're having a baby!”

The corner of my mouth curved up. “Too bad. It's too late.”