Chapter 2

The next day, I displayed a tampered pregnancy test stick in front of everyone in the family. Brady immediately forgot our argument from the previous night and hugged me tightly.

"This is amazing, Eloise! I'm going to be a dad too!"

My father-in-law, Oliver Orwell, also beamed with joy. He said, "It seems like the heavens have bestowed two gifts upon us!"

Seeing that both Brady and Oliver were focused on me, Renee's face darkened with displeasure. A sly smile crept onto my face as I looked at her and said, "This baby really couldn't have come at a better time."

Renee quickly grabbed Oliver and wrapped her arms around him, saying, "Neenee is pregnant too. I need a hug!"

Though Oliver was exasperated, he indulgently put his arm around Renee's plump waist.

Still not satisfied, Renee pried Brady's arm away from me and said, "Bubba, am I no longer the most important woman in your life? You didn't even hug me yesterday. I'm upset!"

Brady glanced at me apologetically before letting go of me and embracing Renee instead. Her wrinkled face lit up with delight as she cooed, "Honey, Bubba, Neenee is so lucky to have you both."

I could not help but find the scene of the three of them huddled together like a human sandwich amusing.

That evening, I bought a box of raw beef slices, along with some fresh live crabs and shrimp.

I said to Brady in front of Renee, "A relative who works at the hospital told me that pregnant women should eat more seafood and meat, especially if it’s raw. That's the best way to retain nutrients for the baby."

I added, "Some people eat raw food all the time, and their children grow up strong and tall."

As expected, Renee's eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled on Brady's arm. "Bubba, I want to eat it too! I have a baby in my belly too."

Seeing this, I immediately put the food away, making it clear that she was not getting any of what I bought. Brady hurriedly tried to calm her down, saying, "Mom, if you want to eat those things, I'll go get some for you later."

Renee pouted and insisted, "No! I only want what she bought."

I turned to Brady and said, "There's only enough food for one person today. It's either me or her—you decide."

Renee's smug expression showed that she believed Brady would choose her over me.

Brady hesitated, caught in a dilemma. I gently rested my hand on my flat belly and said, "I'm carrying your child, you know."

Renee immediately patted her large stomach and said, "Bubba, I'm carrying your sibling! Don’t you always say I'm the most important woman in the family? Was that all a lie?"

Brady looked at me with a troubled expression and finally said, "Eloise, let's give it to Mom this time."

I furiously threw the food at him. Then, eager to show off, Renee grabbed it from Brady's hands and began devouring it right in front of me.

"Bubba, I knew you'd always take care of me. When your little brother is born, he'll be so strong," she said as she stuffed the wriggling shrimp and crabs into her mouth, filling the air with their fishy smell.

After that, I would bring home a portion of raw seafood every day, and every time, without fail, Renee would snatch it from me.

As I watched her wolf down the food, I smirked inwardly and thought to myself, ‘Keep eating, Renee. I'm not sure you're getting any nutrients, but I'm sure you're getting plenty of parasites.’

A week later, Renee and I went for a prenatal check-up. I had already arranged for a relative who worked at the hospital to help me out.

When I came out of the ultrasound room, I proudly announced that I was carrying twins. Brady beamed with pride, saying, "Eloise, you're truly our family’s star!" My father-in-law even gave me a big envelope filled with cash as a gift.

I made sure to say, "Honey, since I'm carrying twins now, we need to double my nutrition. No more giving my food away to others."

Now, Brady did not hesitate to agree. "Of course."

Renee immediately put on a pitiful face and clung to Oliver, whining, "Neenee wants to have twins too, and Neenee wants even more cash!"

Oliver tried to comfort her, saying, "You'll have your check-up soon. Who knows? Maybe you're carrying twins too."

Not long after, Renee strutted out of the ultrasound room like a triumphant general and excitedly announced, "I'm carrying multiples!"