1 My mother always said my father’s eyes were for her and her alone. No other woman was allowed to look at him, not even me, his daughter. The first time I called him “Daddy,” she sealed my lips shut with superglue. “You just have to have his attention, don’t you?” she hissed. “Let’s see you call for him now!” When he came home from a business trip and I ran to hug him, she beat me with a coat hanger until I was covered in blood. “You little slut, trying to steal my husband? Not on my watch!” And the time he took me to Disneyland? When we got home, she threw me out the eighteenth-story window. “Let’s see you seduce my husband when you’re dead!” As my shattered bones lay on the pavement, I prayed with every ounce of my broken soul. A thousand lifetimes of punishing evil and upholding good, I’ll take it. Just please, please give me a different mother next time. And the universe, in its infinite mercy, granted my request. Darkness, then a voice, filled with pure, unadulterated joy. It was my aunt, Claire. “Oh my god, I’m really pregnant? I’m going to be a mom!” “Please, please, let it be a girl!” Thank you, thank you, thank you. The universe had made my aunt my new mother. Aunt Claire was a human sunbeam, her only sorrow being her struggle with infertility. She had seen how miserable I was and had tried to adopt me. I would have given anything to go live with her. But my mother, Jessica, would never allow it. It was a fantasy I held onto until the day I died. And now, my fantasy had come true. I curled up contentedly in my new, safe home, trying not to giggle with glee. But then, a familiar, nightmarish voice shattered my peace. It was Jessica. “We’re pregnant at the same time, sis-in-law,” she said to Claire. “Honey,” she cooed to my father, Mark, “what if we have a girl too?” My father’s voice was full of happiness. “That would be great! A sweet, adorable little girl.” Jessica’s voice tightened. “You’re already so in love with her and she’s not even born yet. What about me? Will you even look at me after she’s here? It’s like I’m giving birth to your mistress!” Claire was stunned. “Jessica, what are you talking about? This is your daughter!” “It doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl!” Claire added, trying to smooth things over. But Jessica wasn’t having it. “What if it is a girl?” she whined. “I have a feeling it is. A little home-wrecker!” She dug her sharp nails into her own stomach, as if trying to kill the fetus inside. A cold suspicion crept over me. Could Jessica have been reborn too? Was that why she thought she was pregnant with me again, and was trying to get rid of the baby from the start? “Honey, this baby is bad luck,” she pleaded with Mark. “It’s a curse. Let’s just get rid of it and try again. I’ll give you a son, I promise!” The doctor cut in. “Mrs. Miller, you have a very specific condition that makes it difficult for you to conceive. This pregnancy is a miracle.” Mark’s voice was stern. “You’re a grown woman, Jessica. Stop talking nonsense. It doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl. Don’t you dare hurt yourself or my child. My parents are so excited to be grandparents.” Claire added, “Jessica, get a grip. Do you really think Mark would have trouble finding someone else to have his children if you can’t?” The message was clear. If she couldn’t or wouldn’t have this baby, plenty of other women would be lining up to take her place. And her husband was her entire world. Jessica immediately changed her tune. “Oh, honey, your angry face is so scary! I’m pregnant, you know! I’ll be good, I’ll take care of the baby, I promise!” In front of Mark, she was the picture of maternal devotion. The second he left, she grabbed her stomach and cursed. “You little bitch. You think you’re safe just because I’m not getting an abortion? You’re not stealing my husband from me this time. Not for one second.” Her venomous words sent a chill through me, dragging me back to the misery of my past life. As if sensing my fear, Claire gently stroked her belly and began to hum a lullaby. This, I thought, this is my real mother. I relaxed. Jessica and Claire were both sent to the same exclusive private hospital, with VIP maternity packages. In front of Mark, Jessica would rub her belly with a beatific smile. But when he wasn't around, she did everything she could to induce a miscarriage. She spit out her prenatal vitamins, flushed her specially prepared nutritional meals down the toilet, and secretly smoked and drank, and binged on ice cream. “You think you can make me have morning sickness?” she’d mutter to her stomach. “Let’s see how much nutrition you get now! I hope you’re stillborn! Or at least born a wrinkly, ugly little alcoholic that no one will ever want!” She even ordered a set of dumbbells and did endless crunches, her face pale with pain, refusing to stop. When Claire and the nurses tried to intervene, she had a ready excuse. “I’m strengthening my core! It’ll make for an easier delivery and a quicker recovery! I’m not letting this little home-wrecker steal my husband and my figure!” Listening to her, I felt a familiar dread. This must have been what it was like for me last time. My suffering had begun long before I was even born. But this time, I was safe with Claire. So who was the poor soul in Jessica’s belly? Maybe it was a boy. Maybe things would be different for him. If he survived her abuse, that is. Claire’s pregnancy was the complete opposite of Jessica’s self-inflicted nightmare. She ate well, had no morning sickness, and her appetite was only slightly larger than usual. My development was perfectly on track, but her belly was barely showing. From the back, you couldn’t even tell she was pregnant. By the second trimester, Claire was glowing. No complications, not even a single stretch mark. Her skin was radiant. This, of course, was my doing. The other expectant mothers in the hospital were amazed. They gathered around Claire, desperate to know her secret. “Dr. Evans said you’re the most relaxed pregnant woman she’s ever seen!” “You’re even sleeping through the night? If it weren’t for your belly, I wouldn’t even think you were pregnant!” “Look at her face! Not a single blemish!” Claire just laughed. “I don’t know. I guess I just have a well-behaved baby.” My uncle, Tom, was overjoyed. “This baby is a gift. She knows not to cause her mother any trouble!” He was right. I was here to be cherished, and to cherish in return. To finally have a loving mother, and for my aunt to finally have the daughter she’d always wanted. I nudged against Claire’s hand as she rubbed her belly, wishing I could be born right then and kiss her. As if she could feel my joy, she kept her hand there for a long time. Jessica watched from the edge of the crowd, her eyes full of envy. She punched her own stomach, then pushed her way through to Claire. “You know, you’ve been craving sour things,” she said loudly. “Sour for a boy, sweet for a girl. You’re definitely having a boy. I’m having a girl. You always wanted a girl, right? Let’s just swap. Everyone will be happy!” Claire stared at her, dumbfounded. “Jessica, what are you talking about? Are you feeling okay?” Jessica rolled her eyes and stuck out her stomach. “I’m having a girl and I don’t want her! You can have her! You can raise her! And you can give me your son. It’ll save you a fortune in college tuition later.” Even Claire’s legendary patience had its limits. “You smoke and drink and do everything you can to hurt your baby, and now you want to just give her away? Don’t you have any love for the child inside you?” Jessica stamped her foot. “Love? That little bitch is trying to steal my husband! You think I’m going to love her for that? Who are you trying to impress with your sanctimonious act? Fine, don’t swap. See if I care!” She stormed back to her room and started slamming an iPad against her stomach, as if she could beat the baby to death from the outside. She got even worse after that. Coffee, shellfish, intentionally falling down the stairs. The nurses were terrified of her, and started watching her around the clock. But Jessica didn’t care. “It’s my body, my baby. I can do whatever I want!” she’d shriek. “I have to protect my marriage! I’m not giving that little slut a chance!” But the baby stayed put. No miscarriage, not even any spotting. Jessica, furious, ordered a cocktail of dangerous herbs online. “I’ll get rid of you one way or another, you little bitch!” Claire noticed the strange package and immediately told Mark. He came storming into the hospital, his face like a thundercloud, and threw the herbs in the trash. “Have you forgotten this is my child too? What the hell is wrong with you?!” He threw out everything she’d bought and said, his voice deadly serious, “If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’m done. With you, and with the baby. You can both get out of my life.” Jessica fell to her knees, sobbing. “No, honey, please! I love you! I just can’t stand the thought of you caring about anyone else! Let’s just have a son, please?” Mark sighed and helped her up, wiping away her tears. “Jessica, listen to me,” he said, his voice full of a weary sincerity. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl. You are the woman I love. Nothing and no one will ever change that.” He meant it. And he had kept his word. In my last life, he had seen how Jessica tortured me, but he had looked the other way. He was an accomplice to my abuse. And now, more than ever, I was grateful to be free of both of them. The second Mark left for the office, Jessica was back to her old self, slamming her pregnant belly into the corner of a table. “You little bitch! You’re not even born yet and you’re already making him yell at me! Just you wait!” Claire watched her, a deep frown on her face. She was finally starting to see how truly unhinged her sister-in-law was. What she didn’t see was the strange, calculating smile on Jessica’s face as she watched Claire walk away. I knew Jessica wasn’t done. And I was right. That afternoon, while Claire was napping, Jessica found one of the delivery nurses. “See her?” she said, pointing at Claire’s room. “We’re probably going to give birth around the same time. When we do, I need you to do me a favor. Swap our babies.” The nurse pocketed the thick wad of cash Jessica handed her. “That’s a big risk,” she said. “If I get caught, I’ll lose my job.” Jessica sneered. “If anyone asks, just say I asked you to bring the baby over so I could see my new niece. We’re family. What’s the big deal?” The nurse nodded. “Why do you want to swap, anyway? You don’t even know if you’re both having girls.” Jessica’s eyes were full of a venomous jealousy as she looked at Claire’s door. “She’s already flirting with my brother. Now she’s trying to get cozy with my husband too? And why should she have such an easy pregnancy while I’m suffering? She wants a daughter? Fine, I’ll give her a daughter. Let’s see how she likes it when her own husband starts to stray!” After the nurse left, Jessica muttered to herself, a chilling, evil sound. “Last time, I let you live for a few years. This time, I’m going to kill you the day you’re born. No, no, I can’t even wait that long. The very first day…” My blood ran cold. Was I destined to be killed by this monster, no matter what? But what could I do? I was just a fetus. Thankfully, my limbs were fully formed now. So whenever Jessica came near Claire, I would give a little kick. At first, Claire didn’t notice. She just thought I was finally getting active. “Oh, you’re getting strong in there! Come on, baby, give Mommy a high-five!” It was the only thing I could do. I stayed perfectly still at all other times. But whenever Jessica was around, I’d kick and squirm. After the twentieth time, Claire started to look confused. She didn’t say anything, but she quietly asked Tom if they could switch hospitals. I was overjoyed. Tom was confused. “Why? This is the best hospital in the city.” Claire just said it was a mother’s intuition. In the end, Tom convinced her to stay, worried that the stress of moving so close to the due date would be bad for the baby. But he did get her a larger, more private room at the opposite end of the hall from Jessica. After that, whenever Jessica came by, Claire would pretend to be asleep. Eventually, Jessica got the hint and stopped coming around as often. I finally felt a small measure of relief. I spent my days practicing my positioning, getting ready for the big day. Eight days before my due date, I decided I was ready. Okay, Mom, for my sake, let’s do this thing. I promise I won’t make it too hard on you. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and gave a mighty kick downwards. “Nurse! Doctor! My water just broke! I’m in labor!” Claire’s voice was louder and more powerful than I’d ever heard it. The hospital staff rushed in to take her to the delivery room. Jessica, hearing the commotion, came out of her room. She stared for a second, then ran over and blocked the gurney. “It’s too early! Claire, you can’t have the baby now! We were supposed to give birth on the same day! You have to wait!” Mark, mortified, pulled her away. “What are you talking about? Are you insane?” As the delivery room doors swung shut, Jessica cursed Claire, hoping for a stillbirth. But twenty minutes later, the doors opened again. My cries filled the hallway. Mom! I’m here! The doctors and nurses were all smiling. “I’ve never seen a delivery so fast and so easy! You’re a lucky one!” The family crowded around, cooing over me in my mother’s arms. “Come on, Jessica, come see your new niece. It’ll be your turn in a few days. I’m sure it’ll be just as easy for you!” Jessica forced a smile and walked over. The second she saw me, her face froze. The thermos in her hand slipped, and a stream of boiling water came flying towards me.
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