I was seven months pregnant with twins when my entire world shattered.
That evening, I was folding tiny onesies, smiling to myself as I imagined what my babies would look like. Would they have my eyes? Eric’s dimples? My phone buzzed, interrupting my daydream. When I saw the name on the screen, my heart skipped a beat.
Veronica. Eric’s boss.
My first thought was that something terrible had happened to Eric at work. My hands trembled as I unlocked my phone, fearing an accident or bad news.
But what I saw was worse than I could have ever imagined.
It was a photo of Eric. Shirtless. Lying in a bed I didn’t recognize. Smirking at the camera.
My stomach churned, and my hands turned ice-cold. My breath came in short, sharp gasps as I read the caption:
“It’s time you knew. He’s mine.”
The babies kicked, sensing my distress. My mind spun. This had to be a mistake, a joke. Eric wouldn’t do this to me. Not while I was carrying his children.
I called him. Straight to voicemail.
I tried again. And again.
Nothing.
Tears blurred my vision as I lowered myself onto the couch, one hand cradling my belly. “Easy, babies,” I whispered. “Mama’s here. No matter what happens, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I had no idea how wrong I was.
That evening, Eric finally came home. But he wasn’t alone.
Veronica walked in beside him, her heels clicking against the floor like she owned the place. Tall, poised, wrapped in an expensive designer outfit, she oozed confidence. Her presence was suffocating.
Eric looked at me, his face unreadable.
“Eric,” I said, my voice shaking. “What is this?”
He exhaled, as if already exhausted by the conversation. “It’s simple, Lauren. I’m in love with Veronica. I’m leaving you. Let’s be adults about this and not make a scene, okay?”
A scene? He wanted to avoid a scene?!
I was carrying his children, and he was talking like we were discussing dinner plans!
“You can’t be serious,” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. “We’re having babies in two months.”
Eric shrugged. “Life happens.”
Then Veronica smirked and crossed her arms. “Since this is Eric’s apartment, you’ll need to move out by the end of the week.”
I blinked. My head was spinning.
“You’re insane,” I snapped. “I have nowhere to go! I’m pregnant with HIS children!”
“Twins, right?” Veronica tilted her head, her eyes scanning my belly like I was a livestock auction. “Or triplets? You are rather… swollen.”
Her lips curled into a smirk. “I think I have a solution.”
A chill ran down my spine. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ll buy you a house and cover all your expenses, but I want one of the babies.”
My blood turned to ice.
“What?!”
“I don’t want to ruin my body with pregnancy, but I’d love to have a baby. You’re carrying two, so why not let me have one? It’s a win-win.”
She reached out and stroked Eric’s chest. “You’ll never be able to raise twins alone. This is a good deal for you.”
Eric nodded, like this was a reasonable conversation. Like I was a walking womb they could barter with.
I felt like throwing up.
But then an idea formed in my mind.
I let my shoulders slump. I let my voice break. “I… I have nowhere else to go,” I whispered. “I’ll agree to your deal, but I have one condition.”
Veronica smirked, victorious. “Smart girl. What’s the condition?”
“I get to choose which baby you take. And I need time.” I sniffled, looking down, feigning shame. “I just want to make sure I choose the right one.”
Eric and Veronica exchanged a glance. I could see it in their eyes—they thought they’d won.
“Fine,” Veronica agreed. “But don’t take too long.”
I nodded, wiping a fake tear. “And one more thing.”
Veronica sighed. “What now?”
“You’ll buy me a house. Not rent it.” My voice hardened. “I need security. No deal otherwise.”
Eric scoffed, but Veronica held up a hand. “Fine. But you better keep your word.”
Oh, I would. Just not in the way they thought.
For months, I played along.
Veronica bought me a beautiful three-bedroom house. She never even looked at the paperwork—too busy celebrating her ‘future baby.’ I let her feel my belly. I told her I was agonizing over the choice. All lies.
Then the babies came. Two perfect girls.
The moment I held them, I knew—I would never let those monsters take them from me.
On the third day, I called Veronica.
“I’m ready to talk.”
She arrived within the hour, practically vibrating with excitement. Eric followed, smug as ever.
“So,” she cooed, stepping inside. “Which one is mine?”
I took a deep breath, holding my daughters close. “Neither.”
Her smile froze. “Excuse me?”
I stood, my body weak but my voice strong. “You’re not taking my babies. Either of them.”
Eric groaned. “Oh, don’t start this dramatic nonsense—”
“You thought you could buy my child like some expensive handbag?” I spat. “You’re disgusting.”
Veronica’s eyes darkened. “Then I’m kicking you out.”
I smiled. “No, you’re not. This house is mine.”
Her face drained of color. “What? That’s impossible!”
Eric looked just as confused. “We signed the papers together!”
“Yeah,” I said, smirking. “And you were so busy gloating, you didn’t read them. My name is the only one on the deed.”
Veronica staggered back, as if I’d slapped her.
“Oh, and one more thing.” I pointed at my phone on the coffee table. “I posted everything. The messages. The photos. Your sick baby deal. It’s all over social media. I tagged your company, Veronica. Your investors. Even the charity boards you sit on.”
Veronica lunged for my phone. Her face went from pale to gray.
Eric grabbed it from her, his face like paper. “You—you ruined us!”
I tilted my head. “No. You did that all on your own.”
Eric lost his job. Veronica became a disgrace. They were blacklisted everywhere.
And me? I rocked my girls to sleep every night in my beautiful home, knowing I hadn’t just gotten revenge.
I had won.