Chapter 3

Not long after Chloe left, looking pleased with herself wearing the five-figure hairpin,

Leo, tired from playing, fell asleep.

When the nanny wasn't looking, I retrieved the hairs I’d thrown into the trash can earlier.

Perhaps I'd pulled them quite hard, as nearly every strand had a follicle attached.

I put them into a small bag and labeled it.

I also pulled a few strands of my own hair and put them into another bag.

Leo's hair was too fine; I couldn't tell if it had follicles.

I would have to wait until he woke up, trim his nails, and put them with his hair.

Julian, home from work, listened as I told him I was going to the hospital for a check-up.

Unusually, he showed some concern.

"If you're really too tired, hire another nanny, or have both our moms take turns helping out. Don't try to handle everything alone."

I took a sip of water, trying to hide the bitterness that rose in my chest after hearing his words.

If I hadn't developed a strong will from my previous job,

These past few months would have utterly destroyed my spirit.

If not for that strange experience today,

Suddenly hearing Julian's comfort might have made me so emotional I'd burst into tears.

But now, thinking of Leo calling him "Daddy" and Chloe "Mommy,"

My heart was heavy.

To avoid disturbing Julian's sleep and affecting his work the next day,

We had been sleeping in separate rooms since Leo was born.

Because I said my heart wasn't feeling well, Julian, for the first time, offered to take care of Leo for the night.

The next morning, a refreshed Julian placed Leo in my arms.

"This kid is really considerate. I told him he couldn't throw tantrums at night, or Daddy wouldn't have the energy for work the next day, and he really slept through the entire night!"

I forced a smile, looking down to meet Leo's wide-eyed gaze.

Then, that voice appeared again:

**[Of course, I’d be considerate to my Daddy! As for you, the nanny, I want to torment you! It's all because of you that Mommy can't live with us!]**

Before the nanny could clean the room, I thoroughly searched every inch of where Julian had slept.

Chloe arrived early. After I briefly explained a few things, I left the house alone.

Breathing the fresh air outside,

For a moment, I felt a little disoriented.

How long had it been since I truly looked at the sky?

How long had it been since I genuinely felt the sun on my skin?

Just one baby.

And I felt like I couldn't even control my own life anymore.

I knew a friend who worked at a DNA testing agency.

To get the results as quickly as possible, I paid a little extra.

Perhaps accustomed to my situation,

My friend didn't ask any questions.

He personally oversaw the process with the samples.

Learning that the results wouldn't be ready until tomorrow at the earliest, I turned and went to the hospital.

My heart really wasn't feeling right.

Over these past few months, the longest I'd slept was less than three hours.

Anxiety, stress, huge clumps of hair falling out.

Every day I woke up to the sound of my baby crying.

My dreams were filled with his discontented wails.

I couldn't even imagine what I'd be like now if I didn't have a nanny helping with the housework.

And lending a hand when I couldn't manage.

"Your myocardial ischemia is quite serious. You need to adjust your routine immediately. If you let it continue, you're at high risk of sudden death!"

Back home, Chloe was holding Leo and watching TV.

After I repeated what the doctor said, Chloe was silent for a long time.

"Maya, let's find someone else to help out. I'll also come to visit you often. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."