Chapter 4

When Julian returned, he held my diagnostic report and read it for a long time.

Before bed, I heard him make a call to his mother, Mrs. Miller.

The next morning, Mr. and Mrs. Miller, carrying their luggage, rang the doorbell.

It wasn't Julian's time to leave for work yet, so he gave his parents many instructions.

After Julian left, Mrs. Miller, for once, didn't give me the cold shoulder.

"Maya, go get some more sleep. Your dad and I have discussed it; we'll help watch Leo this month. If you think we do a good job, we can continue. If you're not satisfied, we can switch with your parents to help you. We'll learn and improve together; we won't let you bear this burden alone like before!"

This entire morning, Leo was on his best behavior for his grandparents, just like he was with Chloe.

While I caught up on sleep, he only cried once.

Completely different from when I was taking care of him myself.

While using the restroom, I overheard my in-laws talking in the study.

"Our grandson isn't as difficult as Maya makes him out to be. Don't you think she just doesn't know how to take care of a baby, which is why she's so exhausted?"

Mr. Miller told Mrs. Miller to say less, and since they were here, they should just help properly.

But Mrs. Miller clearly wasn't done talking.

"Is her check-up report real? Our son isn't being tricked by her, is he? Maya is ambitious, which is good, but if she's playing tricks to get back to work, I won't forgive her!"

I quietly returned to my room.

I picked up my phone, wanting to ask my friend when the DNA test results would be ready.

As I was typing, my friend sent me a link:

**[Maya, the baby isn't yours, but he's biologically related to the owners of the other two samples.]**

My heart, which had been in my throat for over twenty hours, plummeted to my stomach.

My hands trembling, I clicked the link.

I read the conclusions of all three reports countless times.

The names on the samples were my handwriting.

And my friend had always been meticulous in his work since childhood.

With him overseeing the entire process, there was no way the samples could have been mixed up.

So, my husband of many years was actually involved with my best friend, whom I'd known since childhood.

And I, like a fool, had given up my promising career.

I sacrificed my health and well-being to raise *their* child!

Where was *my* baby then?

In the months I exhausted myself caring for Leo, was my child well-fed and warm?

My child.

Was she even alive?

When grief reaches its peak, even tears are silent.

I pounded my chest repeatedly, tears streaming down my face.

After nearly half an hour of crying, I called a few friends.

At the same time, I also called the police.

When I came out of the room, Mrs. Miller, who had been about to say something upon seeing my swollen eyes, closed her mouth again.

She shot a look at Mr. Miller.

Then she sat next to me, holding Leo.

"Maya, look how well-behaved Leo has been all morning. Come hold him."

The moment my eyes met Leo's, his thoughts automatically echoed in my ears:

**[If you dare touch me, I'll scream my head off! I love seeing you helpless!]**

I pretended to hear nothing, staring blankly into space.

My friends arrived quickly.

Seeing so many people suddenly show up,

My in-laws were confused, but they still bustled about, pouring water for everyone.

But when Julian, who should have been at the office, walked in, Mrs. Miller looked displeased.

"Maya, it's not a big deal. Why did you have to call Julian back at a time like this?"

As she complained, someone else rang the doorbell.

Upon seeing the police, everyone's expressions varied, except for my friends.

"Not only did you call all these people, but you also called the police. What are you trying to do?"

Looking at Julian, his face filled with anger, I finally spoke, slowly and deliberately.

"Where is my child? The child *I* gave birth to, where did you take her?!"