Chapter 1Giving His Best Friend A Womb

It was New Year’s Eve, and we were celebrating with friends when my husband’s “best bro” suddenly clutched his stomach and crumbled dramatically into Ryan Maxwell’s arms.

His face was ghostly pale. He weakly grasped Ryan’s hand and said:

“Ry, my gut is killing me. It’s got to be your wife’s bad juju—she must have passed her period curse to me. Rub it better, big bro!”

Ryan immediately pulled him closer, his face etched with concern, then he spun around and snapped at me.

“This is your fault for having a goddamn period and making him sick, Jessie! Riley is taking on your suffering—now, get in there and make him some hot soothing tea!”

Riley—my husband’s supposedly platonic male friend—leaned weakly against Ryan. The look in his eyes was pure, cold provocation.

“Don’t mind me, Jessie,” he whispered, his voice purposely gravelly and low. “We’re just bros. Honestly, if I had a uterus, I’d give Ry the heir he deserves before anyone else.”

I stared at the overly-masculine posture and the obvious, fake lump he used as a makeshift Adam’s apple, and nearly burst out laughing.

Did he truly think I was as blind as Ryan and his pathetic friends? Did they believe I hadn’t known Riley was a woman for months?

I was tied to a "Wish Fulfillment" New Year’s Gift System.

Since you are so desperate to be fertile, I thought, I will grant your wish.

Take the torrent of good fortune you asked for!

...

* * *

I glanced down at my phone, where a system interface only I could see had popped up.

[New Year's Gift System Activated. Detected Wish: To Conceive and Bear.]

[Issue gift to target 'Riley'?]

I pressed Confirm without a moment's hesitation.

Ryan was still wrapped up in worry, haphazardly rubbing Riley’s abdomen through his thick sweater.

“Good boy, Riley. Rub it better. It’s all this useless woman’s fault.”

He looked up and glared at me, his eyes burning with a hatred that suggested he wanted to devour me whole.

“Jessie! What are you standing around for? Can’t you see Riley’s in pain? Get your ass in the kitchen and make that tea!”

“Of course, Ryan. Right away.”

I turned and walked into the kitchen, a cold, silent laugh echoing in my mind.

Inside, I slowly boiled the water, and casually added a modifier in the system.

“System, dial the effect up. I want it intense.”

[Request received. Energy doubled.]

When I carried the cup of hot ginger-molasses tea out, the scene in the living room had already shifted.

Riley’s pain had been an act. Now, the terror in her face was real.

Large beads of cold sweat rolled down her forehead.

“Nngh… it hurts so bad…”

Ryan was panicking, pacing back and forth. “What the hell? You were just fine a minute ago!”

I handed the tea to Riley. “Here you go. Drink it while it’s hot.”

Riley took one sip, and a fresh scream ripped out of her. “Ah! What is this? Why does it hurt more!”

Ryan snatched the bowl from her hand and hurled it onto the hardwood floor.

The ceramic shattered, and the steaming liquid splashed onto my bare foot.

“Jessie! What poison did you put in this? Riley’s worse now!”

“Are you trying to poison him?”

I stared at him, my expression blank. “It’s just tea, Ryan. What poison could there be?”

Ryan’s spineless friends in the room chimed in.

“Jessie, that’s seriously messed up. Riley’s always been nothing but kind to you.”

“Yeah, your husband’s bro is our bro. You’ve got a twisted heart, woman.”

Ryan pointed a trembling finger right at my face.

“Kneel! Apologize to Riley now! He took your curse, and you repay him by trying to kill him!”

Riley weakly pulled at Ryan’s hand. “Ry, don’t blame Jessie. It’s my poor constitution… ugh!”

Before she could finish, another tortured cry.

“There’s something kicking me in the stomach!”

Ryan and the circle of friends froze.

“Riley, what are you saying? You’re a grown man. There’s nothing in there to kick you.”

Ryan was half-shouting when he yanked up Riley’s thick sweater.

As soon as the fabric was lifted, everyone in the room gasped.