Chapter 2Giving His Best Friend A Womb

Riley’s previously flat abdomen, in front of all of us, began to swell like a grotesque time-lapse video.

Once, twice…

In just a few seconds, her stomach had pushed out into a distinct, high-riding curve, looking exactly like a pregnancy well into the second trimester.

“What is this?” Ryan was terrified, his hands shaking.

I put on a performance of shock, clapping a hand over my mouth. My voice trembled convincingly.

“Oh my God, Riley! Your stomach is growing so fast! You… you couldn’t be pregnant, could you?”

Riley stared down at her own stomach, her eyes wide with true terror.

“Impossible! I can’t be pregnant!”

Ryan was dumbfounded, tentatively touching the hard, tight skin of Riley’s belly.

“Riley, what’s going on?”

I pointed and shouted, “Look at her stomach! There’s something moving inside!”

Everyone followed my gaze.

Sure enough, a distinct, terrifying outline of a small foot pressed against Riley’s taut skin, kicking hard.

“Ugh!” Riley screamed, curling into a tight ball on the sofa.

“Ry, help me… it hurts so bad, I think my insides are tearing apart…”

Ryan was completely lost, wanting to hold her but too afraid to touch that monstrous belly.

“Hospital! Get him to the hospital, now!”

One of the friends finally reacted, moving to lift Riley onto his back.

Riley heard the word “hospital” and instantly lost it.

Clutching her belly, she desperately burrowed into Ryan’s chest.

“No! I’m not going to the hospital! Ry, please! It’s just acute gastritis, I just need to rest!”

She yelled and desperately clamped her arms over her chest.

I sneered internally. She’s terrified that once she’s in a hospital gown, the chest binder and her true gender will be exposed.

“Riley, this is no time to be afraid of doctors!”

I moved closer, feigning deep concern.

“Look at that stomach. What if it… bursts if you don’t get medical attention?”

“Ryan, you love your brother so much, don't you? Do you really want to watch her die in your arms?”

Ryan was shocked into action.

“Right! Hospital! Riley, listen to me, I’m with you! No one is going to hurt you!”

He scooped Riley up without waiting for a protest and charged toward the door.

Riley was still screaming in agony.

Before leaving, Ryan spun back and spat a threat at me.

“Jessie, if anything happens to Riley, I swear I will never forgive you!”

“And you’re paying the medical bills! He’s suffering because of you, you’re responsible for everything!”

I watched his frantic retreat, slowly pulled out my phone, and swiped his secondary credit card.

“Responsible? Absolutely, I’m responsible.”

I immediately canceled that secondary card and finalized the paperwork to place a lien on the only property under Ryan’s name.

The down payment for that house came from my father. The renovations were paid for by me.

I used to love him; I used to be a willing punching bag.

Now, all I wanted was to watch them all burn.

“Come on, everyone! Let’s go see this medical miracle. A pregnant man—you can’t miss this!”

I waved at the gawkers and friends, and we followed the frantic Ryan to the emergency room.

We were barely inside the entrance when Riley let out a horrifying shriek.

“He’s bleeding!”

I looked down. Riley’s gray sweatpants were suddenly drenched in a large patch of crimson at the groin.

Blood streamed down his inner thigh, staining the white hospital floor tiles—a chilling sight.

Ryan froze, staring blankly at the blood on his hands.

“Riley… does your gastritis come with blood in the urine?”