Chapter 4Giving His Best Friend A Womb

I could hear my mother-in-law, Elaine’s, shrill voice through the phone.

“What? Pregnant? Riley is my angel! Who dares to insult him like that?”

“That jinx, Jessie! I knew she was bad news! You wait there, I’m bringing the family!”

I listened to the call and smiled bitterly.

My mother-in-law, Elaine, had always thought I wasn’t good enough for her son, treating me like a servant.

Riley, on the other hand, was charming and sweet-talking, completely winning her over.

Elaine had told me to my face more than once that if only Riley had been a girl, I would have been replaced long ago.

Well, now Riley was “fertile.” Let’s see how she handled this.

Less than twenty minutes later, Elaine arrived, flanked by several family members, her face a mask of rage.

As soon as she saw me, she charged forward, her hand raised to strike.

I was ready. I sidestepped, catching her wrist firmly.

“Elaine, we’re in public. Public assault isn’t a good look.”

“You dare dodge me?”

Elaine was shaking with fury, pointing her finger at my face.

“Jessie Maxwell, you black-hearted, husband-cursing witch!”

“Riley is such a good kid, and you’ve tortured him like this, and then bribed doctors to say he’s pregnant? Are you trying to destroy him?”

Ryan chimed in, “Exactly, Mom. You didn’t see that doctor, she sounded completely convinced.”

“Jessie must be scared that Riley’s going to take my affection, so she’s resorted to this dirty trick.”

I looked at the three of them—this bizarre family unit—and laughed out loud.

“Fine. If you all think I bribed the doctor, then let’s prove it to the public. Right now.”

“Ryan, you said Riley is a pure man. Do you dare do this ultrasound live for the world to see?”

To prove his innocence and to extort money from the hospital, Ryan stuck his chin out.

“Bring it on! I dare you! When the results are back, you will crawl out of my house on your hands and knees!”

Riley, lying on the gurney, his stomach now swollen like a ceramic bowl turned upside down, was in too much pain to speak. He could only stare at Ryan with pleading eyes.

“No… go home…”

“Good boy, Riley. Don’t be afraid.”

Elaine stroked Riley’s forehead, her heart clearly breaking.

“We’re just going to get a picture, humiliate these scam artists, and make sure they never say such a thing again!”

At Elaine’s insistence, Riley was wheeled into the ultrasound room.

Ryan and Elaine demanded to go in, and the technicians, overwhelmed, allowed them behind a privacy screen.

I calmly took out my phone and started streaming.

“Elaine, you love Riley so much. If he really can bear a child, will you finally let me go?”

Elaine sneered, her face full of disdain.

“Of course! If Riley can give my son a child, I’ll kick you out that minute and bring him into the family!”

My heart filled with a terrible glee, but I feigned a tearful sadness.

“Fine. You heard her. You all witnessed it.”

Inside the ultrasound room, the doctor placed the probe on Riley’s grotesquely high belly.

The monitor quickly showed an image.

The ultrasound tech, a fresh-faced young man, stared at the screen, his mouth agape.

“It’s… it’s a human shape!”

Ryan shoved the screen aside, his roar vibrating through the room.

“What the hell are you saying! Look closer, you idiot!”

He lunged toward the monitor and instantly froze.

On the screen, a clearly outlined, small humanoid shape was curled up.

You could even see the regular, flashing light of a beating heart.

I calmly pulled out another piece of paper. This was a paternity and amniocentesis report I had redeemed from the System moments before.

“Yes, Ryan. Not only is he pregnant, but it’s yours.”