Chapter 3The Triple Curse

After successfully fleecing me twice, Lydia became even more brazen. Every few days, she’d complain of weakness or pain. Mother doted on her, as if she were a goddess, indulging her every whim. Anything Lydia herself was too stingy to buy, she’d have Mother call me for. Marcus even occasionally sent me videos of Lydia’s bulging belly, bragging about his “sons” who were destined to inherit a fortune. In the videos, Lydia’s stomach was enormous, like a balloon inflated to its maximum. But based on her gestation, she should only have been four months along!

I couldn’t resist reminding Marcus. “Lydia’s belly is alarmingly large. Perhaps she should see a specialist?”

Marcus immediately exploded. “Clara Vance, what are your true intentions? With three sons inside, how could her belly not be big? I say it’s just your own inability to conceive, and your jealousy of Lydia’s triple blessing!”

Mother, stamping her foot, chimed in. “A big belly means my grandsons are growing well! If you dare mention sending your sister-in-law to a clinic again, to bring ill fortune, I’ll rip your tongue out!”

Lydia, enjoying her current life of endless indulgence, also told me to mind my own business. Even the Grim Reaper can’t stop someone determined to hasten their own demise. I stopped advising them.

When Lydia was five months pregnant, Mother called me in the middle of the night, weeping, claiming Lydia was threatening to jump from a window and begging me to rush back and help talk her down. I drove home to find Lydia standing by the window, a roasted drumstick in one hand, a can of soda in the other, eating and drinking. Seeing me push open the door, she tossed her food, feigned a jump, and wailed theatrically, “I can’t bear this life any longer. I might as well die…”

One look at her, and I knew she was up to her old tricks, plotting against me again. But what disturbed me more was her belly. What kind of monstrosity was she carrying?! Her stomach was grotesquely distended, forming three balloon-like lobes, her skin stretched thin and almost translucent. It wobbled from side to side with her movements, like a child’s sloshing toy, and I could hear liquid gurgling within.

Seeing me silently staring at Lydia’s belly, Mother delivered a sharp slap to the back of my head. “Don’t pretend to be deaf and dumb! Hurry and talk some sense into your sister-in-law!”

I tore my gaze away and asked directly, “What do you want this time?”

Marcus rubbed his nose, a sheepish grin on his face. “It’s nothing major, really. Just wanted to discuss the matter of your three nephews’ properties.”

“My three nephews’ properties?” I feigned confusion.

Mother cut Marcus off, earnestly advising me. “Your sister-in-law is carrying triplets, and they’re all boys! Don’t they each deserve their own house? Your father’s and mine, plus your brother’s and Lydia’s, and then yours—that makes exactly three! When do you have time to transfer your property into Lydia’s name, so she can rest easy during her pregnancy?”

“In the future, your nephews will remember your kindness and take care of you in your old age!”

“Sister, Lydia is carrying the future of the Vance lineage in her belly. There can be no mistakes! You mustn’t falter now, or you’ll be a sinner against our family!”

Lydia pointed to her belly, utterly confident in her leverage. “Clara Vance, if you don’t agree, I’ll jump right now, and you’ll watch!”

I almost laughed with rage. In both this life and the last, they coveted my home. Remembering how, in my previous life, they had murdered my husband for it, I knew that if I refused today, they might plot something sinister against Liam and me.

“I have no objection to transferring the house to Lydia. After all, I don’t plan on having children, so it will all go to my nephews anyway.”

Mother and the others beamed, praising my understanding and sensibility. I sneered inwardly, my face betraying nothing. “It’s just that the house is shared marital property. I’ll need to discuss it with Liam. Rest assured, I’ll work on him. The house will definitely go to my nephews.”

My words were perfectly reasonable, even Marcus nodded in agreement. “Right, right. You do a good job convincing your brother-in-law. We need to keep our wealth in the family.”

Lydia, slightly displeased I hadn't immediately agreed, continued to demand more. “Clara, when your three nephews are born, you mustn’t be stingy.”

“You’ll need to give each of your nephews a gift of at least sixty-six thousand credits, won’t you?”

I almost rolled my eyes. But I readily agreed. “Fine!” As long as you can actually deliver them.