The suffocating sensation of near-death clung to my mind, a constant reminder that in this life, I would make my killers pay.

"Jean?"

Monica's voice brought me back to the present. I still managed a smile. "You can have the baby. The extra Y chromosome means a super tough guy."

Monica looked at me oddly, "But... the doctor said it's best not to..."

"But without this child, Liam wouldn't marry you, right?"

I sighed, "Won't Liam be upset if you abort it?"

Liam and Monica had been together for six years, a relationship marred by infidelity with more than thirty others.

I'd tried to talk some sense into Monica, the hopeless romantic, but she was convinced Liam really loved her.

So, I decided to just wish her well.

It was clear from Monica's expression that she had no intention of aborting the baby.

After we left the hospital, Monica naturally went to the passenger seat of my car.

I stopped her, saying, "I've got some work to do at the office. Why don't you have Liam come get you?"

Monica turned pale and questioned, "What could be more important than taking me home? I'm pregnant."

I rolled my eyes, thinking to myself, "You're not pregnant with me."

I used to be kind to Monica because we both came from the same orphanage.

I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a charity to go to college, while Monica decided not to go to college and started working instead.

We were always in the same city, so you could say we leaned on each other.

There was a time when, no matter how busy or tired I was, if she called for help, I'd rush over. Whatever she wanted, I'd buy it for her without hesitation.

In my heart, she was like a sister to me.

But people change. What I thought was family turned out to be a relationship filled with hidden agendas and deceit.

I disregarded Monica's growing frown, offering a nonchalant reply, "The company needs me right away. If I'm late, there'll be a penalty."

Hearing about the fine, Monica reluctantly agreed, "Alright then."

After all, I was basically her personal bank, and she was probably worried about losing her ATM.

Instead of heading back to the office after leaving the hospital, I went to my lawyer's office.

There, I retrieved records of the transfers I'd made to Monica over the years, amounting to 200 thousand dollars.