Blurb After three years of marriage, and I still couldnt get pregnant. Ethan had convinced me to try IVF, and after two long years, I finally had a baby on the way. Eight months into the pregnancy, though, I overheard Ethan chatting with his buddy Zack. Dude, youve been slipping Lila birth control pills for a whole three years just to make her think shes infertile so shed agree to IVF? All so we could implant Lisas eggs into her? Thats cold, man! Zack hissed, his voice low but sharp. Ethan just laughed, shrugging as if discussing something as trivial as dinner plans. Why let Lisa go through nine months of hellstretch marks, back pain, swollen ankles, that excruciating childbirth? Nah. Shes too delicate for all that. My chest tightened as I stared at the man Id loved for years, the man whod spent years plotting every detail, the man whose smile had always hidden a dozen lieshe stood there like nothing was wrong. Without a second thought, I pulled out my phone and dialed the hospital. Hi, I need to schedule an abortion, I said, my voice steady despite the rage boiling inside me. Chapter 1 Three years of marriage, and I still couldnt get pregnant. Ethan had convinced me to try IVF, and after two long years, I finally had a baby on the way. Eight months into the pregnancy, though, I overheard Ethan chatting with his buddy Zack in the living room. Dude, youve been slipping Lila birth control pills for three years? Making her think shes infertile so shed agree to IVF? All so we could implant Lisas eggs into her? Thats cold, man! Zack hissed, his voice low but sharp. Ethan just laughed, shrugging as if discussing something as trivial as dinner plans. Why let Lisa go through nine months of hellstretch marks, back pain, swollen ankles, that excruciating childbirth? Nah. Shes too delicate for all that. My chest tightened as I stared at the man Id loved for years, the man whod spent years plotting every detail, the man whose smile had always hidden a dozen lieshe stood there like nothing was wrong. Arent you worried Lila will lose it when she finds out the truth? I mean, no one wants to carry another persons kid, right? Especially after nine months of growing someone elses baby, Zack teased, eyeing Ethan with a smirk. Ethan scoffed. Shes too clueless to figure it out. And even if she didwhats she gonna do? Shes eight months pregnant. You think shell abort at this stage? Look at hershes as big as a house. Who else would want her after shes like this? True, everyone knows how obsessed Lila is with you. Shes been clinging to you like a damn leech for years, Zack said, his grin turning sleazy as he winked. But I gotta admit… Im kinda curious what its like with a pregnant chick. Ethans face twisted in disgust. Shes a walking whale. Just looking at her stomachall swollen and grosskills any urge. Id rather watch porn than touch her. Its nauseating. Since youre not into it, maybe I can take a shot? I wouldnt mind testing that out, Zack said, sieazy laughter trailing his words. Their mocking voices sliced through me like knives in the quiet room. Each cackle drilled into my chest, a twisted soundtrack to the betrayal unraveling before me. For two years, the IVF hormones had wrecked my bodythickened my waist, left my skin stretched and itchy, covered my belly in purple stretch marks by month five. Id thought Ethan was doting when he stuffed me with protein shakes and steaks, worried about the babys health. Now I knew he only cared about the fetus growing inside methe product of his and Lisas egg. My palms were clenched so tight my nails bit into the flesh, cold sweat trickling down my spine as I practically fled the suffocating room. Once I could breathe, I pulled out my phone and dialed the hospital. Hi, I need to schedule an abortion, I said, voice steady despite the tremor in my hands. I went that night, and I was terrified that staying even a second longer would make me lose my goddamn mind. The on-call doctor studied my massive belly, skepticism in her eyes. Eight months is very late. Are you certain? she asked. What does the father say about this? He is Dead. I snapped. Since Ethan wanted this baby so badly, Id prepare A BIG GIFT for him.