His First Love Killed My Unborn - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

My mother-in-law whipped her head around, her voice raspy and dripping with accusation. "This is the countryside, not the city. There's no night market here. Are you asking just to rub it in our faces? What's your game?"
My sister-in-law finally looked up from her phone, smirking. "Sis, nobody here eats midnight snacks. You're a mom now—shouldn't you know better? Late-night eating spikes blood sugar. If you can't even figure that out, how are you gonna raise a kid?"
My father-in-law took a long drag from his pipe, blowing out a thick cloud of smoke. "City girl habits the second you walk in. If you're hungry, there are stale buns in the cupboard. Help yourself."
Too exhausted to fight, I just turned and slipped into the bedroom without a word.
Lying on the stiff, unwelcoming bed, memories of my life before marriage flooded back.
When we got engaged, my in-laws had clasped my hands, their eyes warm. "We'll treat you like our own," they'd promised.
My sister-in-law had linked arms with me, grinning. "You're family now. If my brother ever steps out of line, I've got your back!"
Now, the truth was crystal clear. Lies. All of it.
I'd given this family everything—gifts, red envelopes, every holiday, every occasion.
But today, it hit me: in the Shaw family, a daughter-in-law would always be an outsider. Through the flimsy door, their laughter and chatter seeped in, a cruel reminder of where I stood.
I yanked the quilt over my head, blocking out the noise, and eventually fell into a fitful sleep.
I didn't know how long I'd been out when someone shook me awake.
It was Ian.
He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at me like he was trying to read my mind.
My breath caught. Did he finally realize the baby was gone?
My chest tightened, tears pricking my eyes—but before I could speak, he flashed me an awkward, almost pleading smile. "Wife," he started, voice dripping with false sweetness. "We need to talk."
I frowned. "About what?"
He scooted closer, hesitating. "Paula's kid's birthday is the day after tomorrow. I was thinking… a $5,000 cash gift."
I stared at him, my face hardening.
He barreled on, oblivious. "And since the kid calls you Auntie, it'd be nice to show some respect, right?"
I arched a brow. "And how do you suggest I do that?"
His tone brightened. "You could buy the kid gold bracelets! Prices are good right now. I already picked a pair—only $15,000."
It took me a second to process.
Did he even remember when I'd wanted that gold bracelet for our wedding? The one that was half that price? He'd dragged me out of the store, muttering, "Stop wasting money. We'll wait for a sale."
Rage burned through me like wildfire.
I clenched my jaw, forcing my voice steady. "Ian, what have you ever bought our child?"
He looked stunned, then irritated. "Paula and I go way back! It's just bracelets. Quit making a big deal out of it."
I let out a bitter laugh.
Of course. For Paula—his precious first love—no price was too high.
"Fine," I said, my voice icy.
His face lit up. He leaned in for a kiss.
I turned away sharply. "Sleep in the other room. Your snoring keeps me up."
Unfazed, he left humming, already glued to his phone. Seconds later, an Instagram notification chimed.
I opened it. The gold shop address glared back at me—the same mall where I'd caught him buying lingerie for Paula.
I closed the app, my face blank—until a friend request popped up.
[Paula Keith]: "Ian insisted on buying Lloyd gold bracelets. I tried to say no, but he got mad—said I was being too formal."
I stared, numb, before accepting. More messages bombarded me.
[Paula Keith]: "Sherrie, is Ian this generous with you and your baby? Don't worry, I'll return the favor. When your kid turns one month old, I'll gift you longevity locks."
[Paula Keith]: "Oh wait… those aren't just given away. Too bad."
Followed by a laughing-till-crying emoji.
My vision blurred. I couldn't breathe, my whole body shaking.
Before I shattered completely, I opened Director Zheng's Instagram and typed with trembling fingers:
"I'll come tomorrow to finalize the funeral arrangements. Thank you for everything."
I turned off my phone, wiped my tears, and clenched my fists.
We're going to that birthday party, baby. And we'll give them a gift they'll never forget.