Chapter 1

1

Three years into our marriage, I finally got pregnant.

I was carrying a lunchbox, ready to head over to Tom's office and tell him the amazing news.

But his secretary, Brenda, treated me like some kind of homewrecker.

She dumped the lunch all over my head, ripped my clothes, and basically beat me until I miscarried.

"A nanny trying to seduce Mr. Thompson and get pregnant with his kid? Get real!"

"Today, I'm going to show you what happens to trash like you."

Then, all smug, she bragged to my Tom:

"Mr. Thompson, I took care of a gold digger trying to get to you. What's my reward?"

...

Lately, my appetite's been off, throwing up everything I ate, so I went to the doctor.

When the doctor told me I was pregnant, I burst into tears of joy.

Tom and I were high school sweethearts, got married and started trying for a baby after college, but no luck.

Tom always told me, "It'll happen when it's meant to be, maybe our baby is waiting for the right moment."

Well, the right moment was finally here.

"Mrs. Thompson, you're four months along already. Things look stable, but still, be careful, no roughhousing."

I smiled, gently touching my slightly rounded belly.

Four months already?

My period was always irregular, and I just thought I'd gained weight around the waist.

I got home, buzzing with excitement, cooking and packing a lunch for Tom, ready to spill the news in person.

Lunchbox in hand, I walked right into Thompson Corp.

As I was about to push open Tom's office door, a flashy woman stopped me.

"Who are you?"

Her tone was cold, sizing me up with narrowed eyes.

I held up the lunchbox, "I'm bringing lunch for Tom Thompson."

I don't like calling Tom "honey" or "sweetheart" in front of strangers.

She relaxed a little, a sneer creeping into her voice. "Oh, you're the nanny. I'm Brenda, Mr. Thompson's executive assistant."

"Just give me the lunch. You can go."

I shook my head. "I'm not the nanny, and I want to give it to Mr. Thompson myself. Please, just let me in."

Right then, the woman lost it, snatching the lunchbox from my hands.

"Who do you think you are? A nanny trying to get with Mr. Thompson?"

"And dressed like that? I'll teach you some manners."

She dragged me into the conference room, slammed the door, and slapped me across the face.

My cheek instantly swelled up, and I fell to the floor.

Before I could react, I got kicked in the head.

The baby!

Ignoring everything else, I curled up, protecting my stomach.

"Let's see what kind of grub you're bringing for Mr. Thompson."

Brenda opened the lunchbox, dumping it all over my head.

Three hours I'd spent making that rib soup. Now it was scalding, dripping through my hair and all over the floor.

My scalp was on fire.

But I couldn't move, afraid to hurt the baby.