Chapter 3

3

With all the solid evidence in hand, everything from my past life made sickening sense.

Tonight's so-called romantic dinner was never about romance; it was an execution plan.

She was currently carrying a child that could be mine or Derek's, and since she couldn't be certain, she had to terminate the pregnancy quietly.

Only by wiping the slate clean could she prove her complete devotion to Derek.

I remembered that in my past life, less than two months after losing the baby, Tara joined an out-of-town film production crew.

Back then, I wondered why a talent manager needed to stay locked on set with an artist for months on end.

Being unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, I naively accepted it, seeing her only once that entire year.

When she returned home for the holidays, she immediately proposed adopting a baby girl.

When we visited the adoption agency, she pointed straight at an infant in a crib. "I want her. I feel an undeniable connection with this child."

Now I realized she had spent those months away secretly giving birth to Derek's baby.

Recalling Sierra's eighteenth birthday, when she wrapped her arm around Derek and called him Dad, I finally realized how much she resembled him.

Back then, pure rage made me want to rip them apart.

Instead, I ended up murdered.

Fortunately, Sierra wasn't even born yet in this timeline, otherwise I couldn't guarantee keeping my temper in check.

Knowing tonight was a trap, I made thorough preparations.

Since Tara wanted this pregnancy gone so badly, I was more than happy to help her script a different ending.

I called my mother-in-law, Evelyn, claiming I had just cashed a hundred-thousand-dollar bonus and wanted to hand it to her for safekeeping. I told her to come over tonight as a surprise for Tara.

A greedy leech like Evelyn would never jeopardize a six-figure payout, so she kept her mouth firmly shut.

That evening, when I walked in with groceries alongside Evelyn, Tara had already uncorked a bottle of red wine on the counter.

The sight of that bottle made my spine tingle.

There was no way in hell I was touching that drugged vintage.

Tara froze in shock the moment she saw her mother. "Mom? What are you doing here?"

"You're having a baby! How could I miss such an incredible celebration?"

Evelyn didn't hesitate for a second. She tossed her coat onto the sofa and took a seat at the dining table, ready to feast.

While Tara was distracted chatting with her mother, I smoothly swapped her drugged wine with an untampered bottle.

Throughout the meal, Tara sat on pins and needles, while I savored every single bite.

As the night wore on, Tara grew restless and tried to usher Evelyn out the door.

Unwilling to leave without mentioning the hundred grand, Evelyn spoke up. "It's getting late, so I'll just crash in your guest room tonight."

"Mom, that's not..."

"Don't worry, babe. We have plenty of space. Let your mom stay."

I cut Tara off before she could kick her mother out.

"Exactly! What's wrong with staying at my own daughter and son-in-law's place?"

With both of us pressing the issue, Tara had no choice but to swallow her frustration and let Evelyn stay.