Chapter 3

"Cut the crap!" I snapped, refusing to touch the bundle. "First you said it was my baby, now you say it’s Sienna's. Do you have actual proof? Without proof, you're just dumping a random kid on us. Officer, I strongly suspect this man is running a baby-trafficking ring!"

With that, I shoved the baby right back into his arms and stepped back, washing my hands of the whole thing.

My mother looked shocked. "Chloe!"

"Mom, don't be naive. There are so many scammers out there these days!"

Mrs. Gable chimed in from the crowd. "She's right. You two shouldn't be so gullible. This doctor first claimed it was Chloe's, and now he says it's Sienna's. His mouth is full of lies!"

"Yeah, who knows where he kidnapped that baby from!"

The doctor practically jumped out of his skin. "I, Gary Miller, have never lied in my life! My clinic has been open for years. Why would I lie?"

"Last night, Sienna literally ran into my clinic, begging me to deliver her baby!"

"She even left her phone with me as collateral!"

He reached into his bag and pulled out a phone. I took one look—it was definitely Sienna's.

My parents froze. The evidence was irrefutable now. It was Sienna's baby, without a doubt.

The neighbors began whispering frantically. "Sienna had a baby at her age? Who's the father?"

"Who knows? She's barely been around lately, and she always wore those baggy hoodies. I can't believe she was pregnant!"

"Probably slept with some random street punk and got knocked up."

"Shut your mouths! My daughter is a good girl!" My mother yelled, finally snapping. "Say another word and I'll tear your face off!"

Gary sneered. "Whatever. Sienna told me to bring the baby here right after birth and give him to her older sister to raise. Officer, I even have a letter written in Sienna's own handwriting!"

He fished out a folded piece of paper from his bag.

In my past life, there had been no such letter.

In fact, when Sienna had returned years later to accuse me, this same Gary had stepped up to back her lies, ultimately driving me to suicide.

This man was scum through and through.

Gary rolled his eyes. "If I knew this would be such a pain, I wouldn't have bothered. So unlucky!"

The police officer sighed, looking at the mess. "Look, this seems to be a family matter. You guys should resolve this yourselves."

I immediately grabbed the officer's sleeve. "Officer, this is definitely not just a family matter. Can you really trust a phone and a sketchy letter to prove my sister gave birth and just ran away?"

"What if she died in his illegal clinic?"

The officer stiffened, realizing the gravity of the situation. He immediately grabbed Gary's arm to take him back to the clinic for an investigation.

My parents quickly followed them. I, on the other hand, went straight back inside and began packing my bags.

There was no way in hell I was staying in this house.

As I walked out with my suitcase, a neighbor stopped me. "Chloe, where are you going?"

"I'm moving out," I said loudly. "I need to get my own place. If that baby ends up with my parents, they'll try to force me to raise him."

"Sienna brought this on herself. I shouldn't have to pay for her mistakes. I'm not even married. If my future in-laws see me with a baby, they'll think I'm the one with a messy past!"

The neighbors nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right, Chloe. You have to look out for yourself. Go on, hurry!"

"So sad. But honestly, Sienna is wild. Giving birth and just running off like that!"

"Who knows if that shady doctor actually killed her?"

"No way, right?"

I didn't care what they gossiped about. I just ran.

By the time my parents returned, I was already settled in my company's dorm.

Right on cue, my phone rang. It was my mother.

As soon as I picked up, her frantic voice boomed through the receiver. "Chloe! Where did you run off to?"

I could hear a baby crying loudly in the background. I replied calmly, "I moved out."

"How could you move out? What about the baby?!"