Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Sure enough, the password worked.
But I didn’t think Lucas would have set the password to my birthday.
I share the same birthday as Vanessa.
I sneered inwardly, then clicked on a folder in the corner of the desktop.
The folder was labeled with the word “Confidential.”
When I opened it, it wasn’t what I expected; it wasn’t full of sensitive documents. Instead, it was packed
with photos of Vanessa.
From the innocent girl in her school uniform to the maternity photos she had just taken last week.
These photos spanned her entire life.
At the bottom of each photo was the model of the camera used.
It was the same camera that Lucas had in his study.
These photos were taken by Lucas himself.
Looking at Vanessa’s youthful photos, I remembered when I was thirteen, freshly brought back from the countryside by my parents.
At that time, Lucas and Mason Chapman had a close relationship with Vanessa.
But Vanessa was always popular and had many friends, not just with them.
When Vanessa wasn’t at home, the two brothers would come and play with me.
I had always known I looked somewhat like Vanessa.
Otherwise, my parents wouldn’t have never doubted her blood relation.
I used to think they were just kind–hearted, willing to play with a village girl like me.
Now, looking back, I was nothing but Vanessa’s substitute.
A dull pain struck my heart.
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The Conspiracy of Baby–Switching
Chapter 2
When I showed my pregnancy, I had once asked Lucas to accompany me to take materday photon
He said it was too much trouble, that pregnant women didn’t need to take such photos
It turns out, only I wasn’t worthy of such a record
Vanessa’s life, however, was worth documenting
I silently placed the laptop back and started to idly read through how to write a divorce agreement
While writing, I don’t know when I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, when I woke up, Lucas was already sitting by my bed.
The draft I had written was nowhere to be found.
“When I came in, I heard you calling my name in your sleep.”
He looked at me with a touch of guilt in his eyes.
“Violet, I’ve really been neglecting you these past few days.”
“There’s a family dinner tonight. I’ll take you with me.”
I knew he was trying to make up for it.
Before, he had never taken me back to the family home after our marriage, citing that it would be
awkward for me to meet Vanessa and him.
I had heard plenty of gossip.
Looking back, I now realized he probably thought I would make Vanessa unhappy, so he avoided taking
me there.
“I don’t want to go.”
I turned my head, refusing to look at him.
Lucas was stunned, apparently not expecting me to refuse.
He patiently explained to me in a gentle voice.
“Today is Vanessa’s birthday.”
“She’s about to give birth soon, and it’s a double celebration. The family is preparing a big feast.”
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Chapter 2
“As your sister, if you don’t go, it will make Vanessa feel awkward.”
“And it’s also your birthday today, so you two can celebrate together.”
Lucas’s words took my mind back a few years.
When I was first brought back, I had never had my own birthday cake.
Even though I was my parents‘ biological daughter, in the Coleman family’s eyes, I was an intruder.
I had stolen Vanessa’s identity, her parents, and everything she originally had.
Even our birthdays, I had to share with Vanessa.
Everyone told me to be magnanimous.
Be kind, be understanding, don’t be jealous of my sister, and avoid causing trouble.
All because Vanessa had always been fragile and couldn’t handle stress.
Thinking about it now, I felt nauseous.
Five years of marriage, and Lucas had always treated me well, or so I thought.
I was blind, once again misjudging the person I had chosen.
In the evening, I was taken by Lucas to the Gu family home for dinner.
Vanessa and my mother–in–law, Mrs. Chapman, were standing at the door to greet us.
They seemed unusually close, arm in arm, whispering something to each other.
“Is my sister here?”
When Vanessa saw me, she puffed out her belly.
“I wonder if my sister is having a boy or a girl. I hope it’s a boy, so he can play with my son.”
My mother–in–law, who used to be neither too close nor too distant with me, now gave me a displeased look and pulled Vanessa behind her.
“Stay away from Vanessa. With that thing in your belly, don’t let it affect my grandson.”
Lucas rushed in from parking the car, just in time to hear his mother’s words. His expression changed.
“Mom, stop saying such things.”
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Chapter 2
Mrs. Chapman pouted, turned away, and stopped paying attention to me.
I looked at Lucas, but he avoided my gaze, looking a bit guilty.
Suddenly, I understood.
Lucas had lied to his mother.
I was carrying a stillborn baby.
And Vanessa was carrying a boy.
This way, Vanessa’s position in the Chapman family would be more secure.
When the time came, they would just switch the babies in the operating room, and no one would ever find out.
Lucas had really gone to great lengths for Vanessa.
I stayed silent, no longer bothering with them.
After all, I had already decided to leave. There was no need for explanations.
And Mrs. Chapman would never believe me over her own son.
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