But on the inside? I smirked. Because they had no idea what was in store for them.
The next few months were a game of patience.
Veronica bought me a three-bedroom house in a quiet neighbourhood. She and Eric didn’t even look at it or meet with an agent until the day we signed the papers.
I breathed a sigh of relief when we walked out of the realtor’s office that day. The first step was complete and they still didn’t understand anything.
I kept them informed about doctor’s appointments and let Veronica touch my belly when she came to visit, cooing about ‘her’ baby. I told her I was agonising over which baby to keep.
It was all a game for a while as I prepared for the final blow.
On Tuesday night, I went into labour. I texted Veronica when I went to the hospital, but made sure the nurses knew I didn’t want her or Eric in the delivery room.
At one point I heard them complaining outside, but the contractions were strong and fast by then and I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Six hours later, my babies came out. Two perfect girls with a mop of dark hair and lungs that worked just fine.
The nurse smiled. ‘Would you like me to tell your husband and your… friend?’
‘Tell them the kids are fine, but I need three days,’ I said as I hugged my daughters.
The nurse looked confused but nodded.
I named the girls Lily and Emma. I remembered their faces, their cries, and the feel of their tiny fingers squeezing mine.
And I finalised my plan.
On the second day, I took the babies home. On the third day, I called Veronica.
‘I’m ready to talk.’
She and Eric arrived an hour later. Veronica was practically vibrating with excitement and Eric followed her like a shadow.
‘So,’ she cooed as she entered my house. ‘Which one is mine?’
I took a deep breath, holding one baby in each hand. ‘Neither one.’
Her smile froze. ‘Excuse me?’
I slowly stood up. My body ached, but my voice was strong.
‘I’m not giving you my baby, Veronica. Not one of them.’
Eric groaned. ‘Oh, don’t start that dramatic nonsense…’
‘You two thought you could buy a baby from me? Like I’m some kind of desperate idiot? Well, news flash: I’m not.’
‘Then I’m kicking you out of this house,’ Veronica growled. ‘You can live on the street for all I care!’
I smiled. ‘You can’t do that. This house is titled in my name.’
Veronica’s face lost colour. ‘What, no, that’s impossible! Eric, tell her!’
Eric looked equally confused. ‘We signed the papers together!’
‘Yes. And you both completely signed it over to me. You were too busy gloating to notice. Only my name is on the deed.’
Veronica jerked back as if I’d slapped her.
‘You sneaky little…’
‘And here’s another thing,’ I added, gently rocking Lily as she fussed. ‘I told a few people about how Eric cheated on his pregnant wife and how he and his mistress tried to buy his baby.’
I nodded toward my phone on the coffee table.
‘Feel free to check social media. I posted everything last night. Messages. The pictures. Your sick kid. It’s all there. I tagged your company, Veronica, and your investors. Even those charity boards you’re on.’
Veronica grabbed my phone. Her face went from pale to grey as she scrolled down the page.
‘As you can see, they find your behaviour very interesting.’
Veronica screamed, rage and despair in her voice.
Eric snatched the phone from her, his face as white as paper. ‘You… you ruined us!’
‘No. You ruined yourselves.’
Eric lost his job. Trying to sell his child didn’t sit well with his company’s ‘family values’ image. Veronica wasn’t just fired: she made the front pages for the most inappropriate reasons, and her social and business circles were branded with a black mark.
And me, I rocked my girls every night in our beautiful home, knowing that I didn’t just get revenge.
I had won.