?<strong>Chapter 503:</strong>


    Her mind went nk. She couldn’t process the thought of suddenly bing a mother. She had no idea how to react.


    She stared at her reflection in the restroom mirror, her hands gently pressing against her t stomach. Was it real? Could there truly be a life growing inside her—a child that belonged to her and Kristopher?


    She had heard that children conceived out of love thrived well in life.


    She stepped out of the restroom, her steps slow and deliberate, as if moving through water.


    At the mall’s entrance, a baby store caught her eye. Drawn by an inexplicable pull, she walked inside.


    Unbeknownst to Carrie, as she exited the restroom, the door of the adjacent stall creaked open. Kailee emerged, her sharp eyes darting around. She spotted the discarded pregnancy test in the trash bin.


    Curiosity piqued, she nced around to ensure the restroom was empty before fishing it out with a tissue. Her eyes widened as she saw the two lines.


    Kailee pulled out her phone, her hands shaking slightly, and snapped several photos of the test. She stuffed the evidence into her bag and hurried out of the restroom, her mind racing with ns.


    Carrie was pregnant!


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    The Myers family business had been in turmoil ever since Kristopher cut ties with them over Carrie. Her parents’ constant arguments had turned their home into a war zone, and her father would always disappear for days after every argument.


    To add salt to the wound, Albin—her infatuation—was now dating Camille, Carrie’s best friend.


    Kailee seethed. She med Carrie for everything. Her family’s misfortune, her shattered love expectations, her growing istion—all of it, in her mind, was Carrie’s fault.


    And now Carrie was pregnant? Kristopher’s heir. The thought was unbearable. If Carrie gave birth, it would cement her position as Mrs. Norris forever, ensuring her power and influence within the family.


    Kailee vowed to make Carrie pay for everything she was going through—tenfold.


    The baby store’s décor was cheerful and inviting, with pastel hues and plush animals everywhere. There was a time when she had eagerly imagined having a child, but life had hardened her. She had buried that dream, convinced it wasn’t the right time, or perhaps that it would never be.


    But now, looking at the miniature onesies and strollers, those thoughts resurfaced, fragile yet persistent.


    She adjusted her sunsses and pretended to browse, trying to blend in.


    A store clerk approached her with a warm smile, quickly assessing her youthful, fashionable appearance. “Miss, are you shopping for a gift?”


    Carrie hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes,” she said softly, deciding to y along. “Just looking for something suitable.”


    The test wasn’t definitive. Early results could be inurate, and until she was sure, there was no need to overthink it. She wasn’t ready to tell the news to anyone—not to a stranger.


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