The Comments Said My Baby Was Worth A Billion-Dollar Empire Chapter 14

The Comments Said My Baby Was Worth A Billion-Dollar Empire Chapter 14

The three-year separation arc didn’t happen. Victor moved me and the baby to the family estate the day I was discharged.

Bodyguards ringed every entrance, every hallway, every floor. Victor’s grandmother stationed herself outside the nursery. Anyone who came near got screened three times.

Mom showed up every day with soup and cried quietly by my bed when she thought I wasn’t looking. I didn’t send her away. I didn’t forgive her yet, either.

She knitted a tiny hat for the baby. It was hideous.

I judged it for days before putting it on him anyway.

Victor walked in with the marriage paperwork. “The clerk’s here.”

I sat up with the baby. “I’m still on bed rest.”

“They’re making a house call.”

I squinted at him. “Must be nice being Mr. Vance.”

He draped his jacket over my shoulders. “I’m all yours to boss around.”

I smiled. The baby slept through all of it.

I was in a loose nightgown, no makeup. Victor had put on a full suit, tie knotted like he was closing a deal.

His shoulders were rigid in every shot. I jabbed him in the side.

“Smile.”

He produced something that barely qualified. The clerk bit back a laugh.

When I saw the photos, I stared at the two faces in them and felt something shift inside me.

The comments had been quiet for a long time. When they finally returned, the red was gone.

[Plot correction: FAILED.]

[Original female lead’s plot armor is being revoked.]

[Expandable side character status: OVERWRITTEN.]

Lily’s verdict came down. Bribery, forged evidence, attempted harm to a pregnant woman. Multiple charges, all of them stuck.

Julian came by once. He stood outside the estate gates holding the custom watch I’d bought him years ago.

“Chloe. Can I see you? Just once.”

I watched him from the second-floor window. Victor stood behind me with the baby.

“Do you want to see him?”

I shook my head. “No.”

Victor pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

Julian stood there for a long time. Eventually, he set the watch box on the doorstep and walked away.

Half the city’s high society showed up for the baby’s welcome party.

Every person who’d ever called me stupid, who’d said I was throwing myself at Julian, who’d sworn Victor would leave me, they were all there now, champagne in hand, calling me Mrs. Vance.

Victor’s grandmother held the baby and beamed like she’d won the lottery.

I was in the lounge with a slice of cake. Victor walked in with a milk stain on his suit cuff.

“Did your son spit up on you?”

His face was completely flat. “Yes.”

I nearly choked on my cake. He walked over and thumbed a smear of frosting off my lip.

“Funny?”

“Hilarious.”

He leaned in to kiss me. The baby wailed from the next room.

I pushed him back. “Your son’s crying.”

Victor wrapped his arms around me. “He’s ours.”

When we walked out, the banquet hall lit up. The screen that was supposed to show the baby’s newborn photos flickered.

Lines of text scrolled across the display.

[Final connection to this world established… and terminating.]

[The written fate has been voided.]

[Chloe, Victor: wishing you the longest, happiest life.]

[Forever and always.]

I looked up at Victor. He was already looking at me.

A nurse brought him over. I took him, and the baby fussed, then broke into a gummy smile and wrapped his fist around my finger.

Victor dropped to one knee. This time, there were banks of flowers, a ring, and a room full of witnesses.

He laid a stack of asset transfer papers at my feet.

“Chloe. The Vance name belongs to you. And so do I. If I ever treat you badly, even once, you take the baby, the money, and walk away.”

My eyes burned.

“And what about you?”

He lifted my hand and pressed his lips to the ring.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life winning you back.”

I laced my fingers through his. “Victor, you’d better spend the rest of your life making sure I never leave.”

Fireworks split the sky outside the windows. The baby in my arms let out a happy coo.

The comments left one final line before they vanished for good.

[This time, the side character wrote her own ending.]

(The End)