Yeri was taken aback, her gaze unconsciously dropping to Venice's stomach.
No wonder Venice's hand kept rubbing it. Yeri had initially thought she was suffering from indigestion or worse, diarrhea. But pregnant?
If Yeri remembered correctly, Venice was only twenty-one this year. What was there to be so proud of?
Seeing Yeri's eyes linger, Venice smirked. "Keep your thoughts to yourself. Don't even think of harming me. The father of my child is someone you wouldn't even dare to imagine."
Yeri fell silent. "…"
So all that nonsense was just so she could brag about being pregnant?
"Is the father of your child not human?" Yeri asked coolly. "Why wouldn't I be able to imagine him?"
Venice glared at her and turned to leave. She paused at the door, her voice sharp.
"Yeri, I'll let you be arrogant for a little while longer. But I'll make sure you experience what I went through growing up and feel every bit of what I felt."
Yeri watched her leave, her head full of question marks.
People who found shortcuts to escape their reality rarely reflected on themselves; it was always easier to blame others.
---
Back in the guest room, Venice was in an excellent mood, even humming softly to herself.
Imagining Yeri's face, those strange black veins creeping across her skin like vines, made her laugh.
Didn't that already count as being disfigured?
"Baby, you're really Mommy's lucky charm," she muttered, patting her still-flat stomach.
"What are you doing by the window?" Linda hurried over and shut it, worry etched across her face. "What if you catch a cold and it affects the baby?"
"Mom, you should've seen Yeri's face," Venice said smugly. "She claimed it's just a side effect of some medication, but I have a feeling it won't go away. It doesn't look superficial."
Linda frowned, clearly confused.
Venice briefly explained, embellishing it with mockery, and the two soon fell into a stream of snide remarks.
"I knew this day would come," Linda scoffed. "I just don't understand why they're wasting so much money trying to cure that dead girl. If they'd invested even half of that into nurturing you, the entire Zhi clan would've benefited."
Venice clicked her tongue arrogantly, her hand resting protectively on her stomach. "Too late. Haven't they always treated us like outsiders? Fine, let it stay that way. I have no affection for this family."
Linda's expression flickered, worry and hesitation surfacing.
Venice noticed immediately. "Still thinking about that scumbag?" she sneered. "He lied to you, discarded you when you were no longer useful, and you still have lingering feelings for him? How pathetic."
Linda's eyes darted away, guilt, grievance, and shame written plainly on her face.
"Venice," she said softly, "he's still your father. And besides even if the father of your child... well, it's still better to have family backing you. You can't let him think you're alone, with no one to rely on."
Venice scoffed, though she understood perfectly. That was precisely why she couldn't tear off this plastic father-daughter relationship, at least not yet.
"Then find a way for him to give you a proper title," Venice said coldly. "That man only cares about himself. As long as it benefits him, it doesn't matter who or what he sacrifices. Even that son of his will lose value once the benefits outweigh him."
Linda nodded eagerly.
It had all started when she returned home early one day after visiting Venice in the hospital, only to find an unfamiliar woman and a child in the house.
That was when she realized Nolan had been cheating on her for years… and even had a son. Now that the child was nearing school age, Nolan wanted to push her and Venice aside, citing that Venice was already an adult and could take care of herself.
Linda had felt as though her world collapsed.
In her youth, she had schemed carefully, endured patiently, borne him a child. When Nolan divorced his wife, she truly believed she had succeeded. Yet he strung her along, claiming it wasn't the right time to marry, that his position in the company was unstable, and he couldn't afford a scandal.
She waited. And waited. Convincing herself that her devotion and magnanimity were why their relationship lasted so long, only to be slapped awake by reality. He hadn't just kept one woman. He had kept many.
Linda's mind unraveled after that, emotions spiraling out of control from betrayal and sacrifice. Only when Venice told her about the pregnancy and revealed the identity of the father did hope return.
Of course, her goal now is to make that bitch and her son suffer tenfold for what she had endured. They would taste betrayal just as she had. There was no way she would let Nolan go. She had waited too long, given up too much, and had already passed her prime.
How could she possibly give up now?
Her daughter was right. She had to fight for what was rightfully hers.
---
That night, the dining table was filled with sumptuous seafood, all of Yeri's favorites.
Master Zhi was away on a business trip, leaving only Yeri, her mother, and their guests.
"The hospital said Doctor Neri isn't available," Madam Zhi said with a sigh. "They also have no record of the new medication. They said they'd contact me again after speaking with Doctor Neri."
"Mom, it's okay," Yeri reassured her again as they descended the stairs. "Brother Shin said this is only temporary."
Madam Zhi studied her face, worry deepening. "Did he… say anything about your face?"
Yeri understood immediately what she implied, whether Shin Keir had shown even the slightest hesitation or disgust. After all, men were visual creatures. Her mother's concern wasn't unfounded.
Yeri's ears flushed slightly as Shin's 'I love you' echoed in her mind. Then she forced a nonchalant tone. "He said he didn't see anything. Don't worry. If he changes his mind over something like this, then isn't it better for me? At least I'd know early what kind of person he is."
Madam Zhi looked startled, then even more worried.
"But don't you like him very much?" she asked hesitantly. "You even had Jj act as the intermediary."
Yeri froze. She had completely forgotten about that.
"Mom," she said helplessly, "really, there's nothing to worry about. I'm not love-brained. Even if I like him, I won't tolerate being treated badly."
Only then did Madam Zhi relax slightly.
Before they could say more, footsteps echoed. Unexpectedly, Nolan Zhi arrived.
"Yeri," he said sharply, staring at her face, "what happened to you?"
Linda, standing to the side, shook her head in mock pity, clearly enjoying the scene.
"It's just a side effect of medication," Madam Zhi explained as everyone took their seats. "The doctors said it'll fade in a few days."
Yeri frowned when she saw her uncle take her father's seat.
Suddenly, Venice gagged, covering her mouth as she stared at the table in disgust.
"What is this?!"
Linda sprang up at once, sweeping the seafood plates back into the kitchen, startling the maids.
When she returned, hands on her hips, she scolded loudly, "Why is there seafood?! My daughter is in a sensitive stage of her pregnancy, she can't even stand the smell! Are you two doing this on purpose?!"
"It's my daughter's favorite…" Madam Zhi murmured helplessly, having never dealt with someone as unreasonable as Linda.
"Auntie," Venice said weakly, eyes reddening like she'd been completely wronged, "you already know I'm pregnant…"
"Then why don't you eat in your room?" Yeri suggested calmly. "Or better yet, the kitchen."
Linda exploded, pointing a finger straight at Yeri. "What do you mean, the kitchen? How dare you insult my daughter! She's your cousin and she's pregnant! Can't you show some understanding?!"
"Mom, forget it," Venice tugged Linda down, dabbing at nonexistent tears. "This isn't our house. It's already generous enough that Auntie lets us stay here for now."
Nolan, who had remained silent, finally frowned.
"Venice, don't say such things. You're my daughter, how could I allow you to be wronged?"
Venice lowered her head further.
"I know I haven't paid you enough attention," Nolan continued heavily, "but that's only because I've been busy with the company. Now that you're pregnant, you shouldn't overexert yourself. From now on, I'll do my best to be a good father."
Yeri was stunned. What kind of blessed child was Venice carrying, for her scumbag uncle to say such hypocritical words?
While Yeri's still in shocked, Nolan turned his attention to her, his expression stern.
"Yeri, this may be your house, but no matter what, Venice is your elder cousin. How could you say something so ill-mannered, suggesting she eat in the kitchen? We're all family. Venice is pregnant and while I'm at work, I was worried no one would take care of her, so I asked your father to let her stay here for the time being."
His gaze hardened. "Does your father know this is how you behave when he's not around? Is this what you've learned at school?"
Yeri remained silent. "…"
Nolan continued, clearly dissatisfied. "Don't you usually stay at your dorm? If that's the case, can't you overlook this minor grievance and be more considerate toward your elder cousin?"
Beside them, Madam Zhi trembled slightly with anger, yet found herself unable to immediately defend her daughter. "Brother in-law, I was the one who asked the kitchen to prepare all these seafood dishes. Princess rarely comes home, and I forgot that Venice was pregnant."
"Zenia," Linda sneered, "must be hard trying to please a stepdaughter. Are you afraid of offending her father?"
Madam Zhi stared at Linda as though she had completely lost her mind.
"Why should my mom be afraid?" Yeri finally spoke, her voice soft, almost calm, as if she were merely stating a fact. "She's the legitimate wife, unlike someone who started as a mistress and still holds the same title even now. What an achievement. You must be very proud, right?"
"Yeri Zhi!" Nolan slammed the table. "How dare you speak such vile, and disrespectful words! Do you have no shame? As a member of the Zhi family, you should uphold elegance and conduct, not behave like a bully! Apologize. Apologize to your cousin and aunt, right now!"
Shame? Yeri almost laughed.
She was very familiar with that word, but was he?
Damn it. She almost cursed aloud. They could be shameless and somehow it didn't count? These people must not own a single mirror, especially this scumbag uncle.