My Man-Hating Bestie Had My Boyfriend's Baby

My best friend, Summer Cortez, is a self-proclaimed independent woman who constantly talks about how much she hates men. Some time ago, she showed up with a heavily pregnant belly and claimed that she'd undergone IVF overseas because she wanted to be a single mother by choice. Today's the day she's discharged from the postpartum retreat. My boyfriend, Adrian Haynes, fusses over her every step of the way, even stocking up on the most expensive baby diapers in advance. He wipes the sweat from his forehead, trying to appease me. "Summer's had it tough. As your boyfriend, it's only right that I help to take care of your best friend." Summer reclines against the headboard, a haughty expression on her face. "If it weren't for Sylvia's sake, I'd never have let a stinking man lay a finger on my baby." I simply smile in return. I'm just about to hand her the generous gift I've prepared for the baby, Noah Cortez's one-month celebration, when Noah blows a raspberry and lets out a tiny coo in the cradle. To everyone else, it's just meaningless baby babble. But to my ears, which had just undergone surgery after a car accident, it turns into a childish voice of complaint. [Daddy's such a good actor. Just last night, he was hugging and kissing Mommy in the bathroom.] The smile on my face instantly freezes. I look up at Adrian, only to find him staring at Summer with unmistakable affection. A cold laugh escapes my lips as I slip the check back into my bag. "On second thought, I had Adrian buy the gifts. Since you're so repulsed by men, I'm sure you wouldn't accept gifts that have been bought by one." Chapter 1 The room fell silent the moment the words left my mouth. The ingratiating look on Adrian Haynes' face instantly stiffened. He whipped around and stared as I, Sylvia Larson, slipped the gifts back. Disbelief flashed across his face before his expression darkened. "What the hell's gotten into you, Sylvia? Summer just gave birth, and she's still recovering. What's with the snide remarks? Did the car accident knock something loose in your head? "Summer's been through enough. As her best friend, you should've supported her when she decided to be a single mother by choice. Why are you trying to upset her instead?" Adrian kept his voice low, but his tone was thick with barely restrained anger. The barrage of accusations instantly painted me as a mentally unstable woman. Summer Cortez was even quicker to react. Her eyes reddened, and she slumped weakly against the headboard as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Don't blame her, Adrian…" Summer sniffled, her voice thick with hurt. "Sylvia's just jealous that I get to have an adorable baby without having to put up with stinking men. After all, I'm not like her. "Her whole world revolves around men. She doesn't even have a life of her own." Summer pretended to dab at tears that weren't even there with a tissue as she spoke, perfectly maintaining her persona as an independent woman who despised men. The sight of the two despicable cheaters before me made my stomach churn with disgust. I'd spent two weeks in the hospital after the car accident. Adrian only visited me twice during that entire time, claiming he was too busy with work. As it turned out, his so-called work was to wait on Summer hand and foot at the postnatal retreat. I let out a cold laugh. There was no point in arguing with them. Instead, I quietly pressed the record button on the phone in my pocket. "Alright then," I said. I fixed Adrian with a cold stare before continuing, "Since you all seem to think I've lost my mind, I won't get in the way of your happy little family of three anymore." With that, I turned around and strode toward the door. "Sylvia! What the hell are you talking about?" Adrian shouted furiously from behind me. Just as I was about to step out of the room, the baby, Noah Cortez, blew another raspberry in the cradle as he waved his chubby little hands in the air. Once again, Noah's childish voice rang out clearly in my ears. [Daddy's so scary. Just yesterday, he used Aunt Sylvia's credit card to pay the remaining 60 thousand dollars on Mommy's bill.] I instantly stopped in my tracks. What did he mean by that? I forced myself not to look back as I walked straight out of the postnatal retreat. Once I was inside the car, I rolled up the windows and took a deep breath. Then, I pulled out my phone and opened my banking app. I entered my password and tapped on the statement for my supplementary credit card. One transaction after another flashed across the screen in red. Each one of them stung my eyes. The first entry was dated September 12th with a 42-thousand-dollar payment at the Chanel boutique in Lunavia Plaza. The next was on September 15th, which covered the remaining 60 thousand dollars at Harmonium Postnatal Retreat. Then came the charge of almost 19 thousand dollars spent at an imported baby goods boutique on September 18th. Altogether, the charges added up to 121 thousand dollars. Every single one of these transactions was made on the supplementary credit card I'd given to Adrian. Back then, he'd claimed that his company had cash flow problems and needed a spare credit card. I had handed it over without a second thought, but never did I imagine that he would use my money to support his mistress and their illegitimate child. I stared at the figures on the screen, my fingers turning white from how tightly I gripped the phone. Then, I dialed the bank's customer service hotline without a moment's hesitation. "Hello, how may I help you today?" the representative asked. "I'd like to report the supplementary credit card ending in 7892 as lost and have it deactivated immediately," I said. "Certainly, ma'am. Once the card has been deactivated, it will no longer be able to process any transactions." "Alright," I replied. I'd barely hung up when my phone began buzzing nonstop. Every notification was a WhatsApp message from Adrian. "Sylvia, are you done throwing a tantrum?" he texted. "Why did you deactivate the card? I'm paying for Summer's postpartum meals. How am I supposed to buy her supplements now?" "Hurry up and reactivate the card!" he demanded. "Have you seriously lost your mind? If you're sick, go see a doctor instead of acting like a psycho!" More than a dozen messages from Adrian flooded my screen. Every one of them dripped with entitled demands. He was living off my money, yet he was acting like he was the one calling the shots. I stared at the messages coldly and took screenshots of them all before blocking Adrian's contact on WhatsApp. Just like that, the world fell blissfully silent. Then, I tapped on another WhatsApp profile. It belonged to Elaine Mullins, the nurse from the postnatal retreat. I'd added her when I visited Summer before. "Elaine, could you help me keep an eye on the two people in that room for me?" I texted. Chapter 2 I transferred two thousand dollars to Elaine without a second thought. Although she declined it, her reply came almost immediately. "Don't worry, Ms. Larson. Leave it to me," she messaged. With that, I set my phone down and started the car. Since the two of them were so fond of putting on an act, I would be more than happy to play along. I'd barely driven two blocks when my WhatsApp notification chimed. It was a voice message from Elaine. Her hushed voice filled the car when I played it out loud. "Mr. Haynes was just in the hallway with Ms. Cortez…" There was a brief pause before Elaine continued, "I think it's better if you see the security footage for yourself." … I'd barely settled onto the couch after reaching home when my phone lit up with a notification of Summer's new Instagram post. It was a heavily edited side-profile shot of her cradling Noah. But despite the picture being the very image of a peaceful life, the caption was laced with venom. It read, "A modern woman doesn't need a man. What she does need, however, is to distance herself from emotionally unstable friends who spread negativity. "I hope my baby grows up in a warm environment surrounded by love, free from the influence of certain twisted individuals." The post was instantly flooded with likes. Moments later, the group chat I shared with Summer and our mutual friends started blowing up. My college roommate, Bianca Walters, was the first to tag me. "Sylvia, did you cause a scene at the postnatal retreat today? Have you been depressed since the car accident? You should get yourself checked out instead of bullying Summer," she had written. Another friend immediately chimed in, "Exactly. Summer's already suffered so much going through IVF. As her best friend, how could you be so heartless? I heard you even lashed out at her baby. You've gone too far this time, Sylvia." One message after another flooded the chat with criticisms aimed at me. Thanks to the persona she'd carefully cultivated over the years, everyone sided with Summer without hesitation. I simply stared at the messages scrolling across my screen without replying to a single one. Just then, the smart lock at the front door beeped before clicking open. Adrian strode in carrying a few boxes of cheap supplements. He tossed them onto the coffee table, his face dark with anger. "You've got some nerve, Sylvia. I can't believe you actually blocked me," he snapped. "I'll let the matter slide for today. Why the hell did you deactivate the credit card? Hurry up and reactivate it! I also need you to transfer next month's mortgage payment to me in advance. I'm short on cash right now." His voice was thick with condescension as he towered over me. I looked up at him as I took in the sheer entitlement on his face. I'd bought that five-million-dollar mansion with my own money before we even got together. To spare his pride, I'd always told everyone that we were paying the mortgage together. Now, he wasn't even trying to keep up appearances when he was living off my money. Just then, Adrian's phone chimed from his pocket. He pulled it out and played a voice message from Summer. "Adrian, Noah's been spitting up today. Can you come back soon?" Summer's sickeningly sweet voice was accompanied by Noah's cries in the background. To my ears, however, the cries turned into a crystal-clear childish voice. [Daddy's going to trick Aunt Sylvia into giving us the mansion so I can live there. Mommy says it's worth five million dollars. Once the mansion's ours, we're going to kick her out!] My heart sank at his words. It turned out they weren't just after my money. They'd even set their sight on my most valuable asset, too. Suppressing the wave of nausea rising inside me, I rubbed my temples and feigned a pounding headache. "It's true that my head's been killing me lately. Maybe I haven't fully recovered from the accident yet," I said. I softened my tone as I discreetly tapped the record button on my phone. "I can reactivate the credit card, but you'll need to give me the invoice from the postnatal retreat so I can file for an expense claim at work," I continued. The fury on Adrian's face instantly eased the moment he heard my words. His face lit up with delight as he readily agreed. "Sure. I'll give you the invoice tomorrow." He walked over to me and gave my shoulder a patronizing pat. "Just behave yourself and stop making a fuss. Summer's had it tough raising Noah all by herself. "Once Noah turns one month old, why don't you sign an agreement and transfer the mansion over to our godson as his one-month celebration gift? That way, he'll look after you when he grows up. I'll also take care of you for the rest of your life," he said. Chapter 3 The sound waves on the recording screen pulsed steadily throughout my conversation with Adrian. I lowered my gaze to hide the hint of mockery flashing across my eyes. I replied softly, "Alright. I'll do as you say." A satisfied smile spread across Adrian's face. Humming a tune, he turned and headed into the bathroom for a shower. No sooner had he stepped inside than my phone screen lit up again. Elaine had just sent me a video without any accompanying message attached. I tapped the video open. It was the security camera footage from the hallway of the postnatal retreat. In the footage, Adrian had Summer pinned against the wall as they kissed passionately. Summer's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. There wasn't even the slightest hint of the "man-hater" image she had always portrayed. I let out a cold, humourless laugh as I stared at the disgusting pair on my screen. Then, I saved both the security footage and the recording I'd just made to an encrypted cloud drive before transferring 500 dollars to Elaine. "I'll need to borrow your staff ID on the day of Noah's one-month celebration," I said. She accepted the payment immediately and replied with a thumbs-up emoji. The group chat blew up again at 10:00 pm that night. It turned out Summer had made a grand announcement there. "Noah will be a month old next week, so I'll be hosting his one-month celebration at Stellavel Hotel to celebrate being a single mother by choice. The entire event will be livestreamed. "Everyone's welcome to witness the strength of an independent woman. Hopefully, a certain toxic person will take this opportunity to reflect on herself," she declared. … Three days before Noah's one-month celebration, I'd just reached the cafe downstairs from my office to grab a cup of coffee when several people blocked my way. Dressed head to toe in designer labels, Summer looked impeccably flawless with Noah in her arms. Beside her stood Adrian's mother, Denise Campbell, who also happened to be my future mother-in-law. The moment Denise saw me, she grabbed my hand and adopted a patronizing tone. "Why haven't you been answering Adrian's calls these past few days? Poor Summer's been through so much. "Adrian's only helping her out because he has a good heart. Don't be so petty over a house. You can always earn enough to buy another one in the future. Life's hard enough for a single mother like her as it is." Without missing a beat, Summer pulled a document from her bag and held it out to me. It was a property transfer agreement disguised as a mortgage loan contract. "As Noah's godmother, it's only right for you to sign this document so he can have a good life. Women should support one another. "Don't worry, the house will be registered in Noah's name only. You can still live there." Summer lifted her chin slightly as she spoke, her voice laced with smugness. I almost laughed in disbelief when I looked at the agreement. This was a five-million-dollar mansion we were talking about. Did she really think a flimsy line about "supporting one another" was enough to take it away from me? Just then, Noah squirmed in Summer's arms and blew a raspberry. His clear little voice echoed in my ears again. [Mommy paid Dr. Howell two thousand dollars to forge her IVF paperwork with a fake official seal. Then, she went around pretending she'd traveled overseas for IVF to maintain her persona as an 'independent woman'. She even misspelled some of the words. What an idiot.] My eyes narrowed at his words. Did he just mention something about a fake seal and Dr. Howell? This could be the critical breakthrough I needed to expose them. I yanked my hand free from Denise's grip before staring at the two of them coldly. "You expect me to give away a five-million-dollar mansion? "Why don't you donate one of Adrian's kidneys to Summer instead? Wouldn't that be a better show of his kindness?" I continued as a mocking smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Denise's face instantly darkened. "That's no way to talk!" "I won't agree to this, and I'm certainly not signing it." I wasn't about to waste another word on them. With that, I turned and walked away. Adrian, who'd been hiding in a nearby car the whole time, finally lost his patience. "Sylvia!" he shouted. Then, he stormed over and slammed his hand down on one of the cafe's outdoor tables. "I knew it. You've completely lost your mind! Will you only be satisfied once you've driven Summer to her death?" Adrian jabbed a finger in my face before threatening, "So you won't sign it? Fine. "I'll make sure every one of our relatives and Summer's hundreds of thousands of followers see what a vicious woman you are at Noah's one-month celebration. We'll see if you can still hold your head up in public after that!" I stopped in my tracks before turning around to take in the furious look on his face. "Alright. I'll see you at the celebration. Let's just hope you're still smiling when it's over," I shot back. Chapter 4 With that, I turned around and headed upstairs without another glance. The moment I returned to my office, I immediately called Erika Douglas, a friend of mine who worked in the healthcare system. "Can you look into the sealed records for a private clinic? The doctor's name is Dr. Howell. I need you to pay close attention to any filings related to overseas medical documents," I said. "Got it. I'll let you know as soon as I find something," she replied. Less than half an hour later, Erika sent me a screenshot. "Found it. Dr. Howell's clinic isn't even licensed to handle international medical documentation. "They recently had a batch of counterfeit seals made bearing the names of overseas hospitals. The authorities are already investigating them," she texted. A faint smile tugged at my lips as I looked at the screenshot. Another link in the chain of evidence had fallen into place. Just as I was about to get off work, the receptionist rushed into my office in a panic. "This is bad, Ms. Larson. There's a group of people outside…" she trailed off. I made my way to the reception, only to see a group of young people propping a massive white funeral wreath in front of the company's glass entrance as they livestreamed on their phones. There was even a glaring banner stretched across it that read, "Boycott the vicious psycho! Protect Summer Cortez, an independent woman!" Screenshots of hateful online comments had also been plastered across the glass doors. "That's her! She's the one who got jealous of her own best friend and started persecuting a single mother!" one of them shouted. "Take a good look, everyone! How is a psycho like her fit to be a manager?" another yelled. The security guards were doing their best to hold the crowd back, but the situation had already spiraled into chaos. The commotion had severely disrupted my work environment. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Adrian. "There's a big surprise waiting for you at tomorrow's celebration. Get ready to watch your reputation go up in flames if you don't sign the agreement." My gaze shifted from the commotion outside to the threat on my phone. My fingers tapped lightly on the screen before I replied with a single word, "Scram." … The largest ballroom at Stellavel Hotel had been reserved for Noah's one-month celebration. The venue was lavishly decorated, with dozens of cameras positioned around the hall to livestream the event. Dressed in a custom white couture gown, Summer stood onstage with Noah in her arms. She looked every bit the picture of a pure and innocent victim. Tears streamed down Summer's face as she addressed the live cameras. "All I ever wanted was to raise Noah peacefully as a single mother by choice. However, my best friend began to target Noah at every turn ever since she lost her mind after a car accident. "She froze my bank card, cut off Noah's formula supply, and even tried to drive us out of the city…" she choked out. The big screen displayed a continuous stream of comments from the livestream. "A psycho like Sylvia should be locked up in a mental institution!" one of the comments read. "Poor Summer. Sending you the biggest hug!" "Dox that psycho! Make her hand over the mansion as compensation!" another comment read. Summer's relatives and fans pointed fingers and hurled insults at me from every direction. Everyone had taken her side, and the wave of online abuse came crashing down on me. I sat at the head table as I watched the carefully orchestrated farce unfold with cold indifference. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, Adrian pulled a document from his briefcase and slammed it down before me. "Everyone's watching, Sylvia." He lowered his voice so that only the two of us could hear. "This is for your own good. Sign this property transfer agreement. Given your unstable mental state, Summer and I will look after the mansion for you until you recover. "Sign it, then log into the property records portal and confirm the transfer on the spot. Otherwise, you're not walking out of here today," he threatened. It was the ultimate setup—a calculated move to legally strip me of all my assets. I stared at the document in his hand without saying a single word. My right hand tightly gripped the presentation remote hidden in my pocket. I didn't rush to defend myself even when the entire crowd had turned against me. Just then, Noah waved his hands excitedly from the stroller onstage. His bright, childish voice cut through the clamor in the ballroom. [The paternity test is hidden in the inner compartment of Daddy's briefcase. Last night, he used it to threaten Mommy backstage. He said that once they'd tricked Aunt Sylvia out of her five-million-dollar mansion, the deed had to be put in his name alone. If Mommy tries to keep the property all for herself, he'll pull out the paternity test on the spot and expose everything!] I let out a cold sneer after hearing Noah's rant. So those two snakes weren't as united as they pretended to be. My eyes immediately locked onto the briefcase Adrian had placed on the chair. So this was where the most devastating piece of evidence had been hidden all along. Adrian finally lost his last trace of patience when I remained silent. He grabbed my wrist, snatched up the ink pad from the table, and tried to force my thumb onto the agreement. "Don't make me do this the hard way," he gritted out menacingly. "Everyone here's a witness. Whether you like it or not, you're going to sign this today!" "Who do you think you are, trying to manage my property?" I snarled. I snapped my head up and swung my hand hard across Adrian's face. The sharp crack echoed through the microphone and rang across the entire ballroom. The room instantly fell deathly silent. "As if you're worthy of that!" I snapped. While Adrian was still reeling from the blow, I snatched the briefcase from his chair. Then, I yanked open the zipper to the inner compartment. Pinching the corner of the report between two fingers, I pulled it free in one swift motion. "Since all of you insist I've gone crazy, then let's show the entire internet the truth." I raised the report high into the air as the cameras instantly zoomed in on it. The words "biological father" stood out in bold black letters at the bottom of the report. "Let's see who's really been playing dumb while they carried on a filthy affair behind everyone's backs," I declared. I looked coldly at the big screen before pressing the presentation remote's button.