The Conspiracy of Baby-Switching novel Chapter 2

Sure enough, the password worked.

But I didn't think Lucas would have set the password to my birthday.

I share the same birthday as Vanessa.

I sneered inwardly, then clicked on a folder in the corner of the desktop.

The folder was labeled with the word "Confidential."

When I opened it, it wasn't what I expected; it wasn't full of sensitive documents. Instead, it was packed with photos of Vanessa.

From the innocent girl in her school uniform to the maternity photos she had just taken last week.

These photos spanned her entire life.

At the bottom of each photo was the model of the camera used.

It was the same camera that Lucas had in his study.

These photos were taken by Lucas himself.

Looking at Vanessa's youthful photos, I remembered when I was thirteen, freshly brought back from the countryside by my parents.

At that time, Lucas and Mason Chapman had a close relationship with Vanessa.

But Vanessa was always popular and had many friends, not just with them.

When Vanessa wasn't at home, the two brothers would come and play with me.

I had always known I looked somewhat like Vanessa.

Otherwise, my parents wouldn't have never doubted her blood relation.

I used to think they were just kind-hearted, willing to play with a village girl like me.

Now, looking back, I was nothing but Vanessa's substitute.

A dull pain struck my heart.

When I showed my pregnancy, I had once asked Lucas to accompany me to take maternity photos.

He said it was too much trouble, that pregnant women didn't need to take such photos.

It turns out, only I wasn't worthy of such a record.

Vanessa's life, however, was worth documenting.

I silently placed the laptop back and started to idly read through how to write a divorce agreement.

While writing, I don't know when I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, when I woke up, Lucas was already sitting by my bed.

The draft I had written was nowhere to be found.

"When I came in, I heard you calling my name in your sleep."

He looked at me with a touch of guilt in his eyes.

"Violet, I've really been neglecting you these past few days."

"There's a family dinner tonight. I'll take you with me."

I knew he was trying to make up for it.

Before, he had never taken me back to the family home after our marriage, citing that it would be awkward for me to meet Vanessa and him.

I had heard plenty of gossip.

Looking back, I now realized he probably thought I would make Vanessa unhappy, so he avoided taking me there.

"I don't want to go."

I turned my head, refusing to look at him.

"Is my sister here?"

When Vanessa saw me, she puffed out her belly.

"I wonder if my sister is having a boy or a girl. I hope it's a boy, so he can play with my son."

My mother-in-law, who used to be neither too close nor too distant with me, now gave me a displeased look and pulled Vanessa behind her.

"Stay away from Vanessa. With that thing in your belly, don't let it affect my grandson."

Lucas rushed in from parking the car, just in time to hear his mother's words. His expression changed.

"Mom, stop saying such things."

Mrs. Chapman pouted, turned away, and stopped paying attention to me.

I looked at Lucas, but he avoided my gaze, looking a bit guilty.

Suddenly, I understood.

Lucas had lied to his mother.

I was carrying a stillborn baby.

And Vanessa was carrying a boy.

This way, Vanessa's position in the Chapman family would be more secure.

When the time came, they would just switch the babies in the operating room, and no one would ever find out.

Lucas had really gone to great lengths for Vanessa.

I stayed silent, no longer bothering with them.

After all, I had already decided to leave. There was no need for explanations.

And Mrs. Chapman would never believe me over her own son.