I was genuinely speechless, staring at Janet's belly as if seeing a ghost.
Because my dad had been dead for five years.
But to Janet and her friends, my expression seemed like fear and shock, afraid of losing my inheritance to this new brother.
Flora giggled, "Bella, don't be scared, you should be happy. After all these years, you finally have a brother."
I wanted to explain that my name, Bella, meant beauty and hope, but they were too excited, talking so fast that I couldn't get a word in.
Thea also laughed, "Janet, look at your stepdaughter. She's so happy she can't speak."
The word stepdaughter made Janet even more smug. "Yes, the Jones family is big and wealthy. One daughter is not enough; it needs a son to carry on the family name. Your mother can't have children, so I'm having one for your father. You should be grateful, take care of me, and follow my orders."
Just as I was about to speak, Janet touched her belly and continued, "I know what you're thinking. You're wondering if the baby is a girl. I've checked; it's a boy. The Jones family will belong to my son. You know, even an illegitimate child has inheritance rights."