ul of seafood home, every me

looned from one bowl

y the day, yet her body wi

ermelons, beaming with pride. "My son's gonna be the stro

a still-squirming octopus,

ithing bulges on her belly told me the

nant mom settle

the house except me

eth it was just rich f

regnant? I'm gonna have a little brother soon! Talk ab

y dad puffed up with pride, p

th, though, wer

be theirs. Another boy from my m

d between my m

cy, now simmered with resentment. They bickered c

d it all

mily's deliv

ancy, every househol

from work to p

s grew, so did

ate enough

translucent, revealing tiny worms slitherin

w her belly pul

n out quickly, and they

of unprocessed fish, Emily pounc

and stepped bac

her face contorted in agony. "Oh God,

lly bulge rhythmically, as if s

t the commotion. "She's not even full-

. "What are you standing there

raced downstairs to the car,

le way, her massive belly puls

to scratch h

very woman goes through this. For the baby's sake,

s with pain, di

, breaking free to claw at her

cratches looked horrifying

e front seat. "You useless girl! Help out, or if

ly, struggling to

nner, as if something was pushing against it. Scar

"Look at my grandson, so strong and healthy. He can't w

weaving past cars an

r climbed past the limit. I tried to reason.

t up with your jinxing nonsense. My son's eager to a

orthless girl. Tomorrow, you'll use your licen

t five red lights, enou

ing against traffic, and the ca

cameras snapping violat

thrashed harder. Cracks multipl

at the hospital entrance.

ground, she let out a

ore through her bell

ollowed. "Monster

spot. My dad stumbl

port, Emily

writhed in blood, crawling out as she vomi

standers gagged or fainted like m

r, saw it and crumpled to t

ms burrowed into Emily's organs, slithering thro

neth, trailing the writhing worms in her gut, drive

he passenger seat,

in her place, begging for hel

his head frantically. "Stay a

ne drew phones fi

nd my fainted mom onto stretchers,

acted a meter-long parasite and countle

insisting the hospital turned her grands

Parasites had infested her, draining her nutrients and blood,

tured her stomach, and smaller

Was it you? You said Emily's belly was off. I saw you sneaking around K

you, I just saw their door open that night and closed it so t

e hard. "You were the one pushing for Emily to get checked at

urderous glare. "I just heard pregnant women get checkups,

laring at me befo

messing around, turning my grandson into a worm. Why else would only she have this

oes fooling around, turning my grandson i

's right. I need that dowry to marr

bitter chill ris

ed, yet he showed no grief, already

ily's eyes could

to Emily's family with her bo

y wasn't one

he dowry to marry, and there

in our home, they deman

ed empty-hand

the dowry, she se

ough the door,

ing twisted

, my fears

e you got married. Women lose their value

erweight with a nearly bald h

ble to find this one. Don't mind his age. Older men know how to treat a woman.

o have kids. Just marry him and live the good life. What a deal.

ng this much f

e flushed with excitement. I felt

rn, could I not escap

can remarry and put a down payment on a house. After

pinched the inside of my thigh hard. "You lit

lowered my head. "Mom,

y. "You think you can just

times, parents and matchmakers decide. You don't get a sa

ttled. Find a time to get the license. A weddi

linked arms with my mom. "You guys misunderstood. Of cour

rying the family's heir, I'm too worried to focus on anything else. Why not wait until my

ut Kenneth's face soured. He

amily. Can you bear to let her stress while pregnant? Or do you want

tinizing gazes l

anger. "What nonsen

're not like that. But with Emily just g

l. "Joey's right. We'll w

g a smile. "I'll go grab t

n front of my mom. "Mom's the fami

p. She grabbed the sauce-drenched fish wit

I brought two more bowls from the kitchen for th

ack, devouring eve

lies swelled while th

a flicker of fear crossing her fac

could it be the same? Think about it. Only Emily's belly grew back t

're carrying twins, Mom. That's why it's so big. If yo

ile, her worries gone. She ev

didn't tak

nother rival for

them with near-

l became

s. Even my dad and Kenneth's looked

t, as she ate the most, big

ng rhythmically, with scarlet stre

en stared at her belly with a

me had

ced the seafood

peaking cautiously. "Business is rough. The f

atching the seafood an

uch, but it

ought back on

, glowing eyes, and said helplessly. "The shop clos

massive belly. "I'm carrying Miller's twins. The

le. "Don't worry, Mom. We'

others, here to carry on the family name." S

e in Kenneth. He grabbed a fruit kni

o my mom's belly.

with rage, stabbed again. "Keep givin

tes, long curled inside, sl

e from her intestines, bur

ly fainting, only to stay awake from the pain.

the closest person. "Sa

king in fake fear, an

ally. "What brothers? I knew they were mon

ed with fury, showin

dren and served him for dec

s laughter s

, sensing blood, thrashed

g his stomach, fingers

ved to help but froz

ace and pulled up the home surve

agony. The worms, drawn to

let cracks spreading a

, a massive worm tore

parasite slither

ines invaded his organs, and

rasites ruptured his bel

, struggling to grab his phone for help. H

hite worms crawled over their bodies. The three ma

o the poli

olice arrived, th

cene shocked ev

ance footage, they cl

s, like Emily's, went

hem to the crematorium, and dumped their ashes

, the house, and the

car, ready to start

sun shone brightly

d clear, my life fin