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"I'm up for a promotion.Your dad just tripped—what's the big deal?"
But he collapsed,screaming—the system haad decided that his attitude was not enough.
When I'd cared for his mom,I'd been devoted.To go Dutch,he had to match it!
Eric grudgingly stood,fetching water and food for my dad,facing electric for any slack.
The pain forced him to comply through gritted teeth.
Mom,watching,beamed."They say a son-in-law's half a son.Sarah,you chose the right man."
I laughed bitterly.
I'd tended to his mom for a month,including overnight stays.Dad's doctor said he'd be out in two weeks—Eric still owed me.
I began to see the system's appeal.
Eric,exhausted,lost a major client at work,earning a brutal scolding.
His team said he'd be fired if he continued to go AWOL suddenly.
He took it out on me.
"I've never seen a woman like you!He's your dad,not mine.Why should I care?"
I sneered."When your mom was sick,you let me,your wife,take on all your responsibilities as ason."
I'd been up for a promotion then but missed it caring for her.
Eric knew it but had brushed it off,saying promotions could wait,but parents wouldn't.
Now,he raged.
"You'll pay for this!"
Maybe his curse worked.That night,my pregnancy symptoms worsened.
After dinner,I felt dizzy.Before bed,I rushed to the bathroom,vomiting.
Eric,gaming in the living room,didn't even glance up,like a stranger—or an enemy.
Regret gnawed me,amplifying my misery.
I vomited until only bile came out,stumbling to bed,my legs were bruised from stumbling to the bathroom and kneeling on the ground.
Eric loomed over me.
"Pfft,faking it?Don't expect me to care."
"Get out!"
"We're not divorced.Why should I?Half of this house is mine!"
As I was about to argue,I threw up again,splattering vomit all over him.
Eric jumped,raising his hand but stopping,fearing the system.He pointed at me instead,seething.
"You'll pay!"
Karma came fast.
The next day,I'd taken leave to visit the hospital,but my boss called.
"Sarah,the client's coming to discuss the proposal.Handle it."
"Sorry sir,I'm on leave.I assigned it to Jane."
"How irresponsible!Just pregnant,and you're faking sick?I asked your husband—he said you're totally fine!"
His tone turned threatening.
"This is a big client.If you mess up,you and your team are done.I’ve made it clear."
I dragged myself to work.
There,Eric laughed with a potbellied man—my boss.
"Back then,pregnant women worked fields.Now they're spoiled."
"Exactly!So dramatic.If men got pregnant,we wouldn't complain."
Female colleagues around glared at them but stayed silent.
Seeing me,the fat boss barked,"Hurry up!We're all waiting for you!"
I fumed.If I hadn't missed that promotion caring for Eric's mom,this creep wouldn't be my boss.
He'd targeted me since.
My anger thrilled Eric.
He patted the boss's shoulder like they were best friends."Don't worry.Sarah's pregnant,but she's fine.If anything happens,I've got her back."
With that,the boss tormented me,even smoking near me,making me cough and vomit.
He scolded me for"slacking"in meetings.
Eric cheered.
"That's right!Why should women get special treatment?It's unfair to men!"
While I struggled,Eric thrived,regaining his boss's trust with flattery and landing a big project.
If he pleased the client,his promotion was certain.
He gloated,pushing the boss to send me on a business trip.The boss agreed.
Months of torment had left me,though pregnant,thinner than ever—hardly a pregnant woman to anyone’s eyes.
I'd had enough.I decided to quit.
But suddenly,all my symptoms vanished.
No nausea,or the urge to vomit at any strong smell.
I felt light,like I could run a mile.
A system prompt appeared.
"Pregnancy is a shared spousal duty.According to the rules,the wife has borne 20 weeks.The remaining 20 will be borne by the husband."
I was stunned,then elated.Even pregnancy could be split?
