Part 3Gifting My BFF Something Extra Special

This was a gift from the heavens.

Seraphina’s face cycled through shades of green and white. She instinctively tried to hide the bowl of soup behind her back. “Oh, um… I can’t. This is for Elara,” she stammered.

The woman just laughed, completely unfazed. “What’s the big deal? I just saw her refuse it. She didn’t even take a sip. Let me have it. I don’t mind leftovers.”

A nurse joined in, trying to smooth things over. “Exactly. You worked so hard on it. Someone like Elara doesn’t deserve it.”

“Just give it to someone else. You don’t need to be so nice to her.”

Seraphina’s fists clenched, her knuckles white. Her face grew paler.

Just as the standoff reached its peak, her husband, Ethan, appeared at her side.

“Nobody’s drinking that soup,” he announced with an easy charm.

“I was rushing through the kitchen this morning and knocked over the salt shaker. The whole thing went right into the pot. I was in a hurry and forgot to tell Sera. I’m sure it’s inedibly salty by now.”

He scratched his head, a picture of sheepish apology. “Alright, alright, no big deal about the soup. Tell you what, I’ll treat everyone to lunch to make up for it. My apologies.”

And just like that, with a simple lie, Ethan defused the entire situation.

So, my theory was correct.

The system worked on anyone who ate the food she prepared. They were deliberately screening for a mother who was intelligent and beautiful to bear their stolen child.

It just so happened that next month, I was scheduled to volunteer at an upscale animal shelter. The director mentioned they had several pregnant dogs who were always ravenous, constantly scavenging for food, even in the middle of the night.

I planned to spend a couple of days there.

If I could bring all of Seraphina’s "gifts" with me… wouldn’t that be perfect?

I was about to ask her for some of her famous homemade pumpkin puree when she beat me to it.

“Elara, since the soup and lemonade won’t work, I also brought you a jar of my pumpkin puree. It’s packed with nutrients for expectant mothers.”

I smiled faintly, and she immediately pressed the beautifully packaged jar into my hands.

Onlookers gasped in admiration. One of the nurses gave her a thumbs-up. “My god, you should be nominated for Best Friend of the Year.”

Seraphina blushed demurely, covering her mouth with her hand. “Elara’s just hit the three-month mark; it’s a critical time. She’s my best friend. Of course, I have to take care of her. A best friend is family. I’d do anything for her.”

People shot me envious looks, wishing they had a friend as devoted as mine.

I remembered my past life, my soul hovering near her ceiling as she complained to Ethan.

“This fourth one isn’t nearly as handsome as I’d hoped. We should have reset the system with someone else.”

Seraphina, applying her makeup flawlessly, had laughed. “Whatever. I only wanted one of her kids anyway, but the stupid girl just kept getting pregnant. It was her body taking the damage, not mine. Popping out a kid felt like nothing. A few free sons aren’t so bad, I guess.”

She’d paused, a cruel smirk on her face. “It was kind of fun, actually. It’s a shame she died so soon. I could have kept playing for much longer.”