Chapter 3

The OR doors closed again. I lay there, eyes wide open, silently crying, pushed back into the operating room, utterly hopeless.

Consciousness blurred the edges of pain as I felt my belly being cut open, the child, my flesh and blood, ripped from my womb.

Thrown unceremoniously into a biohazard bin, disappearing from my sight forever.

My head reeled. The pain in my lower abdomen spread to my heart, a crushing agony that stole my breath.

The stitching was quick. Dr. Evans wiped sweat from his brow.

“Your uterus is saved.”

“Ms. Miller, please don't blame Dr. Miller. To him, the patient's needs always come first.”

“He's never pulled strings for a VIP room before. This time, he insisted the nurses reserve one for his family. Dr. Miller really cares, and as his family, you should support his work.”

Dr. Evans rambled on, defending Daniel. My hands pressed against my now-flat stomach, a self-inflicted wound. I gave a cold, humorless laugh.

“So, I should thank him?”

Dr. Evans awkwardly fell silent, pushing open the VIP room door.

“You rest well. Dr. Miller will be by to see you soon…”

He didn't finish. My gaze flickered to the ward.

Daniel was holding a sleeping Chloe, carefully wiping a tear from her eye.

“I know you're sensitive, you can't sleep with any noise. I specifically got this room for you. Don't worry about anything else. I've got you. Our baby will be born healthy.”

Noticing the movement at the door, Daniel looked up. His eyes met my ghost-white face. His lips tightened.

Dr. Evans quickly pushed me back out, awkwardly apologizing to Daniel.

“I'm sorry, Dr. Miller. I heard you'd requested a room for your family, so I brought Ms. Miller here…”

Even then, Daniel carefully settled Chloe before finally turning to face me.

He even thoughtfully closed the door, so Chloe wouldn't be disturbed.

He rubbed his forehead, dismissed Dr. Evans, then finally looked into my eyes.

“Ava, Chloe just got a shock. She needs bed rest to stabilize her pregnancy. One of my children is already gone. I can't let another one be at risk.”

“I know I messed up, Ava… But the most important thing now is for you to recover…”

I slapped Daniel across the face. After the peak of grief, a terrifying calm settled over me.

“How did you two meet?”

Daniel turned his head, closing his eyes as he answered.

“She was my junior. Chloe is very sweet. She knew I was married to you, and she didn't want me to divorce you and break your heart, so she was willing to be with me without any title.”

“She knew you were pregnant and always encouraged me to go home and take care of you. She even insisted I not accompany her to her appointments.”

“Chloe has been through enough. Take your anger out on me. This has nothing to do with her.”

Ha.

I started to laugh, a bitter, broken sound, tears streaming down my face.

So he'd already considered divorcing me, and the only reason our marriage lasted was Chloe's pity.

Daniel's blatant defense of her was the sharpest thorn, tearing me to shreds from the inside out.

I lunged at Daniel, scratching and biting him like a madwoman, yelling curses.

“Daniel, I hope you rot in hell! I want you to pay for Jumpy's life!”

Daniel stepped forward, clapped a hand over my mouth, and then, impossibly, injected me with a sedative.

“Ava, I'll compensate you. But the hospital can't know about this. I still have that promotion, remember?”

“Hospital beds are tight. I already pulled strings for one room. I can't ask for another. Just for my sake, please endure the extra bed in the hallway.”