The silence was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor beside my bed. J

't touch. I reached for my phone, my fingers fumbling.

ect, my thumb froze. A new post from Matthew Roberts, my husban

tered what was l

little angel. Dad wil

n my ear. He picked up on the third

is it? I'm

oat. "Matthew, the bab

said, his tone dismissive. "Listen, you j

lief turning my blood to ice. "

ing softly in the background. "Maria just gave birth. It was

slap in the face. Maria

pping to a cruel, low command. "Don't let the one that's gon

or an answer. Th

n't just in the same city; he was in the same hospital. He was in the exclusive matern

g cold and sharp. My tears stopped. My hands stopped

g over a name I hadn't called in years. Ethan Sc

most immediately, his voice deep and fami

dis

voice steady. "I hav

on the other end

"I'll give you controlling shares of Jenkins Construction as a wedding

spoken history between our families, the summer days i

"The Scott family heirs can be widowed, but never divo

empty space in my hospital bed.

and I could almost hear the