Chapter 1

On our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband, Oliver Gardner, took me to his brand-new hotel.

Before we could finish our dinner, the entire building caught fire. Smoke filled every hallway, and we were trapped on the rooftop.

The helicopter finally arrived, but it could only take two people at a time.

Oliver's secretary, Eloise Banks, was clutching her chest, struggling to breathe.

Without hesitation, Oliver shoved me aside and secured her to the rope.

He said, "Vanessa, you're stronger. You can hold on for five more minutes. Eloise has asthma. She won't make it."

However, five minutes later, the building collapsed, and I fell into the flames.

As my consciousness slipped away, my phone lit up.

It was a message from the OB-GYN. [Mrs. Gardner, congratulations. You are four weeks pregnant.]

*****

We were at the top-floor restaurant of Gardner Group's brand-new five-star hotel in Valdris. Today marked my seventh anniversary with Oliver.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city glittered under the night sky. Oliver cut the steak and handed it to me.

"You've sacrificed a lot for me these past few years. This hotel is a birthday gift for you," he said.

As I picked up my fork and knife, his phone rang. The screen lit up with Eloise's name.

"Hi, Mr. Gardner." Eloise's soft voice came through the phone. "I'm downstairs in the lobby sorting through the opening paperwork. There are a couple of urgent files you should probably look at. Should I bring them up?"

I set my fork and knife down.

Oliver glanced at me. "Yeah, bring them up."

Five minutes later, Eloise walked out of the elevator in heels. Her makeup was perfect, and her fitted office outfit showed off her shape. She held a folder against her chest.

"Happy anniversary, Vanessa," she said to me.

She handed the papers to Oliver, placing a hand over her chest as she breathed a little heavily. "They're still working on the ventilation downstairs. My asthma almost kicked in. I didn't mean to bother you, but—"

Oliver frowned slightly. "You shouldn't be working overtime. Sit down and rest for a bit."

Eloise took a seat beside him.

Suddenly, a harsh fire alarm blared through the restaurant. The lights on the whole floor shut off at the same time, and heavy smoke started pouring out of the vents.

"Let's go." Oliver grabbed his coat and took my hand.

The three of us dashed through the darkness toward the fire escape.

The moment we pushed open the door, a wave of intense heat rushed up the stairwell, making us step back.

"Head for the rooftop," Oliver barked without hesitation.

The wind on the rooftop howled. Flames from the lower floors crawled up along the outer walls, the rising heat warping the air into shimmering waves.

The thunderous roar of the helicopter echoed overhead. A rescue rope came swinging down.

The pilot's voice blasted from the loudspeaker, "Weight limit. We can only take two at a time. Hurry up."

Just then, Eloise's legs gave out, and she dropped to the ground. She grabbed at her chest as she struggled for air, her face turning red. "Mr. Gardner, I can't breathe."

Oliver looked down at her, then lifted his gaze toward me.

I reached for the rope, my fingers only 3 inches from the harness latch.

The next second, Oliver struck hard against my back.

The shove pushed me back half a step, my right foot landing right on the unguarded edge of the roof.

"Oliver?" I cried out.

He crouched down and swiftly fastened the rescue harness around Eloise's waist.

The rope tightened, lifting them away.

I lunged forward, grabbing Oliver's sleeve with both hands. I begged, "I'm scared. Oliver, please take me with you."

Oliver wrenched his arm free, throwing me aside, then wrapped one arm around Eloise's waist as the rope slowly lifted them into the air.

"Vanessa, you're stronger. Hang on for five more minutes. Eloise has asthma. She won't make it otherwise," he shouted.

The helicopter door began to close.

The concrete beneath my feet was burning up from the heat, and suddenly, the rooftop started to tilt. A sudden sense of weightlessness swept over me.

I plunged into the raging fire below, tumbling alongside massive chunks of concrete and twisted steel.

Right before I blacked out, my phone slipped from my pocket, and the screen lit up.

It was a message from the OB-GYN department at Valdris General Hospital. [Mrs. Gardner, your HCG blood test came back positive. You're four weeks pregnant. Please come in for a checkup soon.]

I tried to scream, but smoke and blood filled my throat, leaving me unable to make a sound.

I had taken a year of medicine and gotten over a hundred hormone shots for this baby. Now, it was going to die with me.

I managed to turn my head, and through the smoke, I saw Oliver pulling Eloise close, shielding her in his arms.

Oliver's voice drifted to my ears, comforting Eloise. "Don't worry. I'm here."

*****

A sharp, burning pain ran through me, as if it were coming from inside my bones.

I opened my eyes and saw the ceiling above me in the ICU.

I tried to move my fingers, but my limbs were wrapped in heavy gauze, and even breathing felt exhausting. The right side of my face burned unbearably.

The doctor, Douglas, walked in, glancing at my medical record. "Mrs. Gardner, there's something I have to tell your family, but your husband hasn't come by."

"When you fell, a steel rod pierced right through your abdomen," Douglas said, pausing and turning his gaze away. "You lost a lot of blood before you got here. We tried everything, but the baby didn't make it."

I went completely stiff.

"Also, your uterus was severely damaged, so we had to perform a hysterectomy. I'm sorry to tell you that you won't be able to have children anymore," he added quietly.

I was utterly devastated.

I had spent over a year preparing for this, taking countless bitter medicines and hundreds of hormone shots. Now, the child I finally managed to get was gone, and so was my chance to be a mom.

I wanted to cry, but my burned right cheek couldn't form any expression. Even the slightest twitch of the facial muscles sent piercing pain through me.

Tears rolled down silently, dripping through the gauze and wetting half my pillow.

*****

On the third day, the door swung open, and Oliver walked in.

He stared at me, all wrapped up in the bed like a mummy. His handsome face showed no guilt or concern. There was only an obvious annoyance.

Before he could say anything, a slender figure came out from behind him.

It was Eloise. She wore a light-colored trench coat, holding a bouquet of fresh lilies, a tiny bandage the size of a fingernail on her forehead.

Eloise walked over to the bedside table and set the lilies down. She kept her head lowered, her voice soft. "Vanessa, I'm so sorry.

"My poor health kept Mr. Gardner stuck with me. He's been dealing with the aftermath of the fire these past few days, barely sleeping. Please don't blame him for not coming to see you."

Oliver's gaze lingered on Eloise, and the irritation in his eyes eased a little.

Then he turned back to me, his voice stiff. "The fire department has issued a preliminary report. The blaze started near the top-floor electrical room. That floor was quiet that night, except for the hotel staff and you.

"Vanessa, be honest with me. Did you set the fire?"