Chapter 1

I discovered my husband Adam Garter had another wife while I was performing surgery.

The day after Christmas, I had just exited the highway when my chief, William Grant, called.

"Claire, you in Riverdale County yet? County hospital just got a 34-week pregnant woman—placental abruption, severe bleeding. They can't handle the surgery, no time to transfer. We need you here."

I could tell from William's tone that this was a life-or-death situation—he would never call me on my day off unless it was truly urgent.

I agreed without hesitation. After hanging up, I told the driver, "Change of plans—Riverdale County Hospital, not Maple Grove Apartments."

I opened Adam's chat, hesitated, then said nothing.

I was supposed to be on call over Christmas, but another doctor swapped shifts with me at the last minute.

Adam was spending Christmas in his hometown, Riverdale County, so I figured I'd pop by and surprise him.

We'd been married for two years, and I still hadn't visited his family's place.

I never imagined that the moment I arrived in Riverdale County, I'd get an emergency call.

Saving lives came first. I could swing by his place after the emergency.

I never saw it coming—just as I finished changing into my scrubs at the hospital, Adam and his family suddenly appeared and surrounded me.

*****

Adam's mother—my mother-in-law—lunged at me first, gripping my arm. "Please, Doctor, my grandson—you have to save him!"

The moment she rushed at me, I thought I was seeing things.

I'd only seen her once before, when our families met before Adam and I got married.

After that, work at the hospital kept me so busy.

Plus, Adam always said his parents weren't highly educated, so it was better if I kept my distance.

So after we got married, I'd only ever seen her in a handful of video calls.

I blinked, just to make sure—I wasn't mistaken. It really was Adam's mom, Rachel Carter.

Adam's dad, Frank Carter, looked just as anxious. "Doctor, please, you have to save my grandson! We'll write a letter to the hospital board praising you!"

Adam stepped in, pushing his parents aside. "Let the doctor work..."

He paused, eyeing me suspiciously over his mask.

After a few seconds, he shook his head. Must've decided he was wrong.

"Please, you have to save my wife and baby," Adam pleaded.

His wife.

His baby.

Those words shattered my heart in an instant.

I leaned against the wall, trying to steady my trembling body.

I asked mechanically, "Are you the family of Lily Moon?"

My voice came out rough and strained, nothing like my usual tone. Even I was surprised at how unfamiliar it sounded.

Adam's suspicion faded completely, and he nodded.

"Yes, I'm Lily's husband. She... she slipped and fell at home today. When we saw all the blood, we brought her straight here," he said.

I nodded, turned, and headed for the operating room without another word.

As I stepped into the prep area outside the operating room, I realized my legs were shaking uncontrollably.

Not just my legs—my hands were trembling too.

My whole body was shivering, like I had a fever, and I couldn't stop it.

William, the head of obstetrics at the county hospital, quickly filled my in.

"Thanks for coming, Dr. Simmons. Lily Moon, 23, 34 weeks pregnant. BP's barely 80/45 despite max meds. Shock index over 1.5, likely severe fetal distress. It's critical."

With that, he stepped aside, waiting for me to scrub in and change into my sterile gown.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the surge of trembling in my body.

I asked myself: Claire, were you really the right person for this surgery?

Even knowing the woman on the table was your husband's other wife, carrying his child—could you really treat her like any other patient, keep your emotions out of it, and just do your job?

In the OR, things changed in seconds. Could you keep a clear head and make the right call while your emotions were all over the place?

William started to get anxious when he saw me just standing there.

"Dr. Simmons?" he called out.

His voice jolted me back.

To all those questions I'd just asked myself, the answer was yes.

Time was of the essence. I couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.

"Dr. Grant, I'll take the lead. You assist," I said.

As I spoke, I started prepping for the surgery.

I was ready. Ready to face Adam's other wife and do everything I could to save her and the baby.