Chapter 2

I woke up to the sterile smell of the hospital room.

My left leg was locked in a heavy plaster cast, elevated and throbbing with a dull, relentless agony.

But worse was the sharp, terrifying ache in my lower abdomen.

The doctor stood by my bed, his expression grave.

"You suffered severe smoke inhalation and physical trauma, Mrs. Ellis. You were millimeters away from a miscarriage. The baby has a heartbeat, but you are on strict bed rest. Any more stress, and you will lose this child."

Derek didn't visit me that night.

He finally walked into the room the next afternoon.

He didn't bring flowers. He didn't bring food.

He walked in holding a cup of iced coffee for himself, smelling faintly of a sweet vanilla perfume that I knew belonged to Talia.

He didn't even look at the fetal heart monitor quietly beeping beside my bed.

"The firefighters told me you were fine," Derek said as his opening sentence.

He pulled up a chair and sighed, running a hand through his hair like he was the victim.

"I thought you were right behind me, Maren. But Talia was having a full-blown panic attack. You know how fragile she is. I had to get her out."

I stared at the man I had loved for five years.

"I was trapped under a burning cabinet," I said, my voice hoarse. "I begged you to help me. I told you I was bleeding."

Derek rolled his eyes.

"You’re always so dramatic, Maren. You’re sitting here right now, aren't you? You and the baby are fine. We have a real crisis to handle. The restaurant opens in five days."

He reached into his tailored jacket—the jacket I had bought him—and tossed a thick document onto my lap.

It was the share transfer agreement.

"We need this signed today," Derek demanded. "The staff and suppliers are panicking. I need to show them I am officially the co-owner, or they might walk."

He still expected me to sign away forty-nine percent of my property. While I was lying in a hospital bed, fighting to keep our child alive.

Then, he pulled out a second piece of paper and dropped it next to the first.

"Also, the fire investigators need our statement," Derek continued smoothly.

"Sign this accident report. It states that the fire was an unexpected equipment failure. Do not mention that Talia forced the kitchen to bypass the out-of-order tag."

My fingers dug into the white hospital blanket.

"She ignored a safety warning just to take photos," I said, my voice shaking with a cold, rising fury.

"She almost killed me. She almost killed your child. And you want me to commit insurance fraud to protect her?"

"Stop being so vindictive!" Derek snapped. "Talia is under a lot of stress. If you tell the truth, her career in management is finished! Why do you want to ruin her just because you're jealous?"

Jealous.

The word hung in the air, sickening and absurd.

"And once the share transfer is signed," Derek added, adjusting his cuffs with total entitlement, "I am giving ten percent of my shares to Talia. As a reward for her loyalty during this disaster."

I looked at him. Really looked at him.

"You already promised her my shares?" I asked.

"They were always meant to be mine," Derek said without a second thought. "You’re just the investor, Maren. I’m the talent. I’m the one who makes the restaurant run."

He stood up and checked his Rolex.

"I have to go comfort the staff. Think about it, Maren," Derek said. "Sign the statement. Transfer the shares. Stop acting like a victim and let's put this fire behind us."

He walked out of the room, leaving the two papers on my bed.

He didn't ask if I was in pain. He didn't ask if I needed anything.

I sat in the quiet hospital room.

The tears I thought I would cry never came.

The love I had for Derek had burned to ash in that hallway, and now, he had just stomped on the remains.

My phone lay on the tray. I picked it up and dialed my lawyer.

"Helen," I said.

"Maren, thank God! How are you feeling?" Helen answered, her voice laced with genuine worry.

"I am completely awake," I replied.

The warmth was gone from my voice, replaced by something hard and unbreakable.

"Tell me you have the corporate files ready."

"Yes. Everything is verified."

"Good," I said, looking down at the papers Derek had demanded I sign. "I will not sign the accident statement. I will not cover for Talia. And Derek will not get a single share."

I paused, looking at the fetal monitor beside me. I placed a protective hand over my stomach.

"Draft the termination papers, Helen. I want them both fired. I want their access revoked. I am taking every single thing back, and I am going to leave him with absolutely nothing."