Chapter 1

Three months into my pregnancy, my husband, who'd been over the moon about our baby, suddenly flipped.

He stopped reading parenting books, returned all the baby stuff we'd bought, and brushed me off when I asked why. He just said it was too early for all that.

Then one night, he came home practically glowing and pulled me into his arms.

He said, "Nola, guess what? Hailey's back. She was diagnosed with leukemia, and since you two are sisters, I had your bone marrow tested. It's a match. If you donate, you can save her."

Hailey Keller was my half-sister and his first love.

I froze. "But I'm pregnant. That disqualifies me from donating."

He just waved it off. "Then just end the pregnancy. We can have another baby later."

My whole body went cold.

*****

Saul Barrett was completely oblivious to my shock. He just kept rambling on, totally thrilled. "With your bone marrow, Hailey's definitely going to get better."

I thought I was hallucinating. I stared right at him, making sure I'd heard right. "You're saying you want me to abort the baby and donate my bone marrow to Hailey?"

Saul tapped my nose, grinning. "Honey, you're so smart, and so kind. Hailey was worried you'd refuse because of the baby."

My voice shook with anger. "When did I ever agree to this? I will never give up my child."

Seeing how serious I was, Saul's eyes flickered with impatience.

"Stop being so dramatic. We can have more kids later. Hailey's your sister. Do you really want to watch her die?" he shot back.

Shock. Disappointment. Helplessness. All of it crashed over me, and I nearly collapsed onto the couch.

But Saul didn't show the slightest bit of concern. He yanked me up hard. "Don't just sit there. We need to get to the hospital. There's a ton of tests to do."

Still in my thin pajamas, I was dragged straight off the couch.

When we got to the door, I grabbed onto the frame. "Seriously? You want me to step outside in my pajamas?"

He blinked, as if just realizing. He muttered "Oh," before tossing an old coat over me. "No one's looking at you anyway. What does it matter what you wear?"

He gave me that smile—the same one that used to make me weak in the knees. "Come on, you'd look good in anything to me."

But all I saw in his eyes was pure disdain.

On the wall, our wedding photo appeared particularly ironic.

I had been that radiant bride once; slim and beautiful.

To get pregnant, I'd taken endless meds, worn my body down, until I ended up how I was now.

The car sped along the road, and before I knew it, we were at the hospital where Hailey was staying.

As we walked through the hospital, nurses, doctors, and even some patients greeted us.

Everyone knew Saul; he was the chairman of this private hospital.

As soon as we stepped into Jude Pearson's office—Jude was Saul's close friend and also Hailey's attending doctor—Saul cut straight to the chase. "Nola and Hailey are a bone marrow match. Schedule the surgery right away."

Jude was drinking when he entered. He nearly choked, spitting out the water. "Saul, do you know what you're saying?"

Saul rolled his eyes. "What, did your brain short-circuit or are you just going deaf?"

He didn't even blink as he added, "Nola's donating her bone marrow to Hailey. Just to be safe, she needs to have an abortion first."

Brian stared at Saul like he'd just grown a second head.

I knew exactly why Brian was so shocked.

I had tried for this baby for four years—endless meds, endless treatments—and now, I was finally pregnant. There was no way I'd so easily give it up.

Brian wasn't about to let it go. "Wait, did Nola actually agree to this? To get rid of the baby?"

Saul cut in, completely indifferent. "She doesn't get to decide."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my heart sank into a bottomless pit of despair.

I staggered into the hallway, clinging to the cold wall until I sank onto a bench.

That was when a pair of high heels stopped in front of me.

I didn't need to look up to know it was Hailey.

Even sick, she wore a designer dress, flawless makeup, and stayed in the VIP ward—all Saul's doing.

Thinking about it just made me feel even more pathetic.

I thought back to when I was hospitalized during fertility treatments. I'd asked Saul for a VIP room and he'd snapped at me, "Can't you just stay in a normal ward? You can't abuse your position as the chairman's wife."

But for Hailey? He gave her the best suite without hesitation.

The truth had always been obvious—I just refused to see it.

I finally looked up. Hailey arched her brow, sneering. "Nola, how could you show up here dressed like that? You're embarrassing Saul. He's the chairman, and you're making him look bad."

Then she smirked. "At least you're not completely clueless. You know exactly what Saul actually cares about. Let's be real—donating your bone marrow to me is the only chance you have left to keep him."

Out of nowhere, my belly fluttered—the first kick. My baby moved.

I didn't even bother to respond to Hailey's taunts. Instead, I cradled my belly with both hands, desperate to feel the tiny life growing inside me.

Hailey saw me ignoring her and shoved me angrily. "I'm talking to you. Stop clutching your belly like that. You're fortunate to donate your marrow to me.

"Besides, your bastard baby shouldn't even exist. Saul promised me—"

I snapped. I shot up and slapped her hard across the face. "Shut up. I will never hurt my child for you. Bone marrow? In your dreams."

Hailey's already pale face went ghostly white.