Chapter 1
The mistress was seven months pregnant when her water broke. On New Year’s Eve, she was rushed into the emergency room.
Wearing my white coat, I looked at my husband, who was sweating with anxiety, and said calmly.
“Only one can be saved, the mother or the child.”
My husband, who favors sons over daughters, didn’t hesitate at all. “Save the child!”
The mistress refused to accept it. She slapped him and angrily called him heartless.
The two of them argued fiercely in the emergency room, faces red with rage.
Meanwhile, I took out my phone and sent a message:
[The money has been transferred.]
The gigolo standing in the corner saw the message, secretly gave me an OK sign, and then slipped away.
*****
Outside, the New Year's Eve fireworks were exploding in the sky.
I was on duty at the hospital, and the ER was quiet. I found myself zoning out, watching the dazzling fireworks light up the night.
"Holy shit!"
The intern, Keegan, suddenly blurted out.
I shot him a confused look, only to see him staring at his phone, his face frozen in disbelief.
"Doc, there's some hot gossip!"
I pulled out my phone, ignored the flood of New Year's greetings, and opened X. The top trending topic was right there.
[Pregnant woman, seven months along, rushed to hospital after New Year's Eve scandal with a gigolo!]
This explosive news stood out like a sore thumb among all the New Year's Eve trending topics.
Looking at the timestamp, it had only happened half an hour ago.
The internet was blowing up, and retweets hit a hundred thousand in no time.
I tapped on one of the photos, supposedly snapped by a witness.
In the picture, the pregnant woman's belly was huge, her clothes soaked between her legs, her face ghostly pale as she lay on a stretcher, groaning in pain.
The angle made it hard to see her face, but I recognized her instantly.
It was Aubrey Jimenez, the mistress Devon had been keeping for over a year.
Devon and I used to have a pretty good relationship, but he always valued sons over daughters.
When I gave birth to our daughter, I was left unable to have any more kids. After that, things between us went downhill fast.
Our daughter wasn't even a year old before he started cheating on me.
"Della, it's not that I don't love you."
"It's just... the Conrad family needs a son."
"Don't worry. Once she gives birth to a son, I'll bring him home and you can raise him as your own!"
Devon promised, like letting me stay his wife was some kind of grand favor.
I recognized her because of the diamond ring on her finger.
Once, I found it in Devon's pocket, and the price tag showed 25 thousand dollars.
When we got married, Devon was just starting out, pinching every penny. Our wedding rings were nothing but plain copper bands.
"Doc, the location's really close to our hospital. You don't think..."
Before he could finish, the door to the exam room was suddenly shoved open with force.
A pregnant woman was rushed in on a stretcher by the medical staff.
It was none other than Aubrey.
Trailing behind was the gigolo, his face pale and shell-shocked.
Honestly, a hookup almost turned into a tragedy, and anyone would be scared out of their wits.
Aubrey lay in the ER, sweating from the pain despite the winter chill. She clutched her belly and snapped at the gigolo, "Why are you still standing around? Get out of here! My husband's gonna be here any minute!"
The gigolo looked troubled. "I can't. You haven't paid me for tonight yet!"
Aubrey was shaking with rage.
"I nearly died with my baby, and you're still worried about your money?"
"I left my phone at the hotel. I'll transfer you the money in a couple days. Just leave for now."
"Go! Get out, now!"
Before she could finish, the ER door burst open again.
It was Devon.
He rushed over to Aubrey and grabbed her hand:
"Aubrey, are you okay?"
"It's all my fault for not being here with you. I promise, I won't ever leave you again."
Aubrey's anger melted away. Her brows furrowed as she started sobbing, suddenly looking fragile and helpless.
"Devon, it's all my fault. I couldn't protect our baby..."
I knew Devon was cheating on me, but this was the first time I'd actually seen him so intimate with another woman.
My chest felt tight and heavy, a dull ache settling in.
But I was a doctor. I couldn't let my personal feelings get in the way, no matter what.
I took a deep breath, pushed Devon out of the way, grabbed a pillow, and slid it under Aubrey's hips.
"This is the ER, not a place for your soap opera."
"Her water broke early. She needs treatment, now."
Devon froze for a second when he saw me. "Why are you the doctor?"
I smiled and spread my hands. "If you'd prefer someone else, just ask for another doctor."
I was honestly hoping he'd just take Aubrey and leave, so I wouldn't have to treat her.