Chapter 2

I rushed into the hospital lobby, tripping over myself in panic.

The strong smell of disinfectant washed over me, making me dizzy.

I grabbed a passing nurse, my voice trembling. "Excuse me, which room is Zane Frost in?"

The nurse glanced at me and pointed upstairs. "Third floor. Take a left, and it's all the way at the end of the hall."

"Thank you," I said.

I rushed to the elevator, but it was stuck up on the twentieth floor, its red numbers glowing.

I couldn't wait. I spun around and bolted for the stairwell, sprinting all the way up to the third floor.

The red ICU sign blazed like a blade dipped in blood, cutting deep into my eyes.

At the end of the corridor, two figures stood waiting. My mother-in-law, May Frost, and my sister-in-law, Tina Frost.

With their backs to me, they were nervously talking to a doctor in a white coat, clearly anxious about something.

I braced myself, took a deep breath, and dashed over with everything I had.

"May." My voice came out hoarse and dry.

At the sound of my voice, May and Tina whirled around.

The instant May recognized me, her eyes ignited with rage.

Without saying a word, she raised her hand and slapped me across the face with all her strength.

The sharp crack echoed in the silent hallway.

My cheek burned, half my face numb. My ears were ringing.

I staggered back, crashing into the wall behind me.

"How dare you show your face here?" May spat the words through gritted teeth, her voice dripping with venom.

Tina rushed over, jabbing her finger at me. "Yvette, you bitch. My brother's dying, and where the hell were you? Ignoring calls, ignoring texts. Were you waiting for him to die?"

The sharp accusations were like a thousand knives, cutting me to shreds.

I couldn't argue back. Because everything they said was true.

I was the one who didn't answer the phone. I was the one who didn't reply to the messages. I was the one who wasn't there when my husband needed me most.

I covered my face, tears streaming down, my throat so tight I couldn't get a word out. "I'm sorry."

"Get out. I don't want to hear another word from you." May shoved me, jabbing her finger at the closed ICU doors, her voice shrill with fury. "If anything happens to my son, you'll pay for it with your life. Mark my words."

I stared at that cold, unyielding door; my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

Through the tiny window, I couldn't make out anything inside.

Zane was in there.

My husband was on the other side of that door, his life hanging by a thread.

And I, the person who should've been right there with him, ended up being the last to find out.

The doctor looked us over, frowning. He seemed about to say something, but sighed instead. "Folks, please calm down. This is a hospital."

He turned to me, his eyes sizing me up with a hint of confusion. "You're the patient's wife, Yvette Cook?"

I nodded numbly.

The doctor went on, "He had a sudden brain aneurysm rupture. When he came in, it was already critical. We needed to operate right away, but couldn't reach his family for a signature.

"We called you dozens of times, but nobody answered."

Every word the doctor spoke hit like a sledgehammer to my chest.

I opened my mouth to explain, but every excuse felt hollow. Should I say we were in a fight? That I thought it was a robocall and hung up?

No. There was no excuse for dropping the ball.

I pressed against the wall, my body slowly sliding down to the floor.

I wanted to see Zane. "Doctor, can I please see my husband?"

My voice was trembling, full of desperate pleading.

The doctor shook his head. "He's still in critical condition. You can't see him."

Those words shattered me completely, sending me into the abyss.

May stared at me, not a hint of sympathy in her eyes. Instead, she let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Suddenly, you care? Where were you when it actually mattered?

"Yvette, I've told you before. You're the kind of woman with a heart of stone. Ice-cold and heartless. My son marrying you was the worst goddamn luck our family has had in eight generations."

Tina chimed in, piling on. "Exactly. When my brother wanted to marry you, Mom was against it. She said you looked like trouble, not the type for a quiet life. And now, see? She was spot on.

"My brother gave you everything. Food, clothes, all paid for by him. And what do you do? You turn out to be an ungrateful wretch."

May and Tina kept tag-teaming, every word stabbing right into my heart.