Chapter 1

Just to make his childhood friend, who was battling depression, smile, my husband tied me up at the top of a scenic mountain, while I was in my third trimester.

He insisted I do all ninety-nine jumps right in front of a crowd.

I held my belly protectively and snapped, "Daniel, have you lost your mind?

"I'm this far along. If I jump, I'll have a miscarriage!"

Daniel Anderson just rolled his eyes. "Stop being so dramatic!

"A healthy baby wouldn't miscarry. If it did, that just means there was something wrong with it from the start.

"That's just survival of the fittest!"

With that, he forcefully pried my fingers off the railing.

Then he personally shoved me off the edge.

In that split second as I plummeted, I saw Daniel holding Susan close, both of them laughing hysterically on the viewing platform.

I had loved him for eight years, but at that moment, I finally saw through him. He was nothing but a disappointment.

By the time the ninety-ninth jump was over, I blacked out.

The moment I came to, my hand instinctively went to my baby bump.

I could finally breathe again.

Thank goodness, my baby was still safe.

Just as I tried to get out of bed, I suddenly found myself face-to-face with my doctor, who looked seriously unimpressed.

She scolded, "You're this far along and you still went bungee jumping?

"Looking at your records. Do you know how many injections and meds you've taken just to make sure your baby's fine?"

"And now you pull a stunt like this! Was all those months of hard work for nothing?"

Her voice was stern, but there was genuine concern in her eyes.

I lowered my head.

My eyes fell on the faded stretch marks and the scattered bruises and needle marks left behind by all those shots I'd taken to keep my baby safe.

"I'm sorry, doctor. I promise I'll never take such a risk again," I said softly.

"Is my baby okay? The due date hasn't changed, has it?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The doctor froze for a moment, then sighed deeply and said, "The shock was just too much for you. By the time you arrived, there was no heartbeat, and you were bleeding heavily.

"We had to perform emergency surgery because of the miscarriage. You're safe now."

I felt like I'd just been struck by lightning.

I gripped the blanket over my belly, my voice trembling with shock and desperation. "No way! My belly's still here. How could my baby be gone?"

The doctor softened her tone. "After the miscarriage, your stomach doesn't just shrink back right away. It usually takes a week or two to return to normal.

"But don't worry, we were able to save your uterus. You'll still be able to have children someday.

"For now, just rest. I'll let your family know you're awake."

"Sorry, doctor, I don't have any relatives to call," I replied, my voice flat.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my skin, forcing myself not to break down in front of her.

"It was just an IVF baby anyway, so... maybe losing it isn't such a big deal after all," I muttered.

It was a good thing that ever since I got pregnant, Daniel was always "too busy" to come with me to any of my prenatal appointments.

At least that made it easier for me to fool the doctor.

It was the first child I finally got pregnant with after eight long years of marriage to Daniel.

I guarded this little life in my belly for almost eight months, treating it like my most precious treasure.

I took every bitter pill and endured every shot, just to keep it safe.

I lived in constant fear that even the tiniest thing could put him in danger.

Even in that moment of sheer panic, flying through the air,

I clamped my legs shut with all my strength.

God, what if the shock made it just slide right out of me?

I used to think I could be the one who loved my baby more than anyone else in the world.

But honestly, I was almost glad my baby left before ever seeing this messed-up world.

Someone like me, blinded by love and so bad at judging people...

I was never fit to be a mother.

Now my baby was gone.

I had no will left to stay and recover in the hospital.

I forced my shattered body to move.

I braved the freezing wind in the dead of night.

Wandering in a daze through the cold night, I somehow made it back home.

I was completely drained.

All I wanted was to just get some real sleep.

I pushed the door open.

The sight inside nearly knocked me off my feet.

The whole living room looked like a war zone.

Balloons, streamers, garlands, empty wine bottles, and beer cans littered the floor.

Red wine was splashed across the wallpaper, and both the dining table and coffee table were piled high with discarded crayfish shells and leftover food.

There were even a few pools of vomit smeared across the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.

Daniel was sitting on the couch with his arm around Susan Santiago, who was in just a strappy nightdress.

Seeing me walk in, still visibly pregnant, he didn't even notice anything off about me.

He didn't say a word to me, not a single question or even an excuse.

He acted like nothing was wrong, like this was all totally normal.

Daniel said, "You're back just in time.

"Go and clean up this place.

"Susan can't go to sleep if the place is a mess. It'll make her depression worse."

I forced back the tears stinging my eyes and asked in a low, strained voice, "Daniel, what happened here?"

Daniel shot me a glare with obvious irritation.

"It's all your fault!" he spat.