Chapter 2

When the doctor took Noa from my arms, she was already unconscious from the fever.

The heavy emergency room doors shut right in front of my face.

In the freezing hallway, there were only rushed footsteps and the harsh beeps of machines. Unmelted snow still clung to my coat. My palms were completely cold.

Half an hour later, the doctor came out. Noa was out of danger. She needed to stay for observation.

I breathed again. I took a photo of Noa's temperature chart and sent it to Kieran.

He read it instantly. His reply came a few seconds later.

"She's at the hospital now. They'll handle it."

I stared at the screen. I locked my phone.

I went into Noa's room. I sat by her bed and held her small, warm hand.

An hour passed. The hospital grew quiet. Outside, the blizzard continued to howl against the windows.

Noa stirred in her sleep. Her forehead was still hot. I stood up and walked out of the room, heading toward the nurse's station to get a cold patch.

That was when footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. I looked up.

Kieran was walking through the automatic doors. He wore his black wool coat. Snow still covered his shoulders.

For one second, I thought he had finally rushed here for our daughter.

Then I saw the woman leaning against him.

He was not here for Noa. He was here for Livia.

Livia wore his suit jacket. She leaned into his chest. Her eyes were red. Kieran held her tightly. He grabbed a passing nurse.

"She is bleeding. We need a doctor now."

The hallway was narrow. They walked right into me.

Kieran stopped. Shock crossed his face.

"Arden? Why are you out here? Where is Noa?"

"In the observation room," I said. My voice was completely flat.

Kieran let go of Livia slightly. "Livia called me in a panic. She cut her finger while slicing the cake. She was alone."

I looked at Livia's hand.

A piece of tissue wrapped her index finger. The cut was tiny. The blood was already dry.

"The cross-sea bridge cleared up that fast?" I said, looking right at him.

Kieran froze.

I looked right into his eyes. "Noa's fever hit 104°F. She had a seizure. But you told me to call an ambulance."

"Livia got a paper-thin cut on her finger. And you drove through a blizzard for her."

Livia stepped forward. She pulled Kieran's sleeve. Her voice trembled.

"Kieran, I am so sorry. I didn't know little Noa was sick. I shouldn't have called you. Go be with your daughter."

I had seen this trick for three years. She always disguised her demands as apologies.

Kieran frowned. He stepped in front of Livia, shielding her from me.

"Arden, she didn't know. Don't be unreasonable right now."

He sighed. "Noa already has you. Livia only has me."

There it was.

My being there had become his reason not to be.

If I kept our daughter safe, he could call that proof she didn't need him.

I turned and walked back to the ward.

I went to the nurse's station. I picked up Noa's medical file.

Kieran's name was listed as the first emergency contact and the first person authorized to receive updates.

I took a black pen. I drew a thick, hard line straight through his name.

"Nurse," I said. "Remove him as the first emergency contact and revoke my consent for the hospital to release updates to him. Any change to legal decision-making can go through the court."

The nurse saw my cold eyes. She nodded and took the file.

Back beside Noa, I opened an email I'd refused a month earlier.

A position in my mother's company.

I had told Marcella the timing wasn't right. Noa needed stability. Kieran and I needed more time.

I called her.

"Is the position still available?"

"It is."

"I want to accept."

She asked about Noa before discussing anything else.

I looked at my daughter's hand resting outside the blanket.

My mother said she would come as soon as transport allowed.

Then I called Tessa again.

I asked her to coordinate the separation papers and collection of keys for the apartment my mother had offered.

Near dawn, two emails arrived.

One confirmed my return to work.

The other contained the first draft of my separation instructions.

I opened both.

This time, I wasn't declining either one.