Chapter 3

I stared up at the sterile white hospital ceiling, the emotions I'd been suppressing all night finally breaking loose.

Claire and I met freshman year of college.

We got engaged right after graduation.

We went from college sweethearts to a married couple that everyone envied.

And we really did have eight beautiful years. We supported each other. We compromised. Even when we fought, I always believed we would grow old together.

The joke was on me. Eight years in, the woman sleeping next to me had found someone she loved more.

She was already pregnant with his child, yet she was still trying to play the part of the loving wife with me.

Not long after, I was wheeled into the operating room.

The hospital hadn't informed Claire of my condition, and honestly, I was glad.

When the surgery was over, I was hooked up to a pain pump, lying on a transport bed, so weak I could barely keep my eyes open.

But when the orderlies wheeled me back to my room, we were stopped at the door.

All the belongings I had brought in with me were tossed haphazardly in the hallway.

I demanded to know what the hell was going on.

The charge nurse stepped forward, looking apologetic but firm.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Cole. This is a VIP suite. The private hospital's management has the right to reassign it."

"Ms. Whitmore is the daughter of one of our shareholders. Her boyfriend prefers an east-facing suite with morning sun. We're going to have to ask you to move to another ward."

"This came directly from Ms. Whitmore."

Claire arranged this?

During the earthquake yesterday, she only had eyes for her new lover.

Her heart, her love, even her child—she had given it all to him.

And now she was giving him my hospital room?

Was the sunlight not good enough anywhere else? Did he have to steal mine?

Fighting through the post-op agony, I forced myself off the transport bed. Leaning heavily against the doorframe, I picked up my scattered belongings and dragged myself step by step into the room.

The second I crossed the threshold, I saw Ryan lounging comfortably in my bed.

He didn't look surprised to see me. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and gave me a smug, victorious smirk.

"Ethan. The lighting in this suite really is fantastic. Claire already set it up for me, so you can leave now."

My name was still on the door.

I didn't buy for a second that he picked this room just for the morning sun.

He knew exactly who I was to Claire. He was doing this to rub it in my face.

"You're sleeping with my wife, Ryan," I said coldly. "Aren't you worried about HR when this gets out?"

I thought that might make him back off. Instead, he just laughed.

"Don't be so dramatic."

He leaned forward, his arrogance radiating off him.

"Claire and I grew up together. When it was life or death yesterday, she chose me. That tells you everything you need to know about who matters more."

"The one who isn't loved is the third wheel. You're the one who needs to leave, Ethan."

My hand balled into a fist. I swung hard, smashing my knuckles right into his face.

He yelped, clutching his bleeding nose, glaring at me with pure venom. The anger in my chest was boiling over.

"Get the fuck out." I growled.

Ryan sneered, wiping the blood from his lip.

"Why should I? Look at your arm. You can't even code anymore, let alone give Claire a good life. What right do you have to call yourself her husband? You're nothing."

"Just because Claire pities you too much to divorce you doesn't mean she doesn't want to. Do yourself a favor and back off. Her belly is only going to get bigger. What, do you want to raise my kid for me?"

He took a step closer, his voice dropping into a vicious taunt. "Let me spell it out for you. She's mine. The kid is mine. I'll take your job eventually, too. And as for this suite? It's mine whether you like it or not."

I stared at his smug face and let out a cold laugh. Then, I held up my phone.

Chapter 3

I stared up at the sterile white hospital ceiling, the emotions I'd been suppressing all night finally breaking loose.

Claire and I met freshman year of college.

We got engaged right after graduation.

We went from college sweethearts to a married couple that everyone envied.

And we really did have eight beautiful years. We supported each other. We compromised. Even when we fought, I always believed we would grow old together.

The joke was on me. Eight years in, the woman sleeping next to me had found someone she loved more.

She was already pregnant with his child, yet she was still trying to play the part of the loving wife with me.

Not long after, I was wheeled into the operating room.

The hospital hadn't informed Claire of my condition, and honestly, I was glad.

When the surgery was over, I was hooked up to a pain pump, lying on a transport bed, so weak I could barely keep my eyes open.

But when the orderlies wheeled me back to my room, we were stopped at the door.

All the belongings I had brought in with me were tossed haphazardly in the hallway.

I demanded to know what the hell was going on.

The charge nurse stepped forward, looking apologetic but firm.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Cole. This is a VIP suite. The private hospital's management has the right to reassign it."

"Ms. Whitmore is the daughter of one of our shareholders. Her boyfriend prefers an east-facing suite with morning sun. We're going to have to ask you to move to another ward."

"This came directly from Ms. Whitmore."

Claire arranged this?

During the earthquake yesterday, she only had eyes for her new lover.

Her heart, her love, even her child—she had given it all to him.

And now she was giving him my hospital room?

Was the sunlight not good enough anywhere else? Did he have to steal mine?

Fighting through the post-op agony, I forced myself off the transport bed. Leaning heavily against the doorframe, I picked up my scattered belongings and dragged myself step by step into the room.

The second I crossed the threshold, I saw Ryan lounging comfortably in my bed.

He didn't look surprised to see me. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and gave me a smug, victorious smirk.

"Ethan. The lighting in this suite really is fantastic. Claire already set it up for me, so you can leave now."

My name was still on the door.

I didn't buy for a second that he picked this room just for the morning sun.

He knew exactly who I was to Claire. He was doing this to rub it in my face.

"You're sleeping with my wife, Ryan," I said coldly. "Aren't you worried about HR when this gets out?"

I thought that might make him back off. Instead, he just laughed.

"Don't be so dramatic."

He leaned forward, his arrogance radiating off him.

"Claire and I grew up together. When it was life or death yesterday, she chose me. That tells you everything you need to know about who matters more."

"The one who isn't loved is the third wheel. You're the one who needs to leave, Ethan."

My hand balled into a fist. I swung hard, smashing my knuckles right into his face.

He yelped, clutching his bleeding nose, glaring at me with pure venom. The anger in my chest was boiling over.

"Get the fuck out." I growled.

Ryan sneered, wiping the blood from his lip.

"Why should I? Look at your arm. You can't even code anymore, let alone give Claire a good life. What right do you have to call yourself her husband? You're nothing."

I stared at his smug face and let out a cold laugh. Then, I held up my phone.