Chapter 1

During pregnancy, I burned with a fever of 103.1°F. Yet, my husband left me behind to help his friend pursue love.

Only after I lost the child did I realize the world I lived in was a trashy angst novel.

And I was the evil side character, only existing to serve as a stepping stone for the leads romance.

In the end, my husband cheated with the female leads best friend. My childhood friend was forced to jump from a building by the male lead.

Since I was starting over, to hell with the plot. This life, I would live for myself.

*****

My husband, Patrick Irving was the doctor buddy of the overbearing male lead in a trashy angst novel.

That night, while I was burning up with a fever during my pregnancy, he received the forty-ninth call from Lionel Starnes, his best friend and the male lead.

Lionel asked him to go look after Sonia Willford, the heroine, who had twisted her ankle.

I clung weakly to Patrick's sleeve, but he pulled away from me without hesitation. He said, "This is the first time I've ever seen Lionel so invested in a woman. I have to help him win her over."

When I woke up in the hospital, I found out I'd lost the baby.

Heartbroken, I suddenly saw words floating in front of me.

[Ugh, I'm sobbing over how sweet the main couple is. Three thousand chapters and they finally got rid of all the villains and ended up together.]

[The chemistry between the female lead's bestie and the male lead's doctor friend is off the charts. Their chemistry is real. I'm obsessed with this ship.]

[Yes, finally! We got the happy ending we deserve.]

Ending? Not if I say so.

I dialed up my childhood friend, Travis Hutton. He'd been driven to suicide by Lionel, ready to jump from a building.

I said, "How pathetic are you? If you can't even do the villain thing right, let me show you how it's done."

The popped-up remarks got excited.

"Come on, it's just a twisted ankle, Lionel. Aren't you blowing this way out of proportion? Vivian's got a raging fever of 103°F," Patrick said.

Then, he listened to the phone and replied, "Alright, I hear you. Tsk, I must've owed you big time. Never seen you so hung up on a girl before. Whatever, I'm heading over now."

I used every ounce of strength I had and, as the door swung open, grabbed hold of the crisp edge of Patrick's perfectly ironed shirt.

"Don't go," I croaked, my voice barely recognizable. "Patrick, I feel terrible."

"Vivian, don't make a fuss. Sonia's ankle is really swollen and Lionel's losing his mind over it. It's the first time he's ever been this into a woman. As his buddy, I've got to help him get the girl," he said.

Patrick peeled my fingers off his shirt, not a hint of hesitation in his movements.

The sharp click of the lock sounded like the final crack in something breaking inside me.

I struggled, weakly reaching for the water glass on my nightstand, but the world spun.

I collapsed, hitting the floor with a heavy thud.

Before everything went dark, I somehow managed to dial 911.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am. The baby didn't make it," the doctor said softly.

I lay on the hospital bed, my mind lost in a fog.

If Patrick realized he'd lost our baby, how would he react?

I didn't call him until noon.

When the call went through, I could hear Patrick sounding genuinely pleased.

"Lionel, you better treat Sonia right. I've ditched my newlywed wife at home more times than I can count for you two lovebirds," he joked.

After he finished teasing, he realized I was on the line and asked offhandedly, "Vivian, how are you feeling?"

I gently touched my belly and asked, "If you had to choose between me and helping Lionel chase after Sonia, would you pick me?"

Patrick paused, then chuckled softly. "Vivian, what's up with you? Why the sudden question?"

I inisted, "Patrick, answer me."

Patrick didn't answer right away. He must've switched to speakerphone.

Then I heard a soft, gentle voice on the other end, trying to coax him.

"Mr. Irving, Lionel really overreacted this time, dragging you out in the middle of the night and making your wife upset. I'm really okay, so you should go check on her," she said.

I recognized that voice instantly.

It was Sonia, the girl Lionel had been chasing for three years.

"What, a little fever and our unbeatable Queen Vivian is suddenly getting all sentimental? You're making me look like a fool in front of Lionel," Patrick teased.

His gentle voice came through the phone, just like always.

"Hang in there, okay? I've got to work late at the hospital tonight, but I'll make you dinner when I get home tomorrow, promise," he said softly.

I hung up, not saying another word.

That made things a whole lot easier.

Patrick had no idea I was pregnant.

After losing the baby, I had to stay in the hospital for a couple more days for observation.

I didn't even have to come up with an excuse to tell him I wouldn't be home tonight.

Meanwhile, words appeared before me.

[Aww, the male lead totally spoils the female lead. He loses his mind over the tiniest little scratch.]

[LMAO, our poor second male lead keeps getting called out in the middle of the night to play doctor for the female lead.]

[C'mon, the male lead and second male lead have been bros for years. Of course he'd do anything for his buddy's love life.]

[But his own wife's burning up with a fever, and he's ditching her to take care of someone else? Isn't that messed up?]

I lay there in my hospital bed, reading all those remarks for a good half hour.

It took me that long to figure out what all these sudden messages were talking about.