Chapter 1

Jeffrey Cummings said, "I've told you over and over. Thelma has less than a year left. Her final wish is to give her family an heir.

"She once saved my life, so now I owe it to her to make this happen."

I had been listening to this same excuse for a month now.

When Jeffrey first brought up the idea of donating sperm to Thelma Taylor, I shot him down without a second thought.

But he wouldn't let it go. He brought it up almost every single day.

At first, he was just testing the waters, but now he was arguing with me like he was completely justified.

It was like I was the most selfish person in the world for saying no.

But even if she saved his life, he didn't have to repay a life debt like this.

A month of fighting had left me totally exhausted. I stared at the man I'd loved for ten years and been with for five, my voice shaking.

I said, "Jeffrey, we're getting married next month. And now you want to have a kid with another woman? What about me? Am I just nothing to you?"

Jeffrey saw me so upset for the first time, and his tone softened a bit.

He said, "Erin, I know this is hard to accept. But I'm the only one who can help Thelma.

"Her family needs someone to carry on their name, and she doesn't have much time left. I can't just watch her leave this world with regrets.

"Besides, it's just a medical procedure. I only need to provide sperm. There's nothing between us. It's strictly medical. It's a legal surrogacy contract.

"If you love me, you'll understand, right?" he asked.

My heart sank.

I finally understood. Jeffrey had already made up his mind. With or without my consent, he was determined to give Thelma a child.

My feelings never counted for anything with him.

Jeffrey was about to say something else, but his phone suddenly rang. He checked the caller ID and headed for the balcony with his phone.

I watched his back disappear, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

Jeffrey and I basically grew up together. From Dalton Private School in Dalethyr to Marafel University, we were always at the same school.

I always knew I loved him, always there for him, but he never really noticed me.

It wasn't until right before graduation that he finally saw how much I cared and said yes to dating me.

I thought that after knowing each other for more than ten years and finally becoming a couple, we'd be closer than anyone else.

But after five years together, I'd never even touched Jeffrey's phone. He even made phone calls behind my back.

I remember one time when he was burning up with a fever, lying in bed, and his phone just wouldn't stop lighting up with messages. Worried it'd wake him up, I just wanted to switch it to silent.

But the second my fingers brushed his phone, his eyes snapped open and he shot me a glare, demanding what I thought I was doing.

Didn't matter how much I tried to explain, he just wouldn't buy it.

That night, I ended up curled up on the couch, alone till morning.

I always thought it was just his personality, and kept hoping that someday I'd finally get through to him, really become someone he let in.

But five years went by, and nothing changed.

Now he was even planning to have a kid with another woman, like my feelings as his fiancée didn't even matter.

When Jeffrey came back, he was practically glowing with excitement. He grabbed his coat, threw it on, and headed straight for the door.

"I've got something to take care of. Just think about it some more," he said.

As I listened to his hurried footsteps fade away, my heart turned to ice.

The only person who could make him rush out like that was Thelma.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Thelma sent me a photo.

When I zoomed in and realized what it was, my knees went weak.

It was a pregnancy report.

It stated that the mother was Thelma.

The pregnancy was 4 weeks.

So Jeffrey had already gone through with the surrogacy and gotten Thelma pregnant a month ago.

He never even bothered to ask me, never once cared about my permission.

I wondered why he kept pestering me about it all month.

Maybe it was to ease his own conscience. I felt that I never mattered to him.

I felt all the strength drain out of me, and I just sank to the floor.

It was like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart, I couldn't breathe.

No wonder Jeffrey was practically glowing with excitement earlier and bolted out right after that call.

He already knew the surrogacy had worked, that Thelma was pregnant.

He was probably at Azirhien Hospital in Dalethyr right now, celebrating with Thelma.

I shut my eyes in pain, barely able to stand it.

It felt unreal. The man I'd spent years loving had become the father of someone else's baby.

Just two months ago, Jeffrey had finally proposed, and we were all set to tie the knot next month at the Plaza Hotel in Dalethyr. I'd already reserved a dress and booked the venue ages ago.

I'd been counting down the days, picturing myself walking arm in arm with Jeffrey into our new life together.

Now, all my hopes just went up in smoke.

The vibration of my phone pulled me back to reality. I picked up without thinking.

Ellen Rodriquez, my old lab buddy, was on the line.

She said, "Erin, I know you're getting married soon, but I have to ask one more time. Are you sure you don't want to join our project?

"Professor Shillingford says you're his most gifted student, and he's always hoped you'd join us.

"Since you're about to start a family, he said he could cut you a deal, work for two months, then take half a month off, so you'll still have time with your husband."

I'd known about Jake Shillingford's new cancer immunity project in Phalruar for half a year now.

He even called me personally, asking if I'd take the lead as head researcher.

But joining the team meant I'd have zero contact with the outside world while the experiment was running, maybe just a month or two, maybe a year or more.

I couldn't stand the idea of being away from Jeffrey for that long, let alone totally off the grid.

So I said no.

But now, that pregnancy report kept replaying in my mind, haunting me no matter how hard I tried to forget.

Jeffrey had already become the father to another woman's child.

If he never cared about our relationship or the wedding we were supposed to have, then there was no reason for this wedding anymore.

I tightened my grip on my phone.

"Ellen, I'll join the project. No need for any special leave, just treat me like everyone else," I said, my voice steady with resolve.

Ellen's voice brimmed with excitement. "That's awesome! Professor Shillingford is going to be so happy.

"So, when do you plan to come? Maybe a week after the wedding? That way you can still have your honeymoon."

I answered quietly, "No need. I'll start on the day of the wedding."

My eyes landed on the calendar on the fridge.

The tenth of next month was circled in bright red marker.

I'd circled it to remind myself how much time was left before the wedding, so I could plan everything.

Now, it was just a countdown to the day I'd finally leave Jeffrey behind.

There were only fifteen days left.

I needed these fifteen days to gradually sever all ties, to let the habit of loving him die out little by little.

In fifteen days, Jeffrey and I would be out of each other's lives for good.