Chapter 1

On Christmas, the roads were buried under heavy snow, and I was fighting for my life after a sudden medical emergency.

Grace, my mother-in-law, called my husband Ryan Hughes, but he sounded totally fed up. "It's just some bleeding. She's not gonna die," he said.

My father-in-law Charles said I had it coming. According to him, if I hadn't been messing around behind Ryan's back, I wouldn't be suffering like this.

Ryan's best friend got me to the hospital just in time. It was a close call, and I almost didn't make it.

Afterward, I found out Ryan was busy cozying up to a wealthy lady, while Charles was hooking up with his side chick.

Alright then, if they didn't give a damn whether I flatlined, they couldn't blame me for spicing up this nightmare of a day.

*****

It was Christmas morning. I'd just scarfed down breakfast when my gut twisted like a dishrag and the toilet bowl turned red.

I knew something was seriously wrong. Grace heard the commotion and rushed into the bathroom. When she saw all the blood, she was terrified.

"Grace, call Ryan," I managed to say.

That snapped her out of her shock. She quickly dialed Ryan's number.

But Ryan sounded cold and dismissive. "Stomach cramps and bleeding? Sounds like her period to me. Even if she bleeds buckets, it won't kill her. Seriously, you called me for something this minor? Mom, I'm busy."

He hung up before Grace could say anything else.

Still in a panic, Grace immediately dialed Charles's number.

A sweet, tinkling laugh rang out from the phone, echoing through the cramped bathroom.

Grace gritted her teeth, swallowed her anger, and begged for help.

But all she got was a mocking laugh. "Grace, come on, you've been around long enough to know this stuff. It's just her period, or maybe a busted hemorrhoid. Is there anything else? I gotta go."

Grace felt utterly hopeless. She knelt down, scooped me up onto her back, and was about to haul me downstairs.

Right then, my phone rang in my pocket. It was Alex Carter, Ryan's friend.

Grace snatched it up like it was her last hope.

"Alex, it looks like Sophia's having a major hemorrhage. The roads are completely snowed in. We're stuck, we can't get to the hospital," Grace cried out.

He was silent for a few seconds, and then calmly took charge.

He said, "Stay calm. I'll call for an ambulance right now. It'll get to you in about fifteen minutes.

"Grace, try your best to stop the bleeding. No matter what, don't let her pass out..."

Not long after, Alex showed up right alongside the ambulance.

They slid me onto the stretcher together, and for a second I thought, "Maybe I'll be okay." Then the pain sucker-punched me and everything went black.

*****

I blinked awake to a hospital ceiling and the sound of Ryan pounding the foot of my bed like it owed him money.

"Hey, Ryan, chill. You just woke Sophia up," Alex said, trying to calm him down and pull his hand away.

But Ryan just brushed him off.

Ryan shot Alex a hard look and said, "Alex, Sophia's my wife. Of course I know how to take care of her."

Then he turned to Grace. "Mom, why didn't you tell me Sophia's condition was this bad?"

Grace shot Ryan a look. "Didn't I call you? You're the one who said you were too busy.

"If it hadn't been for Alex, Sophia's ovary burst would've killed her."

The noise I made as I tried to sit up caught their attention.

Ryan nudged Alex out of the way and, looking guilty, tucked a pillow behind my lower back. "How are you feeling now?"

Alex handed me a cup of warm water from the other side of the bed, holding it up to my lips. "Here, drink this."

Ryan couldn't hide the anger in his eyes. With a careless wave of his hand, water splashed all over me. He froze, totally shocked by what he'd just done.

I forced a smile and beckoned him over with a finger. "Ryan, come here."

He leaned in, and before he knew it, I smacked him right across the face.

The sound echoed through the hospital room.

He covered his face, his eyes full of confusion.

"Were you just hoping I'd die? You wouldn't lift a finger to help me, and you're blaming Alex for saving me?" I snapped.

He started slapping himself hard across the face. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

The strong perfume on Ryan was so overwhelming that it made me want to throw up. "Seriously, can you just back off? You reek," I snapped.

Ryan looked startled, sniffed his sleeve suspiciously, and then hurriedly shrugged off his coat.