Chapter 3

Harry started bringing Amy to parties more and more often, and together they'd take Hailee to the amusement park.

The three of them were like a little family.

Because of this, Harry and I fought countless times.

"Harry, don't forget we're married. Don't you think you're getting way too close to Amy?" I asked.

But Harry just looked down at me, his voice icy. "Elise, have you even looked at yourself lately? You look like a washed-up housewife.

"I take Amy out because she's someone I can be proud of showing off. If you want that, maybe you should try fixing yourself up for once.

"Besides, everything you have now is because of me. What more could you possibly want?"

I pulled myself together.

I set the signed agreement aside, planning to handle the formalities at work.

Soon, I heard voices outside the door. "Mom and Dad, let's go to the amusement park."

Hailee made sure to say it loud enough for me to hear.

I knew she was doing it on purpose, but now my heart just felt cold, no longer the pain I used to feel.

How should I put it? When people had been hurt too many times, their hearts just went numb.

When I was pregnant with Hailee, the hormones hit me hard. I was constantly sick.

I dropped nearly twenty pounds in just a few months.

Harry could see how much I was struggling, and it really hurt him.

The day I ended up in the hospital again, his eyes were red as Harry pleaded with me to give up the baby.

He said, "If I had to choose between you and the baby, I'd choose you."

That one sentence made me believe, without a doubt, that Harry truly loved me.

But now, in just a few short years, everything between us had changed.

Harry had fallen for someone else. Even my own daughter now wished another woman could be her mom.

That afternoon, I was watering the plants Hailee had been tending when Harry rushed in, looking like he was about to explode.

He was frantic, like a cornered beast finally spotting someone to unleash his fury on. He barked, "Elise, is this how you take care of our kid? Didn't you notice she's sick?

"Why didn't you tell her to dress warmer before going out? What? You won't be happy until something happens to her? Get up, we're going to the hospital. Now."

My hand froze in mid-air, the watering can still in my grip.

I was at a loss. Ever since Hailee's birthday party, she had been keeping her distance from me. How was I supposed to know she was coming down with a fever?

But a mother's instinct kicked in. I couldn't just stand there. I followed Harry out the door, my heart pounding with worry.

On the way to the hospital, it all finally clicked. Hailee was burning up and then collapsed right there at breakfast.

"Wait, Harry. This isn't just a fever. Hailee must be having an allergic reaction," I blurted out, suddenly realizing.

From the few words Harry said, I caught the problem: they'd ordered peanuts for breakfast, and Hailee was allergic to peanuts.

"Is that true?" Harry looked at me, completely stunned.

I pushed him aside and ran straight to the hospital.

The thing I regretted most about Hailee was her allergy. Because she got it from me. And if it ever got really bad, it could actually be deadly.

"Slow down, Elise. Your shoe," Harry called out.

Harry caught up to me, panting, holding my other shoe in his hand.

But I didn't even look at him. Hailee was covered in hives, her whole body flushed red, and she was calling out for her mom, her voice weak and shaky.

"Hailee," I called out, my voice trembling.

I reached out, desperate to hold her. At that moment, nothing else mattered.

Whether she wanted someone else to be her mom, or if she really hated me, I didn't care. All I wanted was to hold my little girl.

Even though she was barely conscious, Hailee still recognized me. She shot me a hateful look and smacked my hand away, hard.

"I don't want you," Hailee croaked, her voice rough and weak.

Hailee's raspy words hit me right in the chest, making my heart ache.

"Hailee, she's your mom," Harry said, sounding awkward and a bit helpless.

Harry looked uncomfortable. He'd just watched me rush in, so he knew exactly how anxious I was.

Amy saw that my feet were bare, and there was a subtle scent of blood lingering in the air.

She said softly, "Elise, you're hurt. Go take care of your wound. I'll stay here with Hailee."

Amy had been the one raising Hailee these past two years, so she couldn't bring herself to scold her. All she could do was awkwardly steer the conversation away.

I looked down at the sole of my foot and realized I hadn't noticed the broken glass on the floor when I rushed over.

I was so worried about Hailee that I didn't even realize it until Amy pointed it out. Now, a piercing pain shot through my foot.

"Elise, you should really take care of your injury," Harry said with guilt.

I ignored him and sat down beside Amy, my expression cold and emotionless as I pulled the shards of glass from my foot.

"No, I'll stay. Hailee comes first," I insisted, refusing to leave her side.

After becoming a mom, this was the first time I really felt what it meant for my heart to be torn to shreds. If I could, I'd rather be the one lying there instead of Hailee.

"Are you really okay?" Amy asked.

Amy's face was etched with worry, and Harry hovered nearby, careful and hesitant.

"I'm fine. The doctor's here," I replied, trying to sound calm.