Chapter 1On May Day, I was driving when the radio suddenly cut to an EMERGENCY broadcast.
"Pregnant woman in labor up ahead! Any OB-GYNs out there—we need you NOW!"
As a doctor, I pulled over immediately. Grabbed my medical kit and ran.
A man was kneeling with his back to me, tightly gripping a woman's hand.
"Baby, just hold on! The ambulance is almost here! You know I'm not living without you!"
I froze.
Wait. That voice?
Why did it sound SO MUCH like my dead husband?
But three years ago, he and my best friend had both DIED to save me!
I stepped closer and then—
I saw his face. EXACTLY my dead HUSBAND!
And the pregnant woman lying on the ground?
She was wearing the necklace I'd given my BFF!
Someone spotted my kit and shouted.
"THANK GOD! DOCTOR'S HERE!"
The man's head snapped up.
And his eyes locked with mine.
...
My husband and my best friend donated their organs to save me. Both died.
My mother-in-law sobbed herself into a stroke. Left her paralyzed.
Everyone blamed me. Said I destroyed three lives.
For three years, I was a ghost. Just worked myself numb.
I'd already decided—the day my mother-in-law recovered, I'd end myself.
Then May 1st happened.
I was heading back to the hospital, traffic on the overpass came to a dead stop.
The radio love songs cut out mid-chorus.
"EMERGENCY! Pregnant woman in labor up ahead! Any OB-GYNs out there—we need you NOW!"
Sounded bad.
I immediately grabbed my kit and shoved through the crowd.
Some guy had his back to me, clutching a woman's hand tightly.
"Baby, PLEASE—just hold on! Ambulance is coming! If you die, I swear to God I'm going with you!"
Wait. That voice.
My blood turned to ice.
The woman gasped out, barely audible, "Stop crying, you idiot... We're all gonna make it..."
That's when I saw his face.
EXACTLY like my dead husband.
And that pregnant woman? Wearing the necklace I GAVE my best friend.
Someone saw my kit and screamed.
"OH THANK GOD! DOCTOR'S HERE!"
The guy whipped around.
Our eyes met.
My throat closed up like someone had their hands around it.
Couldn't breathe. Couldn't speak.
Meanwhile, the shock in his eyes—like he'd seen a ghost.
My whole body went numb.
Three years ago, Carter died on this exact overpass. Saving me from a pileup.
He'd touched my face as he bled out. Wouldn't close his eyes.
"Willow... what happens to you... if I'm gone?"
I shattered. Carried his ashes everywhere like a madwoman.
When I spiraled so bad I started cutting myself, Jamie—my best friend—literally moved in. Wouldn't leave my side until I could function again.
Then six months later, we went skiing. Thought it'd help.
She died in an avalanche. Pushing me out of the way.
Losing them both within a year?
I wanted to die every single day after that.
But standing here NOW?
Staring at Carter's face on someone VERY MUCH ALIVE?
Turned out all that grief—all that guilt—
Was built on a FUCKING LIE.
My chest exploded with pain.
I stood there frozen, bleeding out inside.
Carter didn't even look sorry. Just stared at me like I was the problem.
"We'll deal with this later. Jamie needs you right now."
I forced myself to breathe. Shoved everything down. Checked her contractions with shaking hands.
"Get her in the car. I'm giving her Pitocin to speed up labor."
At that, Jamie's face crumpled. Her tears streaming nonstop.
"Willow, PLEASE—Carter and I didn't have a choice back then! You HAVE to save my baby!"
Didn't have a choice?
I wanted to laugh.
They let me think they were DEAD for three years.
I went to court over and over like a crazy person, begging prosecutors to investigate their "deaths." Demanding autopsies. Demanding answers.
I fell apart so many times I lost count.
And now she's fucking telling me they "didn't have a choice"?
"I'm a doctor, Jamie." I said coldly.
Carter lifted her like she was made of glass. Voice soft and tender.
"Baby, I've got you. No one's gonna hurt you. I promise!"
I forced myself to look away. Tried to block out how close they were.
But when I asked about medications—allergies—Carter answered EVERYTHING. Perfectly.
My ribs felt like they were caving in.
Half an hour later, the baby's head finally pushed through.
Thank goodness. I relaxed a bit.
Then Jamie suddenly screamed.
"AHHH! IT HURTS! AHHH!"
Next second, a foot slammed into my side.
The kick sent me flying. My head cracked against the car window hard.
Blood gushed down my face.
Carter's voice ripped through the air.
"WILLOW—WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER?!"
Chapter 2
I clenched my jaw. Ignored the pain exploding in my head. Pulled the baby out.
"She's about to give birth. Sex right before labor can cause complications. It's normal."
Dead silence.
Just then, the ambulance pulled up.
Carter instantly scooped Jamie into his arms and ran.
I just stood there. Staring at my hands. Blood everywhere. The smell was sickening.
Nausea hit me like a wave.
My knees buckled. I hit the ground hard.
When I woke up, Carter was sitting by my hospital bed.
He was opening a container of seafood congee.
"I overreacted this morning. My bad, Willow."
I stared at him. My voice came out hoarse.
"You gonna tell me what the hell is going on?"
His hand froze. He smirked. Like it was no big deal.
"You already saw it. We faked our deaths for three years. Had a kid together."
"Why..." My voice broke.
He let out this long sigh.
"Why? Come on, Willow. You've always been the one everyone had to protect. In school, Jamie beat up those guys who harassed you. At work, she handled your malpractice suits ."
"But she's always loved me. If you hadn't been so clueless—thinking I was proposing to YOU—we never would've wasted all that time."
"Don't be mad at Jamie. She felt bad for you. Didn't want you to fall apart, so we kept quiet."
Every word cut me deeper. The pain went bone-deep.
I laughed through my tears. My voice shook with rage.
"If I hadn't found out—were you just gonna lie to me FOREVER?!"
Carter frowned.
He reached over and wiped my face. Like I was some kid throwing a tantrum.
"You know I hate seeing you cry. Look, we were gonna tell you last year. But Jamie got pregnant. We had to wait. Couldn't risk you freaking out and stressing her."
I jerked back like he'd burned me.
Stared at him in disbelief.
So that's what I was.
A problem. Someone who might "freak out" and ruin Jamie's pregnancy.
He didn't know.
We'd had a baby TOO. Lost in that avalanche.
Whatever.
I wiped my face violently.
My research fellowship was starting soon anyway. A few more days and I'd be gone.
Carter started to say something. A nurse called him away.
I dragged myself out of bed. Walked to the room next door.
My mother-in-law's room. She was paralyzed for three years.
I was going to say goodbye to her.
Then I heard familiar voices.
My mom's voice.
"Thanks for faking it all this time. I know it wasn't easy."
What...?
My mom sighed. "You know, Jamie's my real daughter. I owe her. When she and Carter fell for each other... I had to help."
My mother-in-law set down her jump rope.
"Willow's sweet. Just wasn't right for Carter."
My dad mumbled agreement.
I couldn't hear anything else.
Three fucking years.
I blamed myself. Worked myself to death taking care of my mother-in-law.
Bathing her. Changing her. Feeding her.
And she was FAKING IT.
No wonder every time I tried to hire a lawyer, my parents would call.
"Your mother-in-law fell!" "She burned herself!" "She's having an episode!"
No wonder Jamie spent every holiday at my house.
No wonder my parents sold their damn house to buy her gifts...
Turned out SHE was their REAL daughter!
A cold laugh rose in my chest.
I stumbled into the bathroom. Tears pouring down my face—I couldn't stop them.
Blood soaked through the bandage on my forehead.
I didn't even feel it.
I grabbed my phone with shaking hands. Typed out a message to Professor Williams.
"Professor, I'm ready. I'll do it—three years off the grid. Please start the fake death protocol."
Chapter 3
The medical research program?
I'd joined it to help find a cure for my mother-in-law's stroke.
Turns out it became my escape route instead.
After I finished puking my guts out in that bathroom, I wiped my swollen eyes and grabbed some food from the cafeteria.
Pushed open my mother-in-law's door.
All three of them were standing there.
My dad practically lunged for the food container.
"Willow! Amazing news! The doctor says she's completely recovered!"
I didn't say a word. Just locked eyes with my mom.
She couldn't handle me staring at her like that. Looked away. Irritated.
Then she just dropped it.
"Oh for God's sake, Steve! Enough!"
"Willow, listen up. Your mother-in-law was NEVER paralyzed. It was all an act!"
"Jamie is my biological daughter. You? We picked you up from foster care after we lost her. You've had a good life with us. Now Jamie and Carter have a baby together. It's time they got married."
My mother-in-law tried to soften the blow. "Honey, I'll always be your mom—"
I stared at all three of them.
My voice came out flat. Empty.
"Okay. What do you need from me?"
They looked stunned for a second.
Then the relief washed over their faces.
They started laughing, patting me on the back like I was being SO understanding.
They dragged me down the hall to Jamie's room.
Carter had gotten her the VIP suite.
The whole place was stuffed with expensive baby gear.
And there he was—this CEO of a multi-million dollar company—
dressed up in some ridiculous mascot costume, dancing around trying to make Jamie laugh.
Something twisted in my chest.
He used to do that stupid stuff for ME.
"Mom? What are you doing here? And why did you bring—"
My mom clapped her hands like this was a celebration.
"Jamie! Carter! Willow's on board! She's gonna handle everything for the wedding! Invitations, venue, the works! PLUS she's signing over that school district house!"
Carter's mouth opened. He hesitated.
Jamie pouted. "Mom! You KNOW Willow and Carter used to be...! How can you just—"
My mom waved her off like it was nothing.
Yanked a thick stack of papers out of her purse.
Property transfer agreements. The deed to the school district house.
"Willow! Let's just get these signed right now! You don't need all that property sitting around anyway!"
I looked at every single face in that room.
Different expressions. Same side.
Jamie's side.
My chest felt like someone was squeezing it in a vice.
But I still tried. "Mom... Dad... I can give them the house, that's not the issue—"
"WILLOW!" My mom's voice cracked like a whip.
"You JUST said you were fine with this! So SIGN THE DAMN PAPERS and give Jamie what's HERS! You're a grown woman—stop throwing a tantrum!"
Her voice cut through me like glass.
Jamie rushed over, playing the angel.
"Mom, if Willow really wants to keep the house, it's okay! Carter's bought me SO MANY others anyway. We really don't need it."
My dad and my mother-in-law jumped in too.
Backing her up. Pressuring me.
I looked at Carter.
His jaw was clenched tight. Eyes boring into mine.
Like he was in pain. Like he actually gave me a damn.
Funny how everyone seemed to forget one thing.
That house was supposed to be for MY child's school district.
I picked up the pen.
Signed every single document they put in front of me.
Then I pulled out my phone.
Right there in front of all of them, I called the planner who'd organized my wedding.
"Mr. Smith? The wedding next week—make it just as big as mine was four years ago."
The tension in the room immediately melted.
Everyone looked satisfied. Pleased with themselves.
I smiled. Cold and hollow.
And walked straight out.
In the on-call room, I punched in my security code. Opened the medical freezer.
Pulled out the embryo I'd kept preserved for three years.
So tiny. Curled in on itself.
My throat burned. Tears blurred my vision.
I wiped them away fast. Then my phone lit up.
Message from Professor Williams. Flight confirmation for tomorrow.
"Dr. Hayes—three years completely off the grid. Zero contact. No emergency visits home. You're absolutely certain about this?"
My finger didn't even hesitate.
"Yes. I'm certain."
...
The door swung open.
Carter walked in.
His eyes instantly dropped to the desk.
The wedding ring I'd left there. The embryo container sitting right next to it.
He went completely rigid. His fists balled up.
"Willow... I know today was a lot."
"Mom was just kidding. I'm not actually gonna make you plan my wedding to Jamie."
I let out a sharp laugh.
"Oh wow. So generous of you.
"Carter. Open that box. You'll find exactly what you always WANTED."
He sighed. Moved closer. Reached for my hand.
I yanked my hand away. Accidentally hit my phone.
Professor Williams' voice message blasted through the speaker.
"Dr. Hayes, I understand now why you're choosing to leave."
Carter's hand dropped. His voice went dark.
"You're LEAVING?!"
