Chapter 1I just had a C-section. My husband's intern went viral.
What'd she post? ME. On the table. Knocked out. Everything showing.
Caption: "Baby delivery department—done! Next level!"
"BTW Dr. Wyatt looks SO good cutting people open."
I confronted them. Shaking.
Wyatt got in front of her.
"Come on. First OR, she got excited."
"Your face isn't even in it. Why are you freaking out?"
But the internet found me anyway.
Hospital groups. Mom forums. Local pages. Everyone knew.
Postpartum hit hard. I jumped off the hospital roof.
At my funeral, Wyatt said I was "mentally unstable" and "not anyone's fault."
Then married that intern. Took everything my parents left me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back—the day they were gonna cut me open.
The intern wrapped around Wyatt, giggling.
"Don't worry babe, I'll make your scar SO cute!"
I smiled.
"Sorry."
"Interns don't touch my body."
"GET ME YOUR DIRECTOR. NOW."
---
Nobody said anything.
Dead quiet in the waiting area.
Wyatt's hand froze on my shoulder, fingers digging in through the gown.
Then his face went all soft. He bent down, touched my forehead.
"Raina, come on."
"Sutton's just gonna watch. She's not touching anything."
"I'm your husband. What's the problem?"
Sutton Hale stood there behind him in that huge white coat, student badge dangling.
She blinked up at me, bottom lip out.
"Do you... not like me?"
"I know I'm still learning, but you gotta start somewhere, right?"
"I won't even get close, I'll just stand in the corner."
She pinched her fingers together real tight. Voice all quiet.
"Just looking."
I stared at that badge swinging back and forth. My stomach turned.
Last time I bought that exact bullshit—just here to learn.
Sutton stood in the corner, phone half out of her pocket, snapping pics of me when I was out cold and couldn't do a damn thing.
And my husband? Covered for her ass. Made sure nothing stuck.
I grabbed the sheet, stared right at Wyatt.
"No."
"She's not coming in."
Sutton bit her lip. Tears came right away.
"Dr. Wyatt, I messed up."
"Wanted to learn so bad. Thought being brave would help."
She stepped back but still clutching his sleeve.
"If she doesn't want me there, I'm gone. Right now."
Wyatt glanced down at her, then took my hand.
"Raina, hospital assigned her to me. Wasn't my call."
"She's observing. Why you gotta make this a thing?"
I yanked my hand back.
"Today she's not coming in—"
Wyatt froze.
I pushed myself up sitting.
"And I want someone else doing this."
"Wyatt, you can't be there either."
Everyone gasped.
Wyatt's face cracked.
"Raina, you hearing yourself?"
"You're about to go under and you wanna switch surgeons? Got a death wish?"
Cramps tearing through me, everything dragging down.
But I didn't stop.
"I know what I'm saying."
"Don't switch, I'm not doing it."
Wyatt stared at me a second, then slammed his pen on the table.
"You out of your mind?"
"Been acting nuts all morning. Sutton says one thing and you're gonna blow this whole thing up?"
Sutton grabbed his sleeve.
"Dr. Wyatt, don't fight over me."
"My bad. Got way too excited. Shouldn't have said that stuff about the scar."
"She's been miserable this whole pregnancy and I made it worse. Ugh just kill me."
Tears streaming down like she'd practiced in a mirror.
Two nurses gave each other a look.
"She's got issues."
Wyatt heard it. Face went hard.
Pointed at me, barely keeping his cool.
"Everyone's breaking their backs for you and you're gonna walk out?"
"What the hell do you want?"
"What do I want?"
Another cramp hit. I made a face.
"Think I was pretty clear. Get me the chief."
"Different surgeon."
Chapter 2
"You're—this is insane!"
Vein popping on Wyatt's forehead.
Sutton next to him, doing these little sob sounds.
"Please stop."
"Dr. Wyatt was up all night going through your charts."
"He cares so much. You don't see you're killing him right now?"
I didn't even look at her. Turned to the nurse.
"Nurse, get the chief."
Nurse looked at Wyatt, totally lost.
He looked at everyone packed in the hall, then sat down on my bed.
Wyatt put his hand on mine, light little pats.
"C-section's no joke. You're freaked. On edge. I get it."
"But I'm your husband. I know your body better than anyone here."
"Switching doctors now? You're gambling with your life. And our baby's."
Sutton sniffling louder, hugging herself.
"Don't let me mess up your surgery."
"I'm just some idiot who messes everything up."
"I'll leave. Right now."
She says it but doesn't move.
Nurse gives her a tissue.
Sutton takes it, looks up crying, smiles a little.
"Thanks. I'm fine."
The cramps are getting worse, sweat all over my face.
I grabbed the rail and sat up more.
"Get out."
Sutton jumped, cried harder.
"I wasn't trying to start anything, I swear."
"I just wanted to see the baby being born."
"If that's wrong then fine, I'll back off."
Everyone's staring at me now.
"That intern's pretty pathetic."
"Dr. Wyatt's wife is a total nightmare."
"She's about to have a baby and she's still making a scene."
Wyatt finally snaps. He gets up, steps between me and Sutton.
"Enough."
"Raina, you can boss people around at your company all day. But this is a hospital, not your boardroom."
"I know how surgery works better than you do."
The cramps kept coming, pushing down. I couldn't breathe right.
But I can't let them in that room.
"I'm not signing anything."
Wyatt's face changes.
Sutton grabs his arm right away.
"Dr. Wyatt, don't be mad at her."
"She probably just loves you so much she can't stand me being near you."
"I get it."
She covers her mouth like she said something she shouldn't have.
People getting louder.
"Oh so she's jealous."
"She's gonna risk her kid over jealousy?"
Wyatt closed his eyes. Opened them—nothing but disappointment staring back at me.
"She's losing it before surgery. Her emotions are everywhere."
He turned to the nurse.
"Get her something to calm down."
Nurse just stood there.
"Dr. Wyatt, I don't think—"
Wyatt kept staring at me, voice going soft.
"Raina, you're fine. This'll just relax you."
He leaned in, breath hot on my ear.
"You're screwing up everything here."
"I'm your husband and your doctor, so I'm making this call."
My whole body went cold.
"I know what I'm saying!"
"I don't want that!"
Wyatt's jaw locked.
"Do it."
"Goes wrong, that's on me."
Nurse pushed a cart over. Needle shining under the lights.
I tried pulling back but my stomach locked up—hurt like hell, almost fell off.
Sutton ran over, shoved my arm down.
"Stop moving."
"Baby's still in there."
She got right in my ear, whisper-quiet.
"Keep going and they'll think you're nuts. Who's gonna believe you?"
Felt like ice in my veins.
Sutton pulled back, face all fake-worried.
"Dr. Wyatt, she's really strong. I'm scared."
Wyatt yanked her aside, slammed his hand on my shoulder.
"Don't move."
Needle hit my skin—
I screamed as loud as I could.
"THE CHIEF!"
"GET ME THE CHIEF!"
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
Footsteps pounding down the hall.
Chief burst through the door, OB staff and nurses right behind.
Took one look and went pale.
Chapter 3
I grabbed the chance, pulled myself halfway out from under Wyatt's grip even though it killed.
"Sir."
"I need a different surgeon."
"Wyatt and Sutton Hale can't be in there."
Total silence.
Chief looking at us both, forehead all sweaty.
"Ms. Calder, switching surgeons right now? That's dangerous."
"You're in labor already. Baby's heart rate needs watching."
"Dr. Wyatt's our best for C-sections. His own wife and kid—he's gonna care more than anyone."
"Everyone's crazy busy. Getting someone else? Two days minimum."
Wyatt rubbed his face, dropped down next to the bed, took my hand.
"Okay Raina. Fine. You win."
Looking down, voice all rough.
"I shouldn't have brought Sutton."
"You can't stand her? Done. She's out."
"But we gotta do this surgery now."
"Everything else? We'll figure it out later. Deal?"
Sutton backing up, crying, pulling her mask off.
"Don't be mad at him."
"He loves you so much."
"Look, he's on his knees."
She twisted her fingers together, voice getting smaller.
"Girls like me screw everything up. But the baby didn't do anything."
Hall full of people talking shit about me.
"Poor kid. Mom like that."
"Husband's literally begging, she won't stop."
"Rich wives, man. Impossible."
Every word hitting me like a punch.
But I'm the only one who knows—I'm trying to stay alive.
Wyatt's rubbing the back of my hand, all gentle. Eyes though? Ice cold.
"Raina. Stop this."
"Don't make us look stupid."
He squeezed a little harder.
"And I don't want anything happening to our kid. Right?"
Looking at his face. That fake caring shit. Making me sick.
I ripped my hand back. Tore the cords off.
A nurse ran over.
"Ms. Calder, you can't do that!"
I held my stomach. Grabbed the rail. Threw my legs over.
My feet hit the floor. Felt my stomach rip open.
Everything went white.
"Fine."
I bit down hard.
"Then I'm not doing it."
"I'm leaving."
Everyone's face went pale.
The head doctor got right in my face.
"Ms. Calder, your body's pushing the baby out already. You can't leave."
"Something happens, we can't take the blame!"
Wyatt stood up. All that patience? Gone.
"Raina, you fucking crazy?"
"Won't think about yourself? Fine. Think about the baby!"
Sutton ran over. Reached out.
"Please don't scare me like this."
"I won't watch. Swear."
"Don't hurt the baby just to prove something. I'm really scared."
I jerked back. Grabbed my phone off the table.
Wyatt lunged for it.
"You can't be on your phone right now!"
I held it against my chest.
"Don't touch me."
Head doctor tried again. Voice all desperate.
"Ms. Calder, please. Get back in bed. Whatever you need, we'll work it out."
"Work out what? I told you—I'm going to a different hospital!"
I hit the call button.
My best friend Harper picked up.
"Rai, they doing it soon?"
Hearing her voice made my throat tight.
"Harper. Get here. Now."
"Need you to take me somewhere else."
I heard keys on her end.
"On my way. Ten minutes."
I hung up. Hands all wet.
Wyatt's jaw looked ready to snap.
"You're making everyone here look fucking stupid."
"You know how much paperwork switching hospitals is? Look at you right now."
I looked at the head doctor.
"I'll sign whatever. My call. You're off the hook."
Head doctor waving his hands.
"It's not about papers—your body can't be moved."
I grabbed the end of the bed. Started moving toward the door.
Every step. Pain ripping down my stomach.
Sweat dripping down my face. Hospital gown stuck to my back.
Wyatt grabbed me from behind. Arms around my waist.
"Raina, stop."
"You're hurting this bad and you think you can walk out?"
I pushed at him. Barely had strength.
"Let go."
He got quiet. Lips right by my ear.
"Raina, you walk out that door? Nobody's taking you."
I looked up at the head doctor.
"Sir."
"That money I promised? For your new baby department equipment?"
The head doctor's eyes got smaller.
I forced the words out. Teeth clenched.
"You keep stopping me?"
"That money's gone."
