Chapter 1My water broke at eight months, but blizzard trapped me on the highway.
I immediately called my cop husband Brett—NYPD's ruthless, "by-the-book" traffic captain.
"Help me clear the emergency lane. Please. I'm bleeding out!"
Instead, he yelled at me.
"Shut up! Everyone's waiting. What makes YOU special? Sit there and deal."
My baby suffocated in my womb that night. I nearly died bleeding out.
Meanwhile?
His childhood sweetheart Tessa posted a video:
"OMG—almost missed BTS! My crush cleared traffic with SIRENS! ? SO EPIC!"
Full sirens, wrong-way traffic, red lights blown—his official bike turned into her VIP pass to a concert.
Three days I fought for my life in ICU.
He finally showed up with clearance diapers.
"Relax. You probably just peed yourself. I googled it—water doesn't break at eight months."
"If Tessa missed that concert, she'd regret it forever. But your due date? I'll totally help then."
I stared at my empty belly.
No due date coming anymore.
He killed our baby for a K-pop show.
Now? He's about to learn what "emergency" really means.
...
I didn't say a word.
Brett just tossed the diaper bag onto the nightstand.
"Seriously? Three days of cold shoulder! You ghost me, ignore my calls, make me come all the way here?"
"Come on. Stop being dramatic. Tessa almost missed that concert. She cried her eyes out."
"Can't you be a little more generous? You're always making everything a big deal."
Generous?
Pain twisted through my stomach.
"She just cried over a concert. But I lost our baby!"
Brett's face went dark.
"Sloane! Enough!"
"Talking about life and death during the holidays—can't you watch your mouth?"
"You'll say anything now just to play the victim."
"And your belly's still there. You're telling me the baby's dead? You really think I'm an idiot?"
I'd just had the procedure. My stomach was still swollen.
But he didn't lift the blanket to check, didn't ask a doctor, didn't even glance at the chart by my bed.
Just then, the door swung open.
"See Brett? Told you she'd be fine."
"You rushed over like it was life or death. I didn't even finish my boba."
Tessa walked in like she owned the place.
Two milk teas in one hand, half-eaten candy in the other.
She shoved the sticky thing right at Brett's mouth.
"This one's gross. You finish it."
Brett took a bite with no hesitation and gave her this indulgent look.
"Don't waste food."
That hurt to watch.
Tessa wiped her hands on his shirt and walked over to my bed.
"Heard you peed yourself? Yeah, pregnancy does that. Things get loose down there—it's normal."
"That's why I never want kids. Being a delicate housewife sounds miserable. Having a bro friend is way better."
She acted sympathetic, but her eyes were mocking me.
"But honestly, you were really being unreasonable."
"If Brett hadn't driven like crazy for me, I would've missed my idol that night."
"Do you know how important that was? I've loved him for ten years!"
She kept going, like my emergency on that highway was some crime.
I gripped the sheets with my nails digging into my palms.
"I asked him to clear the lane. To save my life. That's not the same as your concert."
Tessa paused, then rolled her eyes hard.
"Brett, see? Told you she's petty. Always making things dramatic."
"Emergency lanes serve the people, right? I'm people. I was in a hurry to see my idol—that's an emergency too."
Brett smiled at her, all indulgence, then looked at me ice cold.
"Tessa's blunt. She doesn't filter. Don't take it personally."
"Besides, you were wrong that day. Everyone was waiting. Why should you get special treatment?"
"Emergency lanes are for real emergencies. Not for people who freak out over nothing."
I stared at them both—these so-called childhood sweetheart—and felt nothing but disgust.
My poor baby died on that frozen highway, slowly and alone.
And his father spent that time playing hero for another woman's concert.
I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see them anymore.
"GET THE HELL OUT."
Chapter 2
Brett looked like I'd slapped him.
"Sloane, did the hospital mess with your brain? I'm your HUSBAND!"
"I came all the way here to check on you, even brought you stuff, and this is how you act?"
Tessa jumped right in to stir the pot.
"Seriously, Sloane—you're so ungrateful."
"Brett was worried you'd keep leaking, so he went to the store and fought crowds for those clearance diapers. Do you know how long that line was?"
"Women like you get spoiled rotten. You don't appreciate anything men do for you."
I spoke slowly. "Tessa Vaughn, if you care about him so much, if you're so understanding, why don't you marry him yourself?"
The room went dead silent.
Tessa's face froze, then she put on this wounded victim act.
"Brett... did you hear what she just said?"
"We're just friends since childhood. He's like my brother..."
"If I wanted him, I would've been with him years ago. You wouldn't even be in the picture."
"Why is your mind so dirty? Can't men and women just be friends anymore?"
Brett panicked immediately.
He fumbled for tissues in his pocket, trying to wipe her fake tears.
"Don't cry, Tessa. She's just not thinking straight after pregnancy."
Then he spun around sharply.
"Sloane! Apologize to Tessa right now!"
"We're completely innocent! There's nothing going on!"
"You don't understand anything. Tessa's basically a tomboy, always been careless like that. She doesn't even see me as a man."
Right. I don't understand.
I don't get why she can drink from a married man's water bottle and sit in his passenger seat.
I don't get why when his wife was dying, he could break every rule to get his childhood sweetheart to a concert.
"I'm not apologizing."
"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I?"
Tessa sniffled dramatically.
"Fine, whatever. It's my fault, okay? To make it up to you, I'll treat you both to Pizza tonight!"
"I know this new place. Super good."
That's how she treats someone who just lost a baby.
Brett ate it up and his anger melted away.
"See? Look at how mature Tessa is! And look at you!"
He pointed at me, furious and disappointed.
"She's letting it go and even offering to treat you to dinner. The least you could do is say thank you."
I closed my eyes, exhausted beyond words.
"I need to rest. Please leave."
Brett's face darkened again.
"Sloane, don't push your luck. Tessa's being nice and you're acting all high and mighty?"
He grabbed Tessa's hand and pulled her toward the door.
"Fine. If she doesn't want to eat, we will!"
Tessa smiled smugly and turned back to make a face at me before leaving.
"Take care, Sloane~ Remember to use those diapers—don't soak the hospital bed."
The door slammed shut.
Their voices faded down the hallway.
I couldn't hold it in anymore. Blood sprayed from my mouth and splattered across the white sheets.
A nurse heard the commotion and rushed in screaming.
"Doctor! Doctor! The patient's hemorrhaging!"
Right before I passed out, I heard the nurse's furious voice.
"What kind of family is this?! Coming here to stress out a patient who just lost her baby—are they trying to kill her?!"
Those words hit me like a hammer.
The baby's gone.
But Brett couldn't hear it—never would.
Chapter 3
I spent three more days in the hospital.
Brett didn't call once or send a single text.
But Tessa was busy posting nonstop.
One post showed Brett giving her a piggyback ride through the park.
Caption: "Legs are sore. So lucky to have my Brett to carry me."
Another showed her at our apartment wearing my matching pajamas while gaming.
"Brett's wife isn't home, so he begged me to come keep him company. What can I do?"
I screenshotted every single post and saved them as evidence.
The day I got discharged, I came home—only to find that the keypad lock wouldn't open.
I rang the doorbell.
After a long wait, I heard the shuffle of slippers approaching.
The door opened.
Tessa stood there in my silk nightgown, hair messy, with a bright red hickey on her neck.
When she saw it was me, she hesitated for a second, then leaned against the doorframe with no intention of moving aside.
"Oh, you're back? Why didn't you give us a heads up? I would've had Brett come pick you up."
She yawned, eyes full of challenge.
I looked past her into the apartment.
What used to be a clean living room now looked like a dump.
Takeout containers covered the coffee table. Beer cans scattered across the floor.
And then... the baby's crib.
That crib was now piled high with Tessa's bags, jackets, and makeup.
There were even dirty socks just thrown on top of it.
The comfort bear I'd carefully chosen was on the floor, covered in dust and grease stains.
Rage exploded through me.
"Who gave you permission to touch that crib?!"
I shoved Tessa aside and stormed into the living room.
She stumbled backward and shrieked. "What's your problem, Sloane?! Why are you pushing me?"
"It's just a crib. It was sitting empty anyway. Perfect place to put stuff."
"Besides, your baby hasn't even been born yet. Why's it taking up space already?"
Right then, Brett walked out rubbing his eyes, wearing nothing but boxer shorts.
When he saw me, he frowned.
"Why are you yelling this early? Sloane, you come home and immediately start drama?"
I pointed at the ruined crib with a shaking voice.
"Brett, I prepared that for our baby! You let her throw dirty socks in it? You monster!"
Brett scratched his head impatiently and stepped in front of Tessa to protect her.
"Come on, it's not a big deal."
"Tessa didn't have anywhere to put her stuff. What's wrong with borrowing it?"
"We're all family here. Why are you being so petty about what's yours and what's mine?"
"And..." He paused, then continued with complete confidence.
"Tessa's been staying here to take care of me. With you gone, I couldn't even get a meal or clean clothes."
"She took time off work to come help me out. Instead of being grateful, you're throwing a fit."
Help him out?
Looking at the garbage everywhere, I had to admire his ability to lie with a straight face.
"She's been staying here? Where's she sleeping?"
Brett avoided my gaze.
"The guest room, obviously! What are you thinking?"
I laughed bitterly and pointed at the hickey on Tessa's neck. "Then what's that? Mosquito bite?"
Tessa instinctively covered her neck, face flushing red, but she kept up the act.
"It IS a mosquito bite! Can you stop being so dirty-minded? It's an allergic reaction!"
Brett turned defensive and angry, like I'd embarrassed him.
"Sloane! You're crossing the line! Tessa and I are completely innocent. I won't let you insult our friendship!"
"She's been here for me these past few days. Without her, I would've starved."
"You're my wife, but you haven't done your job. Now you come home and try to kick out my guest?"
Tessa grabbed Brett's arm as tears instantly filled her eyes.
"Brett, stop fighting. This is all my fault."
"I shouldn't have come. I shouldn't have worried about you being alone. If Sloane can't stand me being here, I'll just leave."
She cried while slowly pretending to gather her things, waiting for Brett to stop her.
Sure enough, Brett grabbed her hand.
"You're not going anywhere! This is MY home. I decide who stays! If anyone's leaving, it's her!"
"Fine."
I nodded without hesitation. "I'll leave."
Brett clearly didn't expect me to agree so quickly and froze.
It wasn't until I opened the door that he snapped back to reality and yelled at my back.
"Sloane! If you walk out that door, don't even think about coming back!"
I didn't look back and slammed the door shut behind me.
