Chapter 1
I bankrupted myself to save my husband, only to discover his terminal illness was fake, his doctor was his pregnant mistress, and my best friend was in on the scam. “She still hasn’t figured out you’re faking it?” I overheard Olivia giggling, her tone laced with sugar and spite. “That woman watches you like a hawk. We can’t even sneak a moment alone. The baby in my belly’s missing its daddy.”
Jack chuckled.
“Don’t worry. She’s too stupid to even suspect. She’s probably talking to her mom right now, begging her to sell their house for the surgery money.”
A pause.
“Once she brings in the $200,000, I’ll divorce her. Then it’s just you, me, and our baby. You know you’re the only one I love. Just hang in there a little longer.”
…
I stepped into the hospital room, still in a daze. The bed was empty. Jack wasn’t back yet.
I sat down, trying to quiet the storm in my head. A few minutes later, the door opened, and he walked in.
The moment he saw me, he rushed over, pulled me into his arms, and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
His voice was soft, warm, soothing.
“Baby, I hate seeing you like this. You’ve been running yourself into the ground trying to raise money for my surgery. Please… let’s just hire a nurse. You’ve lost so much weight already, I’m worried about you.”
I kept my head down, my voice caught in my throat. I didn’t want him to see the truth in my eyes.
He held me tighter, like he was afraid I might disappear.
If I hadn’t overheard that conversation in the stairwell…
If I didn’t know he was faking this whole thing…
I might’ve fallen for this act all over again.
Instead, I tucked my face into his chest and whispered, “You’re my husband. You’ve done everything for this family these past five years. If you’re sick now, it’s because you gave too much. So whatever I have to do, I’ll do it. Even if it means selling the house, the car… everything.”
My voice cracked just the right way. I let a few tears fall, let him think I was still the same devoted wife.
“We haven’t raised enough for the surgery yet. I don’t want to waste a cent. I’m okay being tired, I just don’t want to lose you.”
He cupped my cheeks like I was his whole world.
“Don’t say that. Nothing’s going to happen to me. We’re going to get through this. Once I’m better, we’ll start trying for a baby. A fresh start, just the two of us. Okay?”
Just then, the door swung open.
“Well, well. Midday cuddles?” Olivia strolled in, grinning.
“You two are making it really hard to be single around here. Save some of that sweetness for when he’s discharged, will you?”
She was my best friend, and Jack’s doctor.
Since the day he was admitted, Olivia had been pulling strings behind the scenes. For me.
She even begged the hospital’s top surgeon to take Jack’s case.
Jack stepped back, looking sheepish. But I caught the look he gave her. Quick. Familiar.
I didn’t say a word. Just smiled and got up to pour them both a glass of water.
Olivia checked his vitals, flipping through the chart.
“Stable,” she said, then hesitated. Her smile faltered for a second, but she didn’t elaborate.
I’d been reading up on kidney failure every night.
Jack didn’t have any of the symptoms.
My fingers curled tighter around the cup. My smile didn’t budge.
Olivia glanced between the two of us and sighed.
“You two have come so far together… this just isn’t fair.”
She turned to me.
“How’s the fundraising going? I hate to say it, but if you can’t come up with the full amount soon, the hospital won’t be able to hold the slot. Let me know, I’ll see what strings I can still pull.”
Before I could answer, Jack slid his hand into mine, squeezing it with just the right pressure.
“Don’t worry,” he said with a soft chuckle.
“My wife would sell the sky if it meant saving me.”
Then he looked at me.
“Right, sweetheart?”
I met his gaze, the perfect picture of loyal, loving wife.
“Of course,” I said with a smile.
And God, I almost laughed.
