When I finally came to, almost ten hours had passed since the delivery.

I covered my wound and sat up on the hospital bed. The dim light and tightly drawn curtains made the room feel incredibly lonely. Realizing my belly was empty, I instinctively tried to get up and find the baby, but before I move, my sister came in and quickly held me back.

“Don’t worry,” she said, trying to calm me. “She’s in the NICU. The situation’s a little tricky, but the doctors are doing everything they can.”

Tricky?! What does that even mean?

Panic surged through me, and I grabbed her sleeve, my voice trembling. “Please, just let me see her. Just one look, that’s all I need!”

Realizing how desperate I sounded, I quickly muttered an apology. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lose it... but how can I stay calm when my baby’s in trouble?!”

The nurse who walked in seemed used to dealing with frantic new parents, speaking in a tone that was detached and almost mechanical.

“Ms. Lancaster, your baby’s experiencing some brain oxygen deprivation. She’ll need more tests and treatment. The costs could be high, so you should discuss this with your husband.”

“I don’t care how much it costs—I’ll pay whatever it takes as long as she’s okay.”

Suddenly, the overhead lights flickered on, glaring into my eyes. My sister handed me a cup of warm water, her voice gentle but firm. “Zoe, whatever you decide, we’re here for you.”

I felt like I was drained of all emotion, my voice flat and tired. “I want a divorce.”

At this point, what’s left to say? All those promises we made feel like a cruel joke now. A man who betrays you like this isn’t worth another thought.

I called my assistant, instructing her to send the finalized divorce papers to Hudson. “I’m divorcing him. You don’t need to stay here anymore.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the door swung open with a loud bang, making me jump. “Who the hell are you? Get out!” My sister stood protectively in front of me, like a fierce mama bear.

“Zoe, I heard you had the baby. Thought I’d drop by,” Whitney Taylor walked in, looking as put-together as always, except for the faint red marks on her neck—a not-so-subtle reminder. “Hudson’s busy, so he couldn’t make it.”

“You’re not welcome here. Leave.”

“Zoe, don’t be like that,” Whitney said softly, casually sitting down on my bed. “I just got back today. Hudson mentioned a surprise, and I didn’t expect it to be a throwback to my debut piece.”

“You wouldn’t believe it—when I saw that giant heart, I thought he was going to propose. But then I remembered you were pregnant, and it seemed a bit off. I hope you’re not upset.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over despite my best efforts. Deep down, I’d known Hudson’s silence meant trouble, but the reality was even worse than I’d imagined.

“Get the fuck out!”

Whitney chuckled, then grabbed her bag and left without a word.

My phone rang—it was Hudson. His voice was shaky, filled with half-baked excuses. “There’s nothing between Whitney and me. We’ve been together for years. I need you to trust me.”

I wiped my face, trying to gather my thoughts. “Hudson, just sign the divorce papers.”

Ignoring his desperate attempts to explain, I hung up.

Whatever trust I had doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to my daughter’s life. And if he really wanted to make things right, why didn’t he bother to come see us in the hospital?