Chapter 1

I still had the pregnancy test tucked in my bag.

I'd been looking forward to bringing a meal to my mother-in-law, Noreen Anderson, and sharing the news with my husband, Dominic Frizzell. But what I overheard caught me off guard.

The conversation drifting from the hospital room hit like a blast of winter air—cold, sharp, and merciless. All the joy I'd felt when I found out I was pregnant vanished in an instant.

Before I could even register what they were saying, Noreen pressed on with her warning.

"Look, divorced or not, Katherine's still your stepsister! When she gets back from Belcaster, you'd better drop whatever schemes you have going. If your stepdad finds out, there's no way he's letting it slide!"

She continued, "Right now, you should be thinking about having a kid with Valerie. That's what really matters!"

Dominic stayed silent.

Noreen, clearly frustrated, let out a sharp cough.

A few minutes later, Dominic finally spoke, his tone hesitant. It was almost like he was giving in.

"Don't worry. I'll keep my word. I only see Kat as a sister. But I'm not ready for kids yet. We'll talk about it later."

Before his words had even settled, his younger sister, Lucy Frizzell, jumped in. "Mom, don't pressure Nick. Who'd want their kid to have a disabled mother? I never liked Nick marrying Valerie anyway! They're completely wrong for each other!"

Dominic shot back instantly. "Lucy, you don't get to talk about Val like that!"

Still bristling from the scolding, Lucy muttered, "I'm just telling the truth! How could some housewife like Valerie ever compare to Kat?

"If Dad hadn't forced you two apart back then, Kat would already be my sister-in-law! And your future kid would have a mom who's a professor!"

Her words lit a spark of anger in Dominic's eyes. "That's enough!" he barked. "Valerie is your sister-in-law. Show her some respect."

Lucy shrank back immediately, silenced by his anger.

It seemed like the whole Frizzell family knew the truth, except me. I was the only one left in the dark.

Anger coursed through me, making my whole body tremble. I could barely keep the thermos steady in my hands.

Footsteps echoed from the other side of the door, and I instinctively stepped away. Distracted, I collided head-on with a nurse wheeling a medicine cart.

Before I could steady myself, a pair of hands pulled me into an embrace I knew all too well.

Dominic scanned me anxiously, checking for any sign of injury. "Val, are you okay? It's freezing out. Why are you even at the hospital?"

"I'm fine," I replied quickly. "I made some bone broth. Noreen loves it, so I thought I'd bring her some."

"Next time, let the maid bring it over. I’d feel terrible if you got sick."