Begging for Nothing

I had my wedding on the same day as my best friend, Vivienne York.

Our husbands were also childhood friends. Because of our close relationship, we bought an apartment in the same building, living on different floors as neighbors.

After marriage, both Vivienne and I got pregnant. I was a little ahead of her, already nearing my due date.

While we were out for a walk, someone suddenly shoved me from behind. I lost my balance and fell straight into the river.

"Help!"

My belly was already heavy, and I couldn't swim. Water quickly filled my lungs, and I began sinking. Struggling to get to the shore, I managed to call my husband, Lucas Ford.

But as soon as Lucas picked up, he snapped, "Miranda Grant, enough! Don't call me when I'm in the middle of a rescue! Do you even realize Cass is hanging off a cliff right now? This is a life-or-death situation!"

"Honey, my stomach hurts. Please, help me."

I was on the verge of drowning, yet Lucas had no patience for me.

"All you ever do is complain about your stomach hurting, huh? You're just pregnant; you're not royalty. Why are you so damn delicate? I'm working. Don't call again unless it's something actually important!"

I once believed that marrying my childhood sweetheart would be as romantic as a fairy tale.

But he only cared about Cassandra's life, not mine.

The river was deep and icy, and my nose and lungs filled with water. The impact was so severe that blood flowed from my body, staining the river red.

Just before I went under, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "I'm bleeding!"

But on the other end, I heard Cassandra's panicked cries. "Lucas, this slope is too steep! Don't come up!"

Lucas ignored my words and soothed Cassandra anxiously, "Don't be afraid, Cass, I will save you!"

At that moment, my heart died. I lost my strength. My grip loosened, and I sank into the water once more.

"No!" Just before I went under, I still asked him for help, "I'm bleeding!"

Suddenly, Cassandra shrieked on the other end of the call. "Lucas, I'm scared! Am I going to die?"

Lucas completely lost his patience.

"And what do you expect me to do about it? Do you think I can stop the bleeding? I'm in the middle of a rescue! Do you even realize Cass is hanging off a steep cliff, several feet in the air? If you're bleeding, go to a doctor. Get yourself to the hospital!"

The moment his words fell, I sank beneath the water again.

I couldn't make it to shore this time.

The person who had shoved me had used considerable force—it was clearly intentional.

At the critical moment, Vivienne appeared. She was already four months pregnant, but she didn't hesitate. Ignoring her own condition, she plunged into the river and pulled me to shore.

She carried me up the slope on her back. But the moment she set me down, I saw the blood staining her dress.

I was in unbearable pain, and my face was pale. With no other option, Vivienne called her husband, Zachary Flynn, who was a doctor, for help.

But Zachary also lashed out at her. "Cass sprained her ankle—it might be a fracture, do you understand? Can you stop calling me? I need to take her to the hospital! Vivi, Lucas and I are really unlucky to be stuck with the two of you! You just don't get it!"

With that, he ended the call as well.

After waiting endlessly, an ambulance finally arrived and took me away. I gave birth to a stillborn.