Chapter 1

The chattering of kids playing outside the hospital filled the air.

The fresh scent of summer mixed with the strong smell of antiseptic, a silent reminder that nothing in the hospital was meant to be comforting.

As Hailey sat quietly, staring out the window and towards the playing kids, an unnoticed smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

They were so cheerful and happy, Hailey couldn't help but drown in memory lane. The only time she had ever been happy was when her mother was still alive many years ago.

Her thoughts were cut short when Iris shut the window.

“Cold wind isn't good for you,” Iris muttered with a frown, stepping closer to Hailey, who looked like life was draining out of her at every ticking second.

Hailey wasn't just pale, she was weak, For over six months she had been battling health issues.

‘‘it could be hereditary since your mother had died from cancer’’ Dr Hudson’s voice was uncertain when he told her but, since it hasn't been detected or confirmed.

Iris sighs at the look on her friend's face. She leaned closer to Hailey, cupping her pale face in her warm palms.

“Hailey… you're still so pretty,” Iris said.

Hailey let out a low laugh. Iris had always been this way with her, always seeing the good even when things felt like they were crumbling.

“You should be the one wearing glasses,” Hailey snorted.

Iris rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. And I won’t forgive you if you leave me, you hear? You’re stuck living a long, boring life with me.”

A small smile played on Hailey’s lips.

“Thank you, Iris. Considering my marriage didn’t turn out like a fairy tale, I guess I should be grateful you’re still around.”

Iris sank into the chair just a few inches away from the bed Hailey was sitting on.

“Don't say that. Carter is a great husband. I’m sure there might be some things going on with him.”

Hailey shook her head weakly, she knew better.

“He’s been so cold and indifferent since we got married,” Hailey whispered after a pause. “I… I think he might be cheating on me,” she added.

“What?” Iris gasped, her eyes widening as shock washed over her face. Her brows knit together in both disbelief and concern.

“He sent me a text that said, I love you and I miss you, but he deleted it soon after,” Hailey scoffed. “I’m sure he sent it by mistake,” Hailey murmured softly, she was clearly trying to stay calm.

Iris pouts sadly, then holds Hailey's hands.

“It's all just in your head…don't get too sensitive. I'm sure he will come around” Iris comforted her.

Hailey nodded, she was too tired to continue talking about it. Her eyes caught sight of Iris's pair of black heels and she smiled at how pretty they looked.

She wanted to ask about it when a buzzing sound from Iris's phone interrupted her, Iris picked it up, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she scrolls through the screen.

“Do you want me to talk to him?” Iris asked after a few seconds.

“Don't bother, I only need you”

Iris flashed her a small smile that really looked genuine. “I only need you too, I hate to leave you behind right now” Iris said with a sad smile, “but duty calls” she added reluctantly.

Hailey nodded, as she watched her best friend hurrying away.

Just then a nurse walked up to her with a clipboard tightly trapped against her chest.

“Mrs Hailey, it's time for your transfusion” the nurse said and Hailey responded with a nod as she followed her silently.

They stopped at another ward where different patients were also taking their transfusion as well.

As the nurses began the process, Hailey couldn't help but think about how much her life had spiraled out of control in the past 5 years since her marriage to Carter.

They were never the perfect couple even before they were both married, but their relationship was perfect or so she thought.

Despite her challenging health issues, she still had to do house chores and go to work, her mother in-law who won't stop nagging at her and the fact that her husband stopped working, making her handle most of the responsibility she wasn't supposed to made the matter worse.

“It's just cancer… technology is more advanced than before” her mother-in-law had said the day she got the news of her illness afraid Hailey might decide to quit her job.

Even though her mother-in-law knew of how sick she was getting by the day, she kept telling her of how a good wife should act, always telling her it was her late mother's fault she had come down with this illness.

“Don't you even think of quitting your job!” her mother-in-law had snapped the day she told her she was considering quitting as per doctor’s advice.

Carter was no better, he only treated the news of her health casually, barely paying any attention to her, he was more focused on her job than on her.

When her health began to fail, she had expected support. Instead, Carter dismissed her pain, acting as though her illness was just an inconvenience.

“It’s nothing serious, Hailey,” he had said coldly. “The doctors don’t even know if it’s cancer. Besides, you know I don’t have a job. We’ll drown in debt if you quit yours.”

Carter had quit working when they got married, Hailey didn't seem to be bothered by it back then. She thought as long as she was working there shouldn't be an issue.

Even when Hailey tried making him see how much she needed his support at this point of her life, he had coldly shoved her off.

As Hailey laid on the bed, thinking about how unfortunate she was while waiting for the transfusion to be completed.

An old lady’s soft voice broke into her thoughts. The lady had been with her sick husband all through his cancer stage even as she sat beside him.

“Don't worry about your husband's affair, it's bad to dwell on bad things when you are sick…” the old lady said,

“beside you have a very good friend who has been coming to the hospital with you, she's beautiful and kind too”

Hailey let out a faint smile.

The lady must have overheard her conversation with Iris.

Hailey thought about it for a second, perhaps the old lady was right, the only thing she needed more was her best friend's support.

“You are right, Iris has been the only one by my side” she simply responded, Iris kindness was that oblivious even the blind could clearly see it.

A few hours after the transfusion, she exchanged a few words with her doctor and he told her she needed to come back for the biopsy result the next day.

Hailey boarded a cab and went home just soon after seeing her doctor.

On getting home, Hailey immediately noticed that the lock was still broken, despite her constant pleas for Carter to fix it.

He had brushed her off every time, as always.

Hailey silently walked into the house, her stomach twisting at the sight before her,the living room was in complete disarray, almost as if someone had been searching for something.

Before she could react, Carter stormed out of the bedroom with an envelope in his hands and his eyes burning with fury.

“You bitch!”