Chapter 1

I lay on the cold hospital bed, clutching my stomach as sharp waves of pain tore through me. I could feel the life I had longed for inside of me slipping away.

My husband, Gabriel Carlisle was right beside me, his forehead drenched in sweat. "Draw as much blood as you need, doctor! Don't worry about hurting her body. I'll make sure she's taken care of."

His words struck my heart like crushing weights. So, he was willing to sacrifice me for his childhood friend, Lucia Fairchild. This revelation cut me open from the inside.

Even my ex, Raphael Carlisle, who was usually calm and composed, had a grim look in his eyes. "Please, doctor. My wife is still in the ICU waiting for the cord blood to save her life!"

The doctor looked at me, who was heavily pregnant and covered in blood, and hesitated. "The baby is already far enough along. If we give it our all, we might be able to save both the mother and child. As for the cord blood, we could contact another hospital and find a way to have it delivered here."

Gabriel's eyes misted over as he seized the doctor's shoulder and bellowed, "I don't want this child. I want you to operate on her and get the cord blood now! Lucia can't wait any longer!"

Raphael held him and choked out, "Calm down, Gabe. Phoebe needs you; you can't lose it now."

As soon as his words fell, Gabriel walked over, his calloused fingers brushing against my cracked lips. Then, cool drops of liquid landed on my face.

His voice was thick with grief and longing. "Three years ago, I proposed to Lucia with a ring I designed myself, but she told me the man she loved was my older brother.

"I figured, since I couldn't be with her in this life, I could at least clear every obstacle in her path. Afraid she might relapse one day, I begged Phoebe to give me a child, so there would be cord blood ready for her if that day came."

Raphael couldn't bear to listen any longer and staggered out of the ward.

Gabriel leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. His tone was filled with a tenderness I had never heard before. "Don't worry, Darling. Even without this child, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life."

He paused before ordering, "Start the surgery, doctor."

The doctor was well aware that nothing he said would change Gabriel's decision. He couldn't save my child, so all he could do was nod in resignation. "Alright."

I was lifted onto a gurney and wheeled into the operating room.

Tears rolled down from the corners of my eyes. God knows I would rather die on that table than wake again to face Gabriel's cruel illusion of love.

Unfortunately, fate didn't grant me what I wanted. I lost my nine-month-old baby, yet I survived.

Half-conscious, I heard the doctor whisper in my ear, "Your child may be gone, but you still have your family. You have to stay strong and live for them!"

My heart ached as if an invisible hand had clenched it. He didn't know that my parents were already gone, so Gabriel was the only family I had left. He was all I had.

Yet, he lied when he promised he'd love me forever. The only one he truly loved was Lucia.