Chapter 5

Leah had no clue how long she'd been wandering outside the hospital.

By the time she got home, it was past 3 a.m. She didn't bother with the lights. As her hand brushed the doorknob, she froze.

Sobs. Quiet ones. From inside.

"Ian, this is wrong. It's all my fault. We can't keep doing this!"

Their clothes were already a mess on the bed. Cecilia's face was flushed, breath heavy with booze. "You're his brother. I can't—this isn't right! It was supposed to be IVF. Just IVF!"

She tried to sit up. Ian caught her.

He tensed, went quiet. Then, low and tight— "Cecilia, actually, I—"

Leah stared at the floor outside the door.

He wasn't gonna say it.

Cecilia was his sister-in-law. He was still married.

And none of that seemed to matter.

His voice stayed flat, like he was talking business. "The doctor said IVF works, but natural's faster. We're both still young..." His hand slid to her waist. "Just think of me as Andrew."

Cecilia shivered. "Ian..."

Then came the breathing—slow, heavy, way too familiar.

Leah couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Every sound from that room sliced into her, needle-sharp. By the time it was over, something in her cracked.

She bolted, tore down the stairs, out the door, and collapsed by the roadside—retching until nothing came up.

The tears wouldn't stop.

Memories blurred in. Their wedding day. No parents to walk her down the aisle—just Ian, gripping her hand.

"Leah Labelle, I'll love you for the rest of my life. You'll be the only one. Always."

She'd cried so hard that day. Actually believed him.

Three years later, those vows were trash.

By morning, she wiped her face, caught a cab to the consulate, and applied for her visa.

When she got back, the house looked untouched. Like none of it happened.

And she pretended too. Like she hadn't seen a thing.

But her suitcase was already out. She paused.

Ian walked in, voice all careful. "The doctor said for IVF to work, Cecilia needs to prep her body and take supplements. She's careless, always forgets, so I need to keep an eye on her. I'm just doing what my parents asked. Once she's pregnant, we'll finally have time for us."

Leah almost laughed. He didn't even flinch saying it.

"Okay," she said.

He lit up, pulled her into his arms. "I knew you'd understand. You're the sweetest, most thoughtful wife a guy could ask for."

The scent of another woman's perfume clung to him.

Leah swallowed the nausea, shoved him off, and started packing.

She used to worry moving her stuff would tip him off. Now she had the perfect excuse.

As she zipped her suitcase, Ian hovered. "Why are you taking everything? Cecilia moving in is just temporary. Later—"

She smiled. "If I need something, it'd be annoying to come back for it."