Chapter 1

I watched my son, six-year-old Leo, shrink back from the towering, multi-layered chocolate cake. His face was pale, already damp with sweat despite the air conditioning.

He’d been a Type 1 diabetic since the time we noticed his symptoms, and just the sight of that sugar bomb made my own heart pound.

“Harry, please,” I said, walking up to my husband who was laughing loudly with a woman I knew too well—Claire, the mother of the birthday boy and the reason for the constant, cold knot in my stomach.

"Can you stop them? Leo can’t have that much sugar."

The birthday party was an extravagant event for Claire’s son, Jake, held in our shared backyard, because Harry wanted Jake not to feel inferior to anyone, not even our son, Leo.

Harry looked at me, his smile wavering for a split second before hardening. He lowered his voice, the irritation barely concealed. "Don't make a scene, Darcy. I have already told you the cake is sugar free. It's Jake’s birthday. We don’t want Leo to feel excluded."

"But, Leo doesn't seem fine." I protested.

Leo, seeing the slice of cake approaching, gripped my hand tighter. "Mommy, no. My stomach hurts.

"Let it be, Harry. Tell them not to force Leo if he doesn't want it." I pleaded, trying to keep my voice even, acutely aware of Claire watching us with a smug, expectant look.

Harry simply waved a dismissive hand. "It'll be fine, Darcy. Live a little. Your overprotectiveness has spoilt him. Go on, Leo, try your friend’s cake. Be a good sport."

He flashed a paternal, yet condescending smile that felt like a slap.

Leo still looked afraid and dared not take one more bite. Harry's eyes darkened and he commanded, his voice cold, devoid of any emotion. "Eat it or I'm gonna slap your mother right here."

"Harry!" I shouted, "What's wrong with you? You are scaring our child."

"Let me handle this my way, Darcy." He snapped back, turning back to look at Leo with a pair of cold and commanding eyes. "Did you not hear me, Leo?"

Leo, my poor child. He looked at me with eyes filled with tears before he grabbed a spoonful of sugary cake. Before I could physically intervene, Leo had swallowed a bite, his eyes wide with fear and then pain.

I felt a surge of cold terror. I took Leo away, rushing him to a quiet corner where I quickly tested his blood. The number on the monitor screamed danger.

"Harry! Look!" I rushed back, holding the meter out to him. His attention, however, was fixed on Claire, who was whispering something into his ear that made him chuckle.

"Just a minute, Darcy. Claire's telling me about Jake’s new school." He held up a hand, the familiar gesture of dismissal that always made me feel insignificant.

"Harry, he needs his correction dose now. His blood sugar is through the roof. He’s going to faint," I choked out, my voice trembling with urgency.

He finally turned, his expression annoyed rather than concerned. "I told you it would be fine! Just give him a little juice. You always overreact, Darcy."

But before I could argue, Leo stumbled, his small frame swaying violently. He tried to speak, but only a gurgling sound came out, and then he collapsed onto the grass.

A primal scream tore from my throat. "Leo! Oh my God, Harry! We have to go to the hospital! Immediately!"