Chapter 2

Yvonne turned around and said calmly, "The baby."

Cole's expression changed at once. He stepped forward, caught her hand, and asked urgently, "What about the baby?"

A dull ache spread through Yvonne's chest. She let out a cold laugh.

"Why would I keep it? So you can have my baby tested as a match for your precious son?"

Everyone's eyes widened.

A flicker of panic crossed Cole's face. "You heard everything?"

"Yes."

"Yvonne, it's not what you think." Cole hurried to explain. "I'm only doing this to save Yuri. I owe him that much.

"Right now, our baby is the only one who might be able to save him. If they're a match, once the bone marrow transplant is over, I'll cut all ties with them."

Yvonne scoffed and cut him off.

"Why should my child have to make up for what you owe him?"

Cole fell silent, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"But Yuri's life is at stake!"

His child with Renee was a life. Wasn't their child one too?

If the baby was a match, how could a newborn possibly withstand a bone marrow donation?

Yvonne shook off Cole's hand and tried to leave, but she lost her footing and stumbled backward.

Yale immediately stepped forward to steady her, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"Yvonne, can you really bear to let Yuri die?"

Their friends began chiming in.

"Come on, Yvonne. Everyone knows you're the only one Cole loves. If you asked for his heart, he'd give it to you."

"He only remarried Renee to save Yuri."

Their words cut into Yvonne like a blade, leaving her almost unable to breathe.

Cole did love her. She liked fresh roses, so he bought an entire rose farm. If she wanted fruit that was out of season, he had it flown in for her the very next day.

Whatever she wanted, whatever she liked, Cole always placed it in her hands.

She could accept Cole's past. She couldn't accept his deception, and she couldn't accept sharing a man with another woman.

So she would step away. She would stay out of their lives.

Yvonne trembled all over, biting hard into the inside of her cheek to keep herself calm.

"We're over. From now on, this baby has nothing to do with you!"

She turned to leave, but Cole pulled her into his arms, his voice hoarse.

"Yvonne, don't be angry, please?"

Yale looked at her coldly, disappointment written across his face.

"It's only an amniocentesis. We'll all be there with you."

A sharp pain stabbed through Yvonne's chest, and tears fell from her eyes.

"I'm your own sister, but you're asking me and my baby to take this risk for someone else?"

Just then, Renee came over with Yuri by the hand. The moment she heard Yvonne's words, her eyes reddened.

She quickly tugged Yuri forward and reached for Yvonne.

"Yuri, hurry. Beg Aunt Yvonne!"

Yvonne instinctively tried to move away.

But before she even touched Renee, Renee screamed and fell to the floor, clutching her stomach in pain.

Everyone immediately panicked.

"She just miscarried and hasn't even recovered yet! Yvonne, why were you so reckless?"

Cole's expression changed. He rushed forward and scooped Renee into his arms.

"Are you okay?"

When Yuri saw his mother fall, he ran straight at Yvonne and shoved her hard in the stomach.

Yvonne was already weak. Caught completely off guard, she fell straight backward.

"You're a bad woman! You stole my dad, and you pushed my mom! I hate you!"

Pain made Yvonne's vision go dark. She stared blankly at Yuri.

Just a few days ago, he'd clung to her and begged her to tell him stories, sweetly calling her Aunt Yvonne.

Now he was looking at her with hatred in his eyes.

She forced herself upright and looked ahead. Everyone was gathered around Renee, concerned about her.

By then, the pain in Yvonne's heart had already turned numb.

Cole caught sight of Yvonne on the floor from the corner of his eye. He immediately let go of Renee and hurried over.

He crouched down and pulled Yvonne into his arms, asking in a panic, "Yvonne, are you okay? Did you hurt your stomach?"

Yvonne pulled herself out of his embrace, disgust in her eyes.

"Don't touch me!"

Anger flashed across Cole's face. He turned to Yuri and snapped, "Yuri, how could you push Aunt Yvonne?"

Yuri froze for a second, then burst into tears.

"She pushed Mommy first! And she doesn't even want to save me!"

Everyone froze.

Renee hurried over and gathered Yuri into her arms to comfort him.

Then, while no one was looking, she pinched him hard in the chest.

The next second, Yuri let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the floor.

Renee immediately dropped to her knees, choking back sobs in panic.

"Yuri, what's wrong? Don't scare Mommy!"

Everyone instantly grew tense.

Cole picked Yuri up and rushed him into the exam room.

Renee stumbled over to Yvonne and dropped to her knees, tears pouring down her face.

"Yvonne, please. Just have the amniocentesis. If you can save him, I'll do anything you ask."

For a moment, Yvonne wavered.

Then Cole came out of the exam room, his face grim.

"Bring Yvonne in for the amniocentesis."