Chapter 1

“Dr. Quayle! Dr. Quayle!”

A nurse’s voice pulled me back to reality.

She nodded toward the new mother. “The patient has a question for you.”

I looked over at the hospital bed. She was young and showed little sign of fatigue, even after giving birth.

“Doctor, is my son healthy?” she asked anxiously.

I suppressed the bitterness inside me and gave a slight nod.

“So far, everything looks fine.”

I glanced at the patient’s wrist tag and noted her name was Bianca Dane.

At my confirmation, Bianca’s cheeks flushed with excitement.

“Where is my husband? He should be here by now! I’m telling you, he’s very rich. He’s almost forty and still hasn’t had any children. He’s going to be over the moon!”

The more she spoke, the heavier my heart felt.

No sooner had the delivery room door opened than Liam Stretton rushed in, still out of breath from the trip.

“Doctor, where is Bianca Dane?”

The woman on the bed lit up and said sweetly, “Honey, I’m here!”

I stood beside them. Even though I was fully covered in surgical attire, I wondered if he might recognize me.

I initially thought about hiding behind the nurses, but I quickly realized I was overthinking it.

Liam’s gaze never even reached me. He only had eyes for the baby and Bianca.

I watched him coldly as he carefully lifted the baby and studied him closely.

“This kid looks just like me,” he said.

He turned to Bianca, beaming with joy.

“Baby, I bought you a villa as a reward. Also, here’s the five-carat diamond ring you wanted.”

“Honey, you’re the best!”

The light caught on the diamond ring. Its sparkle stung my eyes.

They talked as if no one else existed, while the nurses nearby whispered to one another in envy.

“He bought her a villa just for having a baby! That’s seriously rich.”

“He’s an older man with a younger woman, so you can’t be sure she’s his wife.”

“Even if she’s his mistress, she still came out on top. These days, some wives don’t have as good a life as mistresses.”

I could not take it anymore. I turned and fled back to my office.

After removing my mask, surgical gown, and cap in a daze, I sat down.

Without warning, tears streamed down my face.

The more I wiped them away, the more they came.

I covered my mouth, but muffled sobs still slipped through my fingers.

By the end, I was dry-heaving.

I had not even had a chance to eat before I had rushed into Bianca’s emergency delivery, only to realize in the end that I was a fool.

I had personally delivered the child of my husband’s mistress.

Nothing could have been more ironic.

I picked up my phone with trembling hands to order some takeout.

But I accidentally ended up calling Liam, who was my emergency contact.

It rang, but I quickly hung up.

By the time my food arrived, Liam still had not called me back.

He used to pick up almost instantly.

Even when he was busy at work, he would call me back right away.

Maybe someone else had taken my place in his heart.

I had no appetite, but I still forced myself to eat.

Even after my marriage fell apart, I had to keep working.