Chapter 1

Callum's POV

I'd barely posted the comment when Sabrina Voss called. "Callum, what was that supposed to mean? Rowan posts one update, and you have to leave some snide comment under it? What is your problem?

"And I just got out of court. I'm heading to the firm's mid-year review right now. This performance review is going to determine who's considered for partnership this year.

"Rowan even helped me prepare my presentation. Everyone's already talking about celebrating afterward. When are you getting here? I saved you a seat near the front."

Her accusatory tone barely registered. I felt nothing. I'd already cried until there were no tears left. Ever since Dad's case was thrown out, it felt as though all the color had been drained from my world.

"I'm not coming," I said quietly. "Go celebrate without me."

Sabrina's voice shot up. "Callum, you'd better think carefully about this! Every partner at the firm is going to be there. They're announcing the next round of promotions today.

"If you're seriously going to skip something this important over some petty little disagreement, you're going to regret it."

A cold laugh escaped me. "My dad is lying in a hospital bed, and no one even knows if he's going to make it. You call that petty?"

My grip tightened around the phone. "What exactly am I supposed to celebrate, Sabrina? That you got the person who put him there off the hook?"

Her voice softened slightly. "Callum, your dad had an accident at work. That's all. He's going to be fine. Just come over, okay?"

I closed my eyes. "Sabrina, we're done."

For a full ten seconds, she didn't say a word.

In the seven years Sabrina and I had been together, we'd had our share of arguments and rough patches. But neither of us had ever once suggested breaking up.

She clearly couldn't believe those words had come from me.

Then Rowan Mercer's voice drifted through the phone. "Sabrina, I made a few more changes to your speech. Can you come take a look?"

"Sure." She didn't hesitate even for a second. Then her voice turned cold again. "Callum, you said it, not me. If you want to break up, fine. Just don't come crawling back when you regret it."

She hung up.

I let out a long breath and lowered the phone. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled the hospital corridor, while the sterile white lights overhead somehow made everything feel even harsher.

I sat alone on a bench outside the ICU, staring through the glass at Dad. Machines surrounded his bed, keeping his failing body alive.

He hadn't regained consciousness since the accident at the construction site. The doctors had already warned me that his chances were slim.

I looked at him through the glass, my vision slowly blurring.

Then the line on his heart monitor went flat. For one terrible moment, the entire world seemed to stop. I couldn't breathe. All I could hear was the long, piercing tone of the monitor.

A doctor eventually stepped out of the room and removed his mask. Beads of sweat covered his forehead. "We did everything we could. I'm sorry."

He lowered his head solemnly.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the deathly pale face on the hospital bed.

Dad's eyes were closed. The fear and pain that had been etched into his features after the accident were gone now, replaced by an awful stillness.

I couldn't believe it.

Not long ago, he'd been sitting across from me at dinner, smiling as he put another piece of roast chicken on my plate and telling me to take good care of Sabrina. And now he was gone.