Chapter 2

Gwen spent a full forty minutes in the shower.

She came out in loungewear, her hair still dripping, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her face was a little pale.

"Honey, I won't be sleeping in the bedroom tonight."

Her gaze shifted, avoiding mine. "Something urgent came up at work. I need to go to the office, and I don't want to disturb you."

"Okay." I agreed without hesitation and even thoughtfully closed the door for her. "Don't work too hard. Remember to drink some milk."

Gwen visibly relaxed, then turned and left.

After watching her car leave from the window, I went into her study.

My gaze settled on her safe.

It was off-limits. Gwen said it contained confidential company documents and the corporate seal, and she never let me touch it.

I crouched in front of it and took a deep breath.

The code was six digits.

I tried my birthday. Wrong.

Our wedding anniversary. Wrong.

Jade's birthday. Wrong.

One attempt left. Another wrong code would trigger the alarm.

I closed my eyes and entered Gwen's birthday with trembling fingers.

Beep.

The green light came on, and the door popped open a fraction.

I held my breath and carefully pulled it open.

There was no corporate seal or stack of contracts inside. Just a thick pile of document envelopes, with two slightly yellowed medical records on top.

In the faint light from the computer screen, I read the words.

The first was an Organ Transplant Compatibility Report.

Recipient: Keira Blake.

Donor: Jade Ellis.

It was dated May 12, three years ago.

The day Jade died.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from making a sound, but tears poured onto the documents.

My hands shook as I opened the second file. It was my daughter's death certificate.

The cause of death read: Shock caused by a family member feeding the child an allergen. The child's mother refused resuscitation.

I always believed my carelessness allowed my daughter to eat something she was allergic to.

There was no accident. Gwen killed her to give her heart to her niece.

"Monster..."

I forced the word out from deep in my throat, my whole body shaking with hatred.

I quickly took out my phone and photographed every document.

That night, I dreamed of my daughter again. Tears soaked my pillow.

When I woke early the next morning, Gwen was already busy in the kitchen.

"You're up, honey?"

She smiled brightly when I came out and brought breakfast to the table. "Come eat. I made heart-shaped fried eggs just for you."

My stomach churned at the sight of them.

After the horrifying truths I uncovered the night before, I could no longer stomach her displays of concern.

"Why are you so happy?"

I pulled out a chair and sat down, forcing back my nausea as I picked up a fork.

"Well..." Gwen rubbed her hands together, her gaze wandering. "My brother-in-law called earlier. Today's Keira's birthday, and he wants us to come over for a meal and help celebrate."

They were celebrating a new life built on my daughter's death, and now they wanted me there to watch?

"Gwen." I put down my fork and looked at her coldly. "You want me to celebrate that child's birthday?"

Gwen's smile stiffened. She quickly sat beside me and took my hand. "Honey, I know this is painful for you. But my brother-in-law means well. And... and Keira keeps asking to see you."

"Me?" I scoffed. "Does she want to see me or you?"