Chapter 2

I didn't know how to tell Gary that Timothy and I were getting a divorce.

If I told him now, "Timothy isn't a decent man at all. He's had a child with someone else, and the boy is already five.

"And he won't even let me have children of my own. He wants me to help raise his illegitimate son instead."

I was afraid Gary's body couldn't take news like that.

Too much had happened tonight already. Even I still felt dazed.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind me. "Amanda, are you all right?"

I turned to find Timothy hurrying toward me, out of breath, a thick coat draped over his arm.

"You left in such a rush. I was worried, so I called Gary. When I heard you'd come to the hospital, I was relieved."

He said this as he tried to drape the coat over my shoulders.

"Tonight was my fault. Go see Gary. Don't let him worry, all right?"

Timothy's eyes were dark and heavy, as if he genuinely cared about me.

I turned my face away, refusing to meet his gaze.

For seven years, every time we'd argued, Timothy had looked at me with that same tender expression, and every time, I'd truly believed he cared about no one but me, and my anger would fade almost instantly.

Even now, he was still trying the same trick.

It wasn't going to work this time.

A moment later, he pulled me into the hospital room by force anyway.

Gary saw our hands locked together and let out a relieved breath.

"Amanda, I thought you two had a falling out. Good thing it's nothing."

I yanked my hand free of Timothy's, wondering how anyone could be so shameless.

He didn't seem to notice at all. He just sat himself down at Gary's bedside. "Let me peel you both some apples."

I couldn't take it anymore and drove him out of the room.

"Timothy, are you doing this on purpose? Don't show your face in front of me again until you've settled things with Cathleen."

I kept my voice low. "I'll take care of the divorce papers."

He just looked at me quietly.

"Even if I can find you a matching bone marrow donor? Even then, I still can't come near you?"

For a second, I froze where I stood.

Timothy went on. "Amanda, you know I've spent a whole year looking for a donor for Gary. I finally found one. They've agreed to come to Ciscosta Bay for the surgery in seven days.

"I've already paid them a considerable sum. If we back out now, all of that goes to waste."

Whatever else he was, Timothy really had put real effort into Gary's illness. He'd used every connection he had to track down a donor, more than I, his own sister, had managed on my own.

I hesitated.

Timothy smiled and leaned in to kiss me. "Amanda, I knew you'd soften up. I've arranged for the bone marrow. In return, promise me you'll help raise that child."

This time, I didn't push him away.

But the ache and bitterness inside me never went away.

"Go home. I want to stay with Gary by myself."

After a while, Timothy let go of me, breathing unsteadily, a trace of desire still lingering in his eyes.

"Amanda, tonight is our wedding night. Come home with me."

Only after I refused him again and again did he finally give up. He left the hospital, clearly unwilling.

I straightened my clothes and went back into the room. "Your surgery is happening. There's hope. In seven days, someone's going to donate bone marrow for you."

Gary had been putting on a brave face this whole time just so I wouldn't worry. But at those words, he finally let his guard down completely.

"Amanda, I get to live... I get to protect you for the rest of your life."

I wiped the tears from his cheeks, and something that had been broken inside me finally started to mend.

As long as Gary lived, even if it meant spending the rest of my life in a marriage that existed in name only, I was willing to pay that price.