Chapter 2

2

The bodies of my son and me were taken straight to the morgue.

One of Hudson's colleagues approached him in the hallway, looking concerned.

"Dr. Hudson, your wife hasn't checked in yet. Should we send another unit to her location?"

Hudson stiffened for a second before snapping in a fit of rage.

"Look around! Do you see how many patients are bleeding out? We don't have time to go on a wild goose chase for her. She probably went to a different hospital."

"Get back to work and stop bothering me," he growled.

Hearing those words made my ghostly form shiver with a cold that went deeper than death.

We had shared a bed for seven years. Even if he didn't love me, shouldn't there be some shred of human decency?

But he was heartless toward his own wife and child.

In a way, I was glad my baby died with me.

If he had been left alone with a father like that, I couldn't imagine the misery he would have faced.

I followed Hudson as he hurried toward Skylar's room.

"Hudson," Skylar whimpered as he entered, "I was so terrified when I fell. Our baby... we worked so hard for this."

Hudson leaned down and tenderly kissed the tears from her cheeks.

"Don't be scared, Skylar. No matter what happens, I will protect you."

Watching them share that intimate, passionate kiss made my soul ache with a phantom pain.

So, the child Skylar was carrying was his.

No wonder he didn't hesitate to discard us.

Hudson and I were college sweethearts. We were together for seven years and married for three.

I always knew he had a childhood sweetheart who had dumped him for a rich guy and moved abroad.

Back then, his father was in prison and his mother was dying. I was the one who stayed by his side through the darkest years of his life.

After his mother passed away, he had stumbled to my door, drunk and broken.

He held me, crying, "Sienna, I have no one left. Will you be my family? Please?"

I knew I was his second choice, his consolation prize, but I married him anyway, full of hope.

I thought that if I loved him enough, I could eventually melt the ice around his heart.

I was such a fool.

The power of a first love is a terrifying thing.

When Skylar came crawling back, Hudson ran to her without a second thought.

I knew the problem was Hudson, so I never tried to make life difficult for Skylar.

But Skylar loved playing the victim to ruin my image in Hudson's eyes.

She'd claim the tea I handed her was too hot, or she'd have an "allergic reaction" to food I cooked, or she'd just burst into tears if I walked into a room.

I tried to explain. I tried to tell him she was doing it on purpose.

But Hudson always chose to believe I was just a jealous, bitter wife out to get her.

We fought constantly. Cold wars became our new normal.

Then Skylar showed up crying, saying she'd been taken advantage of while drunk and was pregnant.

The doctors told her that her health was too fragile to end the pregnancy.

Hudson didn't care that I was three months pregnant myself; he insisted on bringing her into our home so he could care for her.

I hated it, but I felt I had no choice but to accept it.

Then came the accident with his brother, Hunter, and my friend Scarlett.

I had saved Scarlett first because Hunter begged me to. He wanted her to live.

I cried as I explained this to Hudson, but the seed of resentment had already sprouted. He began to freeze me out completely.

I thought he hated me because of Hunter's death. I thought that was why he was so cruel.

I stayed, hoping that one day he would find it in his heart to forgive me.

But now I saw the truth. Hunter's death was just an excuse. He had been sleeping with Skylar all along.

Suddenly, Hudson's phone buzzed.

"Hudson! Where is my daughter? Why isn't she answering her phone?"

It was my mother. Her voice was frantic, sounding like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

My heart shattered. She had raised me alone. If she found out I was dead...

Hudson looked slightly bothered for a split second, but Skylar groaned from the bed.

"Hudson... it hurts so much."

"Mom, I have a patient in critical condition. I'll call you back later," Hudson said, hanging up without a second thought.

He turned back to Skylar, fussing over her and checking her vitals.

When he was sure she was fine, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Skylar looked at him with watery eyes and whispered, "Hudson, what are we going to do? Our baby is going to be born soon."

"It's so unfair. Both are your children, but mine has to be a secret. I'm so jealous of her."

"She has family and friends here. I have no one but you. What will we do without you?"

She started sobbing hysterically.

Hudson's eyes turned red with emotion as he gripped her hand.

"Skylar, stop crying. I promise you, as soon as she gives birth, I'm divorcing her. Our son will never be a secret."