Chapter 1

Less than ten days after our wedding, my husband, Stellan, secretly drained my credit card.

He transferred every cent to his ex-girlfriend, a famous actress.

He even took the money meant for my mother's life-saving surgery.

Outside the movie set, I knelt on the ground and begged them for the money back.

"My mom will die without this surgery. Please, just give it back to me."

Before they could answer, a crazed hater of his ex-wife rushed forward with a knife.

To protect Nadia, Stellan actually pushed me into the blade.

I was stabbed in the chest. It took a day and a night of emergency surgery just to save my life.

My mother, hearing the news of my condition, suffered a fatal heart attack and passed away.

When I finally woke up in the hospital bed, I called my childhood friend, Landon, who is a lawyer.

"Help me file for divorce."

1.

On the other end of the line, Landon's voice was filled with disbelief.

"Divorce? Piper, are you serious? It's only been a few days..."

"I'm serious," I rasped, my voice sounding like sandpaper.

I coughed weakly, and a tearing pain ripped through my chest.

Shortly after I hung up, Stellan swaggered into the room.

He looked at me, pale and broken on the bed.

There wasn't a hint of pity in his eyes. Instead, he curled his lip in annoyance.

"See? You aren't even that badly hurt. You're perfectly conscious."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I had received three critical condition notices. I had spent hours hovering between life and death.

To him, it was just "not that bad."

The boy I grew up with, the Stellan who used to cry if I even scratched my finger, was gone.

I ignored him and opened my phone to text Landon about my mother's funeral arrangements.

I grew up in a single-parent home. My mom raised me all by herself.

I had saved for years, skipping meals and sacrifices, just for her heart transplant.

The money was ready. Everything was set for the surgery. And then...

Stellan was the one who told her I was dying.

He knew she had a weak heart. He did it on purpose. What kind of monster was he?

Seeing me ignore him, Stellan's tone grew even more irritated. "Piper, don't you dare give me that attitude!"

"You shouldn't even be in the hospital anymore. You can lie down just as well at home. Get out."

A young nurse nearby couldn't take it anymore. "The patient just had major surgery. Her stitches aren't stable. She can't be discharged."

Stellan clicked his tongue and glared at the nurse.

"What do you know? I'm her husband. I make the calls!"

I snapped my eyes open and glared at him. "Stellan, are you even human?"

"My mother is dead because of you, and now you want to kick me out of the hospital?"

"What did I ever do to deserve this from you?!"

Stellan looked embarrassed, which quickly turned into rage. "Don't you dare blame me for that!"

"Your mom's heart attack has nothing to do with me! Stop pinning everything on my head."

"If you hadn't told her I was dying! If you hadn't stolen the money..."

My voice broke. My chest throbbed with agony.

Stellan interrupted me impatiently. "Enough! Stop the drama!"

"I don't feel great about your mom dying either, okay?"

"But I only did it for Nadia. I had to..."

"Nadia! It's always Nadia!"

I started laughing, a hollow, tragic sound. "Stellan, before we married, you swore you'd treat me right."

"You said you'd take care of me forever. And look at this. What am I to you?"

Stellan's expression shifted. He looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

He tossed a crumpled gift bag onto my bed.

It hit my chest, causing a dull throb of pain.

He looked down at me like he was a king granting a favor. "Fine. I bought you some earrings."

"Consider it compensation. Just take them and stop complaining."

"And don't you dare go around badmouthing Nadia. This wasn't her fault."

"She's having some financial trouble lately. The money I gave her is just a loan. She'll pay it back!"

I opened the bag. A pair of tiny silver studs lay there, cold and cheap.

I recognized them. Nadia had posted them on her Instagram two days ago.

Her caption read: "I don't like these freebie earrings. I'll give them to someone who can use the trash."

I almost choked. My mother's life and my own were only worth a pair of freebies to Stellan.