Chapter 1

1.

A sharp pain ripped through my abdomen right after I finished assisting Dr. Liam Harrison with a late-night bypass surgery.

He immediately carried me into the staff lounge.

But just as he was about to check on me, his phone rang.

It was his "special patient."

One look at the caller ID and he was gone.

That night, I lost the baby.

When I was wheeled out of the O.R., I exhaustedly picked up my phone, only to see an updated Instagram post from his childhood friend, Chloe Sanders.

It was a picture of her baby bump, with the caption:

[Got lost in the hospital and he dropped everything to find me. Little one, you better listen to your Uncle Liam in the future ;)]

I touched my still-aching belly.

This time, I didn't break down crying and chase after Liam for an explanation like I used to.

I just liked the post.

Then, I opened my laptop and searched for the "Doctors Without Borders application."

This time, I didn't cry. Tears are for people who care about you.

A 'like'... that's the best kind of goodbye announcement. I needed time, and the capital to get out of here, not another pointless fight.

On the day I left Boston, the usually calm and composed Dr. Harrison asked me, his eyes red:

"Evelyn, how could you just leave me like this?"

...

After confirming the pregnancy was lost, I called Liam a dozen times.

He didn't answer a single one.

My best friend, an OB-GYN named Maya Sterling, held my hand and comforted me for what felt like an eternity before she could convince me to go into the operating room.

Because of my intolerance to anesthesia, I kept waking up in agony during the procedure.

Each time, I would hopelessly look around, wishing I would see Liam's familiar figure by my side.

But he wasn't there.

It wasn't until I was wheeled out of the O.R. that he finally sent a text:

[Chloe is my patient. As her doctor, I had to be there. I'm sorry.]

He sent the same explanation every time he ditched me for Chloe Sanders.

I sat in Maya’s office, clutching my stomach, and typed out a reply:

[But I needed you more this time...]

I stared at it, then deleted it, letter by letter.

I typed a new message and sent it:

[It's fine, Dr. Harrison.]