Chapter 1

1

Seven years we were married, a secret to everyone.

In that time, I lost five babies.

Miscarriages, every single one.

Mark, my husband, was always so concerned.

He got me a top-tier nutritionist, paid a fortune to get my diet just right.

"We'll have a healthy baby, I promise," he'd say, all gentle and supportive.

I was over the moon when I found out I was pregnant again.

I rushed to Mark's office, eager to share the news.

But then I overheard him talking with his best friend, Danny, in a private room.

"You're telling me you killed Sarah's five babies to supply specimens for Emily's research project? Are you insane? Those were your kids too!" Danny was saying, shocked.

Mark sounded totally detached.

"Emily is driven. She's going to change the world. I don't get the whole medical thing, but I can be her rock, give her whatever she needs."

"Besides," he continued, "my marriage to Sarah isn't even real. The kids were never meant to be born. My wife is Emily."

That's when it hit me: my marriage, something I'd cherished, was a complete sham.

The man I thought was my soulmate was a monster in disguise.

Fine.

If that's how it's going to be, I'm done playing this game.

…

Danny looked troubled.

"If you're so obsessed with Emily, why did you even marry Sarah in the first place? Why let her have kids?"

Mark laughed, a nasty, dismissive sound.

"Emily was studying abroad. What was I supposed to do? I'm a guy! Sarah was a virgin when I met her, squeaky clean. A secret marriage kept her from messing around and catching something."

"As for the kids...I hate wearing condoms, and she was desperate to be a mom. So what? I was never planning on letting them live, anyway."

Danny looked sick.

"You had Sarah living in the shadows for seven years, killed her babies, and now you're dumping her for someone else? She loves you, Mark. This is going to crush her."

Mark waved him off, annoyed.

"Give me a break. She's a small-town girl who got lucky. I gave her a life she never dreamed of. I've been more than fair to her."

"Emily and I are getting married in Italy in three days. You're invited, of course."

Danny sighed.

"Just so you know, Mark, you can't screw someone over like that and expect to get away with it. Sarah's a good person. You're going to regret this."

"Whatever. As long as I get to marry Emily in style, I'll be fine. Stop with the melodramatic crap."

Danny shook his head and shut up.

The joy I'd felt just moments before vanished.

I stood there, numb, tears streaming down my face.

Mark saw me standing in the doorway, my face covered in tears, and freaked out.

He rushed over.

"Sarah! How long have you been there? What's wrong?" He sounded guilty.

I wiped my face, forcing a smile.

"It's nothing. My fake eyelashes came loose. My makeup skills suck."

Mark visibly relaxed, pulling me into a hug.

"Seeing you cry breaks my heart. You don't need that stuff. You're gorgeous without it. Come on, let's go home."

His words were sweet, as always, but they felt hollow now.

I had just graduated college, new to Mark's company when he saved me from an awful boss.

He stood up for me, defended me, and said he wanted to be my protector, always.

I believed him.

I gave him everything.

When he asked me to keep our marriage a secret, I said yes without hesitation.

I was worried that a nobody wife would affect the company's stock.

Every time I got pregnant, Mark acted like a little kid, so excited to be a dad.

He made sure the doctor used full anesthesia, and was always right by my side when I woke up.

I thought he cared about me and the babies.

But he was killing them to get the specimens for his girlfriend.

I felt guilty and like my body was the issue but it was him, he was doing this all along.