Chapter 1 The Hospital
Eva sat by her daughter's hospital bed, the sharp scent of disinfectant all around her. She held Lily's small hand tightly, as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.
The heart monitor kept up its steady beeping. Beep. Beep. Beep. Each sound made Eva feel a bit better, but also reminded her that Lily was still struggling.
"Mommy?"
Hearing Lily's weak voice made Eva's chest tighten. She leaned in right away and brushed a damp strand of hair from Lily's pale forehead.
"I'm here, sweetheart. Mommy's right here."
Lily's eyes fluttered open. Those deep, dark eyes had always confused Eva. Neither she nor Derek had eyes that color. But she had stopped questioning it long ago. Lily was hers. That was all that mattered.
"My throat hurts," Lily whispered.
"I know, baby. The doctor said you'll feel better soon. Just rest, okay?"
Lily nodded weakly, her small fingers tightening around Eva's hand. "Where's Daddy?"
Eva's jaw tightened.
Daddy.
She had called Derek six times. Six times. Their daughter was in the hospital with a high fever that wouldn't break, and he couldn't be bothered to answer his phone.
"Daddy's... busy with work," Eva lied, forcing a gentle smile. "But Mommy's here. And Ethan is with Grandma. When you get better, we'll all have ice cream together. How does that sound?"
A tiny smile appeared on Lily's face. "Chocolate?"
"As much chocolate as you want."
Lily's eyes drifted closed, satisfied with that promise. Within moments, her breathing evened out, and she slipped back into sleep.
Eva exhaled slowly, her smile fading the instant her daughter couldn't see her anymore.
She glanced at her phone.
11:47 PM.
No missed calls. No messages.
Her husband hadn't even bothered to check in.
Eva stared at the ceiling, blinking back the burning sensation behind her eyes. She wouldn't cry. She had stopped crying over Derek Lawson years ago. She doesn't want to waste her tears on a man who didn't deserve them.
But tonight felt different.
Tonight, the weight on her chest felt heavier than usual.
Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was the fear of watching her daughter struggle to breathe for the past eight hours. Or maybe, just maybe, she had finally reached the end of her rope.
Seven years.
Seven years of marriage to a man who treated her like she was invisible. Seven years of enduring his mother's cruel remarks, his father's cold indifference, and Derek's complete lack of respect. Seven years of pouring everything she had into a family that gave her nothing in return.
And for what?
So her husband could ignore her calls while their daughter lay in a hospital bed?
Eva's phone buzzed.
Her heart jumped, then dropped when she saw the name on her phone.
Mother-in-law.
She answered the call, speaking softly so her daughter, Lily, wouldn't wake up.
"Hello?"
"Eva." Margaret Lawson's voice was sharp, as always. "Where is my son?"
Eva nearly laughed.
You're asking me?
"I don't know," she said, keeping her voice calm. "I've been at the hospital with Lily. I've tried calling him, but he hasn't answered."
A pause.
"The hospital?" Margaret's voice held a hint of annoyance, not concern. "What's wrong now?"
Now. As if Lily being sick was just a bother to her, not something serious.
"She has a high fever. The doctor is monitoring her overnight."
"Well, children get fevers all the time. There's no need to be dramatic about it." Margaret huffed. "When you reach Derek, tell him to call me. I need to discuss something important with him."
Click.
The line went dead.
Eva stared at her phone, her grip tightening until her knuckles turned white.
There was no "I hope Lily feels better.", no "Do you need anything?" or "How is my granddaughter now?" Not even a single word of concern for her own granddaughter.
This was the family she had married into.
This was the life she had accepted for seven long years.
Eva closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Enough. I just need to focus on my daughter.
The word echoed in her mind, louder than it had ever been before.
Enough.
By 2 AM, Lily's fever had finally stabilized.
The doctor assured Eva that the worst had passed, and the nurses would monitor her through the night. Eva didn't want to leave, but she also needed to check on Ethan—her son, Lily's twin—who was staying with her father tonight.
And she needed to find her useless husband.
The drive home was quiet.
Too quiet.
Eva gripped the steering wheel as streetlights blurred past her window. Her mind replayed the night: the panic when Lily's fever spiked, the rushed drive to the hospital, and the long hours of waiting and hoping for her daughter's recovery.
And through it all, Derek was nowhere to be found.
Where are you, Derek?
She had asked herself that question so many times over the years. It wasn't just about where he was physically, but also emotionally and mentally. Where was the man she married? Had he ever really been there? Or had she been blind from the start?
Eva pulled into the driveway of their house, a beautiful two-story home paid for entirely by her family's money. Derek hadn't contributed a single cent. He never did.
She noticed his car in the garage.
He's home.
Her heart sank.
He was home. While their daughter was in the hospital, he was home. He was not working. Not stuck in between meetings.
He was just... home.
Eva stepped out of the car, her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked toward the front door. The house was dark except for a faint light coming from the second floor.
Their bedroom.
She unlocked the door quietly and slipped inside. The house was silent; there was no sound of television or music. Only the soft hum of the air conditioning filled the space.
Eva climbed the stairs slowly, exhaustion mixing with a growing sense of dread. Something felt off. She couldn't explain it, but her instincts screamed at her to turn around.
But she didn't.
She had spent too many years ignoring her instincts, telling herself that things would get better, that Derek would change, that her patience would eventually be rewarded.
Tonight, she was done ignoring the truth.
She reached the bedroom door.
It was slightly open, a sliver of golden light spilling into the hallway.
And then she heard it.
A moan.
Breathless Feminine low moan.
Eva's blood turned to ice.
Her hand trembled as she pushed the door open.