As I left the records department, I overheard a group of nurses gossiping as they walked by.


    The star of their juicy gossip? My dear husband.


    From their chatter, I learned that Liam had booked an entire VIP floor to ensure no one disturbed Zoey’s recovery.


    This extravagant gesture didn’t surprise me.


    Liam could certainly afford it.


    Beyond being a doctor, Liam was also the second son of the Crawford family, major shareholders of Sacred Heart Hospital.


    Everyone was marveling at Zoey’s good fortune while specting about her rtionship with Liam.


    puite a few people at the hospital knew me.


    he moment they spotted me, their animated conversation died instantly. They all looked guilty and flustered, suddenly remembering urgent tasks hat required their immediate attention. <fn5856> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fn5856>


    o everyone but me knew Zoey was Liam’s priority. Great.


    very “emergency at work” excuse? He was with her.


    [ust’ve been exhausting, ying the devoted husband to two women.


    o wonder he looked like death during my hospital stay-he was running between rooms.


    was heading for the exit when-speak of the devil.


    tried to walk past Zoey, but of course she couldn’t let that happen.


    Well, well. Look who it is. Dear sis Riley,” Zoey chirped with that stic smile of hers.


    s she talked, the diamond ne at her throat caught the light. Blinding.


    ly stomach dropped.


    he day I left the hospital, Liam gave me a ring-“to celebrate your recovery, babe.”


    wore that thing 24/7, absolutely over the moon.


    [I wasn’t mistaken, that ring was the free gift that came with the exact ne Zoey was unting right now.


    o Liam didn’t buy a ring specially for me. He bought the ne for Zoey and gave me the worthless freebie.


    instinctively tucked my ringed hand into my sleeve.


    ‘I don’t have a sister. My mom only had me,”


    I’d never bothered hiding my dislike for Zoey,


    The girl must have been born with skin like armor, because my cold attitude never seemed to faze her.


    Instead, she noticed my hand movement and smirked.


    “Pretty ne, right, sis?”


    “Little secret-Liam gave it to me.”


    She leaned in close, whispering in my ear before pulling back with a smug look.


    “And?” I replied.


    My calm response wasn’t the meltdown she’d been hoping for.


    Zoey wasn’t giving up. She pushed harder.


    “You’re so much tougher than me, sis. No wonder all those miscarriages didn’t break you.”


    “Oh, sorry-I forgot. You can’t have children anymore at all.”


    Her eyes, full of fake sympathy, dropped to my stomach, but I caught the naked glee behind her concerned expression.


    “Get out of my way,” I hissed, my whole body shaking.


    My lost babies were a wound that would never heal.


    Zoey might as well have poured salt directly into my heart.


    shouldered past her, heading straight for the exit.


    But her next words stopped me cold.


    Riley, aren’t you curious why you miscarried every single pregnancy?”


    One or two miscarriages might be bad luck or idents, but every time? That’s a pattern.”


    My heart lurched as the color drained from my face.


    he was right.


    My body had always been healthy, yet I could never keep a pregnancy.


    terrifying thought suddenly materialized in my mind.