Chapter 2

I processed what they'd just told me when I was wheeled out of the operating room. "Ms. Wilkins, I'm sorry. We did everything we could, but we could only save you. Please accept our condolences for your child." The blinding surgical lights left me dazed and disoriented. What was she saying? My baby had been six months along. She had been perfectly healthy, kicking actively inside me. We were supposed to meet soon. I was shocked when I touched my stomach. It was flat now. A hollow space where life had been. I came back to my senses and felt suffocated. I tried to cry out, but my voice seemed stuck in my throat. "Don't worry. No one will ever come before you while I'm here." My nails dug into my palms as I stared at the two in front of me. Julian wrapped one arm around Tiffany while the other gently brushed the hair away from her face. The tenderness and love in his eyes made me fume. He's my husband. My husband. Even the nurse, Kelly Reed, who was pushing my stretcher, came to a stop. "Dr. Burton is so sweet to his wife. I've never seen him this gentle with anyone else." I lifted my head and glared at her. She seemed startled. Maybe she recalled that I had just lost my baby and was alone through it all. Julian looked up, and our gaze met. For a brief moment, I saw the guilt in his eyes. Then, he turned away, pulling Tiffany close. He walked briskly like he was afraid of being caught. I felt like laughing as I watched him flee so clumsily, so desperately. So I did. I laughed and laughed. And then, the tears came. Kelly let out a startled gasp. "Hey! You just got out of surgery. Please don't get too worked up, or your stitches may tear." Unfortunately, the tears wouldn't stop. Kelly let out a sigh and handed me a tissue. Without another word, she quietly began pushing my stretcher back to the room. "Give me your phone. I'm calling your husband. His wife just went through something this serious, and he doesn't even show up? What kind of man does that?" Before I could respond, Kelly took the phone from my hand and tapped the contact labeled "Husband". The dial tone rang for a long time, but no one picked up. Kelly glanced at me uneasily. She tried again, and the call connected this time. She quickly put the phone on speaker. Julian said in frustration, "Chloe, can you stop being so jealous over every little thing? Tiffany has a heart condition. She would die without the bag of blood."