Chapter 1

My husband, Liam, was the man I literally gave a piece of myself to, a kidney donated to save his life. I loved him with a devotion that ran deeper than blood. But this morning, I discovered the heart beating inside him was now completely unfaithful, and the life I saved had been used to destroy mine.

For years, Liam, the empire-builder, was my perfect husband, still making my favorite breakfast.

Then his phone buzzed: a text from "Ava Sinclair" – *Can't wait for tonight.* His panicked reaction and cold, fake kiss shattered everything.

His betrayal quickly unraveled: late nights, whispered calls, a strange perfume. On our anniversary, he gave Ava the real "Star" necklace, sending me a fake. A hidden photo and ultrasound confirmed it: Liam with Ava and "our baby." He then abandoned me for Ava. Overhearing Liam call me "the brand" and "barren" while I carried his child, I made the agonizing choice to terminate my pregnancy.

Hollowed but resolute, I burned with injustice. I had sacrificed a life because of his lies; the man I saved viewed me as a broken asset.

When Liam called, oblivious, promising a "real surprise" at his tower, my voice was steel. I would go, not to celebrate, but to walk into the fire and finally be free.

Chapter 1

Maya POV

I traced the scar on my side, running my fingers over the jagged line where I had carved a piece of myself out to keep Liam Goldstein alive.

It was a cruel irony to realize this morning that the heart beating inside him no longer belonged to me.

Four years ago, I lay on an operating table, willing to die so he could live.

Today, I watched him sleep, the morning light catching the sharp angle of his jaw, and I felt nothing but a terrifying, hollow ache where my trust used to be.

He stirred, his eyelashes fluttering against his cheek.

When his eyes opened, they were that familiar, warm hazel that once made my knees weak.

"Morning, beautiful," he rasped, his voice thick with sleep.

He pulled me close, burying his face in my neck.

"I dreamt of you," he murmured against my skin, his breath warm. "I'm making pancakes. Blueberry. Your favorite."

He was perfect.

He was the devoted husband the world saw, the man who built a business empire but still made time to cook breakfast for his wife.

I almost let myself believe it. I almost let the warmth of his body melt the ice forming in my chest.

He rolled out of bed, stretching his arms overhead, his shirt riding up to reveal the matching scar on his abdomen.

My kidney. His life.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

The screen lit up.

It wasn't a work email. It wasn't a calendar notification.

It was a message from Ava Sinclair.

*Can't wait for tonight. The anticipation is killing me.*

My breath hitched.

Liam froze. He didn't know I was looking.

He snatched the phone-a sharp, panicked jerk that betrayed his composure-and flipped it face down.

He turned to me, a smile plastered on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Just a client," he said. "They have zero boundaries."

"A client," I repeated. My voice sounded flat, foreign to my own ears.

"Yeah. Boring contract stuff." He kissed my forehead, but his lips felt cold. "Go get ready. Tonight is our night. Our anniversary."

I watched him walk into the bathroom.

I didn't move.

I sat there, replaying the last few months in my head.

The late nights at the office.

The way he took his phone into the shower.

The scent of perfume that wasn't mine, clinging to his shirts when he did the laundry before I could touch it.

I wasn't paranoid. I was observant. And I was terrified.

Later that morning, Liam kissed me goodbye.

"I have a surprise for you tonight," he said, his hand on the doorknob. "A necklace. A 'Star' for my only star. It's going to be perfect."

I forced a smile. "I can't wait."

As soon as the door clicked shut, my smile vanished.

I spent the afternoon pacing the living room, trying to convince myself I was crazy.

Maybe Ava Sinclair was a client. Maybe she was just unprofessional.

Then the doorbell rang.

A courier stood there with a plain brown box. No return address.

I signed for it, my hands trembling.

I took it to the kitchen island and sliced the tape.

Inside was a velvet jewelry box.

I opened it.

A necklace glittered under the kitchen lights. It was a star pendant, encrusted with diamonds.

But something was wrong.

The metal felt light. Flimsy.

I turned it over. The clasp was rusted.

It was a fake. A high-quality replica of the design Liam had left on his laptop screen weeks ago.

Under the velvet cushion, there was a polaroid photo.

My stomach dropped to the floor.

It was a selfie. Ava Sinclair, pouting at the camera.

In the background, blurred but unmistakable, was Liam.

He was smiling. A genuine, ear-to-ear smile I hadn't seen in months.

He was fastening a necklace around her neck.

The real Star necklace.

I couldn't breathe. The air in the kitchen felt too thin.

There was a note stuck to the back of the photo.

*Liam's Star belongs to Ava. Our baby, Maya.*

And underneath that, a grainy, black and white ultrasound picture.

I gripped the counter, my knuckles turning white.

The room spun.

I remembered the underground auction years ago where Liam spent a fortune to buy me a first edition of *Jane Eyre* simply because he said he loved my mind.

That man didn't exist anymore.

My phone pinged.

A notification from Instagram.

Ava Sinclair had just posted.

The photo was of her and Liam, their faces close, intimate.

Caption: *Romantic night with my love. Thank you for my Star.*

I felt bile rise in my throat. The smell of cheap perfume seemed to fill the room, choking me.

I looked at the time. 6:00 PM.

The "Romantic Night" he promised me.

I walked into the bedroom.

His suit jacket was draped over the chair. He must have changed before leaving.

I reached into the pocket.

My fingers brushed against paper.

A movie ticket stub. Dated for tonight. Two adults.

I looked at the inside of the jacket.

I ran my thumb over the embroidery. *L & M*.

I had stitched that myself. It took me three hours.

I laughed. It was a dry, broken sound, like stepping on dead leaves.

My phone rang.

It was Liam.

I stared at the screen for a long moment before answering.

"Hey, baby," he said. He sounded out of breath. "I'm on my way. Traffic is a nightmare, but I'll be there soon. I have your surprise."

"Take your time," I said. My voice was steady. It frightened me how steady it was.

"I love you, Maya."

"Drive safe."

I hung up.

I didn't cry. I didn't scream. The devastation was too absolute for noise.

I walked to the window. The city lights were blurring together.

I was alone in this house. I was alone in this marriage.

I picked up my phone again and dialed a number I hadn't called in weeks.

"Mom," I said. "I need your help."