Chapter 3

I woke up to Mark' s face.

He looked haggard, his eyes red-rimmed. He was playing the part well.

"Sarah, oh, Sarah," he whispered, his voice thick with fake emotion.

He stroked my hair. His touch felt like fire.

"They did everything they could, for both of you."

He paused, letting out a shaky breath. "Leo... he fought hard, but his injuries were too severe."

Lies. All lies.

"And you, my love," he continued, his gaze full of false sympathy. "You were so brave. But the damage... they had to... they had to perform a hysterectomy. I'm so sorry, Sarah. You won't be able to have more children."

He squeezed my hand, his thumb rubbing circles.

I felt nothing but a cold, hollow ache where my womb used to be.

My hand drifted to my stomach. Flat. Empty.

Violated.

I looked at him, my voice a dry rasp. "Leo?"

Just his name. A test.

Mark' s face crumpled. "He's gone, Sarah. Our boy is gone. It' s my fault. I should have protected you both better."

More lies. He wasn't even a good actor up close.

I turned my head away, staring at the blank wall.

Days later, back in our sterile, silent house, I saw Mark hunched over his desk, looking at designs on his laptop.

An expensive watch. Intricate, custom-made.

I' d seen him looking at it before, weeks ago. I' d thought... I' d hoped it was for Leo' s sixth birthday, coming up soon.

A stupid, hopeful thought.

"What are you looking at?" I asked, my voice flat.

He minimized the window quickly. "Oh, nothing. Just work."

"The watch," I pressed. "It looks like the one you were designing. For Leo's birthday?"

A shadow crossed his face. "No. It's... for a client's son. A special order."

He dismissed it, dismissed Leo, so easily.

"It' s very expensive. That client must be important."

"He is," Mark said, not meeting my eyes. "Very important."

The casual cruelty of his words. Leo was not important enough for such a gift, not even important enough to live.

My heart, already shattered, seemed to crack further.