But just then, a woman's panicked cry came through the phone.

"Ivan! Cooper just threw up—"

"Let me see!" Ivan's voice turned urgent. Then, hurried: "Dad, you really need to stop coddling Stella. Something's come up on my end. I have to go. I'll talk to her tonight, I promise."

Click.

The dial tone echoed down the corridor. After a long silence, my father ground his teeth. "Do the surgery. Her husband might as well be dead. Whatever happens, I'll take responsibility. Give me the consent form—I'll sign it."

The anesthetic slid cold into my veins. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, but my body felt lighter—weightless, almost—as if I were dissolving into nothing.

When I opened my eyes again, there was a moment of hollow confusion. My hand drifted to my lower abdomen. An hour ago, there had been a tiny life here, connected to me by blood and bone.

Now there was nothing.

"Stella."

My mother was watching me, her face creased with worry. I managed a weak smile. "Mom, I'm fine."

I later learned I'd been unconscious for two days and a night.

I reached for my phone. The call log was empty. The only activity was in my message thread with Ivan—a few cold texts, all sent that morning.

[Remember to go to the courthouse in three days. Divorce.]

[Still not answering me? You think ignoring this will make it go away? Stella, this divorce is happening whether you like it or not.]

[Sometimes I really wish Glenda and Cooper were my real family. Cooper is so well-behaved. I can't even imagine what kind of child our son would turn into with you raising him.]

I stared at that last message for a long time. Then, slowly, I typed: [Okay.]

I hit send. Without a second of hesitation, I deleted him from my contacts.

The fluorescent lights in the hospital were blinding. Clutching the miscarriage report, I walked alone down the corridor to collect what remained of my child.

The maternity ward was full of couples. Every expectant mother glowed with joy, their partners hovering close.

I held the small box in both hands. My heart felt as though it had been sealed inside along with that tiny body.

"Ivan, I really owe you this time." A sugary-sweet voice drifted toward me. I looked up—and locked eyes with them.

Ivan was holding Cooper's hand. Glenda clung to his arm.

Standing together, they looked exactly like a real family.

Ivan's gaze swept over me. His expression shifted the instant it landed on my flat stomach.

He strode toward me, irritation written across his face. "What are you doing here?"

Glenda smiled. "Are you here looking for Ivan? Goodness, Stella, you really do keep him on a tight leash. I just wasn't feeling well, so I asked him to come with me to the hospital. That's all."

Ivan's jaw tightened. "Is it really necessary to monitor my every move? You're pregnant—you shouldn't be running around hospitals for no reason. Don't you know that's bad for the baby?"

His lip curled. "That child must have the worst luck in eight lifetimes, ending up in your womb."

"Didn't I tell you? Our child is perfectly healthy—brilliant, even. Got into a top university at sixteen."

Right. In his version of things, in our past life, we'd had a smart, healthy child.

So how had it come to this?

I tightened my arms around the small box without thinking.

I'd once heard that children who die before their time become trapped in the cycle of reincarnation, never finding release. So I'd had a beautiful wooden box custom-made, carved with lotus blossoms, and arranged for a monk to chant sutras for forty-nine days.

I hoped he could have a next life. I hoped he'd find parents who would love him.

"Daddy."

A small, shrill voice cut through my thoughts. Cooper was staring at the box in my arms. His hand shot out to grab it. "I want that box!"

"Don't touch it!"

I slapped his hand away—hard—and clutched the box to my chest.

The sharp crack echoed through the corridor. Cooper froze for a split second, then burst into wailing sobs.

A flash of shock crossed Ivan's face, but he immediately hardened his expression. "What do you think you're doing!"

"He's just a child! Why are you stooping to his level—putting your hands on him!"

I clutched the box to my chest and glared at Ivan, my eyes burning. "Ivan Vance, I hate you. I hate you!"

Each word dropped from my mouth like a stone. The taste of blood coated my tongue. He seemed stunned—never once had I, who'd always been obedient, spoken to him like this. His brow furrowed instantly. "Stella, you're being completely unreasonable."

With that, he pulled something from inside his jacket. "I'll trade you this for that worthless box. Happy now?"

It was an exquisite longevity lock pendant—a traditional charm meant to protect a child.

I'd mentioned it to him once, that I wanted to buy one for the baby. He'd only told me to focus on resting and stop worrying about nonsense.

"Isn't this what you've always wanted to give the baby? Here, take it—"

Before he could finish, Cooper cut in with a shriek. "Daddy, that's mine! You had it custom-made for me!"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ivan's face, but he composed himself quickly. "Daddy will pick out something even better for you later."

"No!! You can't give away Cooper's things!"

Cooper charged at me and shoved me with all his strength. I wasn't braced for it. My body slammed into the floor, and the box flew from my hands.

"Give it back!"

My pupils contracted to pinpoints. Helpless, I watched Cooper snatch the box and sprint to the end of the corridor. He hurled it into the garbage disposal chute with everything he had.

In that moment, something inside me snapped. I lunged after it—but Ivan seized me, his grip like iron around my arms.

"Enough! It's just a box! Were you going to hit Cooper? That piece of junk belongs in the trash! Now apologize to Cooper and Glenda!"

The commotion drew hospital staff. My attending physician rushed over.

Ivan spotted her and immediately latched onto a new weapon. "Your doctor's here. Are you really going to keep embarrassing yourself?"

"Stella, let me make this clear. I am never coming to another prenatal appointment with you."

"And that's not all. Once you deliver this baby, the child is mine. You will never see him again."

The doctor froze. The words left her mouth before she could stop them. "Prenatal appointments? But Ms. Abbott already had a miscarriage..."