On their third anniversary, Finley had all their friends over to celebrate. Claire walked in to find him on one knee, proposing to his childhood friend, Renee.

"What is going on?" she asked.

He shrugged like it was nothing. "It's just a game of truth or dare."

But it wasn't until he shoved her down the stairs, causing her to miscarry, that she finally woke up.

She'd given him five chances. Now? She was done.

"Finley, it's over. Let's get divorced."

On Claire Carlson and Finley Lloyd's third wedding anniversary, he threw a party with all their friends.

When she showed up, though, she walked straight into a nightmare: Finley on one knee, proposing to his childhood crush.

The private room buzzed with chants: "Say yes, say yes!"

"Kiss her, Finley! Don't pretend we didn't call it. Everyone knows you're still into Renee, even though you're married!" someone hollered.

"Come on, man," another laughed. "If Claire sees this, she's gonna flip."

Renee Slutsky tilted her head down, all fake shy, her voice sweet. "Especially since Claire's pregnant. Stress isn't good for her."

The crowd egged him on harder. "You can't bail now, dude! You lost the dare! Kiss her!"

Finley froze, eyes locked on Renee like he couldn't hear anything else. Slowly, he leaned in.

"WHAT are you doing?" Claire's voice sliced through the noise.

Everyone froze. Every head turned toward the door, where Claire stood.

Someone scrambled to explain. "It's not what it looks like, Claire! Just a stupid game!"

"A game?" Her eyes were like ice. "Finley was about to kiss her, and it's just a game?"

Finley's friends scattered like roaches.

"Uh, I gotta run. See ya!"

"Same, man. Oh, uh... happy anniversary."

As his friends bailed, Finley scowled. "Seriously, Claire? It was just a stupid game of truth or dare. I lost. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

Claire rested a hand on her belly, her disappointment hitting like a punch. She was three months pregnant and had been so excited for tonight—she thought he'd planned something special to celebrate. Instead, this disaster was his big surprise.

"Don't be mad, Claire," Renee piped up. "You must've misunderstood."

She stepped closer, holding out a cup of tea. "Really, it was just a game. Don't listen to what they said about Finley still liking me. That's just them messing around. I'm sorry they upset you."

In case Claire had somehow missed the jab, Renee 'helpfully' repeated it all, like a considerate little reminder.

When Renee moved in even closer, Claire instinctively shielded her belly.

Then Renee let out this dramatic shriek. "Ah! It hurts!"

Claire blinked, confused, as Renee hit the floor, hot tea spilling onto her hand and leaving a red mark.

Finley panicked, rushing to her side like a freaking knight in shining armor. He scooped her up. "Renee! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Don't blame Claire... she didn't mean it."

Claire almost laughed. What a joke. She hadn't even touched her.

But Finley wasn't done. "Claire, do you even know what you're doing? If you're mad at me, fine, but don't take it out on Renee! Think about our child—don't you care about the consequences?"

He said it. He really said it. To defend Renee, he cursed their baby.

Without waiting for an answer, Finley carried Renee out of the room.

Claire followed him downstairs, grabbing his arm. "What are you doing? It's our anniversary, and you're leaving with her? What does that say about us?"

"Let go, Claire! If anything happens to Renee, I'll never forgive you!"

"Anything happens? It's a burn! She fell on her own—I didn't even touch her!" Claire's voice shook with fury.

She hadn't done a thing, yet Finley instantly believed Renee, no questions asked. Same as three years ago. Nothing had changed. His heart had always belonged to Renee.

"Still making excuses? Move!"

With that, Finley shoved her.

Claire lost her footing, stumbling backward. Her balance tipped, and she tumbled down the stairs.

A wave of searing pain hit Claire, ripping a cry from her throat. "Finley, don't go! My stomach—"

He stopped and looked at her, his expression cold and unfeeling. "I don't have time for this. Do you even get what it means if Renee's hand scars? She's a celebrity. Stop being so selfish."

He walked off with Renee, never looking back.

Claire watched him go, despair crushing her. The pain spiked, tearing through her.

She turned to people nearby. "Help me... someone, please help my baby—"

A hot rush of liquid spilled down her legs, and the metallic tang of blood hit her nose. She looked down—bright red everywhere.

"No..." Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face, sheer terror clawing at her heart.

Her baby. She couldn't lose her baby.

"Miss, are you okay? OMG, someone call 911!" A stranger spotted Claire in the pool of blood and grabbed their phone.

By the time she was in the ambulance, the pain was unbearable, her vision swimming. Still, she held on, begging the paramedic.

"Please save my baby. Save my baby. It's only three months... please."

"Don't worry, ma'am. We'll do everything we can," the paramedic reassured her, speaking gently, careful not to cause her more distress. "Do you want us to call someone for you?"

When the call went through, it wasn't Finley who picked up.

"Hello? What is it?" Renee's voice came through.

"Who is this? I need to speak to Claire Carlson's husband immediately. She's hemorrhaging and on the way to the hospital—this is life and death!"

Finley had already dropped Renee off at a hospital. His phone sat forgotten in her bag while he went to pay the bills.

Renee sneered. "Claire's so dramatic. She thinks pulling the baby card will bring Finley back? If I hadn't left three years ago, I'd already be Mrs. Lloyd. He's always loved me. What does she even have on me?"

"Miss, I don't care about your drama. Get her husband now—a baby's life is on the line!"

Claire, barely conscious, caught Renee's voice from the loudspeaker. Her plea was weak, trembling. "Renee, I'm not competing with you. Please, tell Finley to come. I'm losing my baby..."

"I don't buy it. But fine—let's see who matters more: me or your baby."

Claire kept begging, her voice cracking, but Renee turned to Finley. "It's Claire. She says the baby's in trouble and wants you to go back."

Finley didn't hesitate. "Ignore her. She's lying again. Your hand's more important. The doctor will be here soon—don't worry."

His words hit Claire like a death blow, tearing her heart apart. Her vision blurred with tears, and the world slipped away.

The paramedic tried to speak, but Finley hung up. When he called back, the phone was off.

"This is insane!" the paramedic muttered, gripping Claire's hand. "Stay with me—we'll do everything we can!"

But the pain said it all. She knew her baby was gone.

When Claire woke, the antiseptic stung her nose, burning her eyes. The sterile air felt suffocating.

The doctor approached with a sympathetic look. "You're still young. You'll have other children."

Claire stared at the ceiling, her hand drifting to her now-flat stomach. Tears streamed silently.

No one else would ever understand. The Lloyds had pressured her to get pregnant, overjoyed when she finally did. But now? The baby was gone.

Their father killed them.

She doubted the Lloyd family would care about her anymore.

"Where's the baby's father? I called him to come take care of you," the doctor asked.

Claire blinked, her voice weak. "The baby doesn't have a father."

The doctor frowned. "That can't be right. You're married, aren't you? But I've never seen your husband at any of your checkups. And now, with something this serious? Nothing?"

Claire froze. It hit her: every single prenatal appointment, she'd been alone.

When she first told Finley she was pregnant, he acted thrilled. Promised he'd come to the first ultrasound. But then Renee showed up.

From that moment, it was like Claire didn't exist. Every time she mentioned a checkup, he dodged her, always too busy. She knew where he really was—spending time with Renee.

She stayed quiet for the baby's sake. But now? The baby was gone. So was her reason to keep enduring this.

She was done. Seven years of chasing him, and she had nothing left.

"If no one's here to handle this, you'll need to sort out the payment," the doctor said, handing her a form.

Claire pushed the blanket aside, forcing herself out of bed.

And then she saw them.

Finley. And Renee.

He was hovering over her, his arm steadying her. When he saw Claire, he stepped in front of Renee, protective.

"You followed us here?" Finley snapped. "Renee's hand is already hurt—what more do you want?"

His words hit like ice.

"Don't talk to Claire like that," Renee murmured, leaning against him. "I'm sure she's just here to apologize." She smiled faintly at Claire. "It's okay. I'm not blaming you."

"If you're here to apologize," Finley said, "go get Renee something to eat. Her hand's injured, and she needs to rest."

Claire glanced at Renee's hand. Barely red. Seriously? Meanwhile, she'd just lost her baby, and no one cared.

Her heart felt ache, but she forced a brittle smile, even as her vision blurred.

Words caught in her throat, but Finley noticed something off. He frowned, his tone shifting. "What now? All I'm asking is for you to apologize and get Renee some food. Is that really so hard?"

"No," Claire said, forcing a smile. "It's not too much."

What was there to fight about? Losing the baby had made everything else feel... irrelevant.

"Good." Finley nodded. "Now go home and wait for me. Once Renee's hand heals, I'll come back to you."

The words hit like déjà vu. She'd heard them before—so many times.

The day Renee came back, Claire had scheduled a prenatal appointment. Finley said he was busy, told her to go alone.

She waited at the hospital all day, but he never showed. Instead, she saw him on the news that evening, standing at the airport with a bouquet of yellow roses, grinning as he welcomed Renee home.

A few days later, Claire came down with a fever. Because of the baby, she couldn't take any medication, so she spent the night curled up, sweating through the pain. Finley? He was off on a film set with Renee.

She'd called him, desperate, telling him she felt awful. His response? The same as always. "Wait for me. I'll be back soon."

He didn't come back until the fever had already broken.

It was always like that. Broken promises, over and over, until all the letdowns blurred together.

After one brutal fight, he swore he'd change. Promised he wouldn't leave her for Renee again.

She'd given him five chances.

This was the fifth.

"Renee hasn't eaten yet. If you're not going to get her something, I'll take her myself. Just head home," Finley said, cutting into Claire's thoughts.

"Okay." She turned to leave without another word..

But Finley's gaze snagged on the paper in her hand, his eyes narrowing. "What's that you're holding?"