When Ian brought Cecilia home that night, he hesitated. Leah was eating alone.

She used to wait up for him, no matter how late. He'd told her not to—she never listened.

Now? Watching her eat solo like it was nothing, something twisted in his chest. He opened his mouth to say something, but Cecilia tugged his arm.

"Ian, should we tell Leah about tomorrow's plans?"

He turned to her. "Doctor said she's too tense lately—it might mess with the IVF. She needs to chill. She likes diving, so we're going."

Leah stood up, headed upstairs. "Go ahead."

She wasn't about to play along with their charade.

Ian caught up before she could shut the door, yanking her hand hard. "Leah, I know you hate the IVF thing, but Cecilia's innocent! Why are you taking it out on her?"

She dropped her gaze. The cut on her finger split open under his grip, bleeding through the bandage.

All she'd said was no—and he was already jumping to defend the woman he loved.

"Ian, she's your sister-in-law. Your brother's wife."

That landed like a slap. He flinched, then snapped, shaking her off. "Leah, you're disgusting! I told you—it's just IVF! Nothing happened!

"My parents want Andrew to have a kid! I can't let them die heartbroken, or let him be forgotten! Why can't you get that, just once?"

Leah didn't answer. Just looked at him, quiet, while he tried to convince himself.

Finally, he turned away, guilt flickering in his eyes as he walked out.

Leah unwrapped the gauze. Blood pooled up again.

Once, even a paper cut on her hand used to freak him out. Now? He didn't even notice this one.

What Cecilia really was to him—sister-in-law or something else—only he knew.

***

The next morning, Ian ignored Leah's protests and shoved her into the car. He and Cecilia took the front seats, leaving her stuck in the back.

He used to hate talking while driving—said it wasn't safe.

Now he and Cecilia were cracking up the whole ride.

Off the coast, they changed into wetsuits and dove in.

Half an hour later, Cecilia popped up. "Leah, you coming in?"

She shook her head. "I can't swim."

"Oh, really—"

Cecilia suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Come on! Don't be lame!"

Next thing Leah knew, she was yanked straight into the water.

Leah gasped, panic hitting hard as she reached out—Cecilia was already gone.

Cold seawater shot up her nose, filled her mouth. Her body sank fast, out of control.

"Help! Ian! Help!"

She thrashed, choking, until a figure sliced through the waves—Ian, eyes wide. "Leah, don't freak out! I'm coming!"

Then a scream cut in behind him.

"Ian! My leg—cramp! I can't move!"

He froze.

Cecilia was flailing, halfway under.

Through the blur, Leah saw Ian glance at her—just once—then turn and swim straight for Cecilia.

His back vanished into the waves.

Her arms dropped. Whatever strength she had left drained out.

As she sank, Leah closed her eyes, a faint, bitter smile tugging at her lips.

What had she even been hoping for?

Leah jolted awake, gasping.

The dream still clung—waves crashing in, pulling her under. No way out. She barely caught her breath before someone bolted over.

"Leah, are you okay? You scared me to death!"

Ian.

Before she could say a word, he kept rambling. "Don't blame Cecilia, okay? She just wanted you to try diving. She didn't know you'd freak out. She got a cramp and almost drowned too. So... let's just call it even."

Seriously? That was the first thing out of his mouth?

Her chest tightened. She stared at him. "Ian, I almost died. Do you even hear yourself?"

How could he say something like this?

Ian frowned. "Why are you being so dramatic? You didn't die, did you? Cecilia almost drowned too—doesn't that even things out?

"What, you want her dead just to feel better? You were never this unreasonable, Leah. Quit making a big deal out of nothing."

A big deal out of nothing...

Because unless she died, it didn't count.

And if she had? He'd probably still say the same thing.

She laughed under her breath and turned away. "I want to rest."

"Fine. Figure it out yourself." He walked out without a glance.

He didn't come back for two days.

When the nurse came in to swap her IV, she smiled. "The couple next door is so cute. Husband hasn't left her side since the near-drowning. Makes me wanna fall in love too."

Leah gripped the IV stand and stepped into the hallway.

Yep. There he was. Ian. Sitting by Cecilia's bed, slicing apples and feeding her like some budget prince charming.

She thought she could handle this. Nope. Her chest twisted hard.

She turned to leave—froze.

Cecilia was holding something.

Leah stormed in, yanking it from her hands. "This is my competition piece! Where did you get this?!"

Cecilia flinched, curling into Ian like some damsel on cue. "Ian..."

He blinked, then instantly wrapped an arm around her. Of course. "I brought it. She said she liked it, so I let her see it. What's the big deal? You're talented, right? You'll make another. No need to yell and scare her."

"Make another one?" Leah's voice cracked. "I spent four months on this."

Four months. No sleep, skipped meals, even blacked out once. And he—

Ian's expression darkened. "It's just a competition. So what if you skip it? You've already won a bunch. One less won't kill you."

She stared at the ruined carving, vision blurring.

"Ian, what am I to you? Did you ever love me? Even a little? Or was it always her?"

Their voices echoed down the hallway. A few nurses stopped by the door.

Ian jumped up. "What are you even saying? You've completely lost it! Come on, we're going to the doctor. I care about not making a scene—even if you don't."

He reached for her. She jerked back. "Don't touch me!"

The IV ripped out. Blood pooled fast in her hand.

Ian froze. "Leah, you—"

"I'm fine."

Expression blank, she pressed her palm to the bleeding spot, crimson slipping through her fingers. "You two continue what you were doing."

Leah had no clue how long she'd been wandering outside the hospital.

By the time she got home, it was past 3 a.m. She didn't bother with the lights. As her hand brushed the doorknob, she froze.

Sobs. Quiet ones. From inside.

"Ian, this is wrong. It's all my fault. We can't keep doing this!"

Their clothes were already a mess on the bed. Cecilia's face was flushed, breath heavy with booze. "You're his brother. I can't—this isn't right! It was supposed to be IVF. Just IVF!"

She tried to sit up. Ian caught her.

He tensed, went quiet. Then, low and tight— "Cecilia, actually, I—"

Leah stared at the floor outside the door.

He wasn't gonna say it.

Cecilia was his sister-in-law. He was still married.

And none of that seemed to matter.

His voice stayed flat, like he was talking business. "The doctor said IVF works, but natural's faster. We're both still young..." His hand slid to her waist. "Just think of me as Andrew."

Cecilia shivered. "Ian..."

Then came the breathing—slow, heavy, way too familiar.

Leah couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Every sound from that room sliced into her, needle-sharp. By the time it was over, something in her cracked.

She bolted, tore down the stairs, out the door, and collapsed by the roadside—retching until nothing came up.

The tears wouldn't stop.

Memories blurred in. Their wedding day. No parents to walk her down the aisle—just Ian, gripping her hand.

"Leah Labelle, I'll love you for the rest of my life. You'll be the only one. Always."

She'd cried so hard that day. Actually believed him.

Three years later, those vows were trash.

By morning, she wiped her face, caught a cab to the consulate, and applied for her visa.

When she got back, the house looked untouched. Like none of it happened.

And she pretended too. Like she hadn't seen a thing.

But her suitcase was already out. She paused.

Ian walked in, voice all careful. "The doctor said for IVF to work, Cecilia needs to prep her body and take supplements. She's careless, always forgets, so I need to keep an eye on her. I'm just doing what my parents asked. Once she's pregnant, we'll finally have time for us."

Leah almost laughed. He didn't even flinch saying it.

"Okay," she said.

He lit up, pulled her into his arms. "I knew you'd understand. You're the sweetest, most thoughtful wife a guy could ask for."

The scent of another woman's perfume clung to him.

Leah swallowed the nausea, shoved him off, and started packing.

She used to worry moving her stuff would tip him off. Now she had the perfect excuse.

As she zipped her suitcase, Ian hovered. "Why are you taking everything? Cecilia moving in is just temporary. Later—"

She smiled. "If I need something, it'd be annoying to come back for it."