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."

Leah crashed in the guest room for the next few days, then made a beeline for the atelier every morning.

Maestro Vezzaro didn't mess around when it came to talent. He wanted her latest sculpture on his desk, no excuses. Time? Ticking. Pressure? Through the roof.

But something was off. She'd been dragging—like, eyes heavy, arms dead weight. Once, she literally passed out mid-sculpt. Not great.

A chill crawled up her spine.

Outside the hospital, Leah stared at the paper. The numbers were a joke. Her legs gave out, and she dropped into a chair.

No freaking way.

Back when she and Ian first got married, having a baby was the dream. They'd tried everything. Nothing worked.

Eventually, Ian told her to stop stressing and just let it happen naturally.

She'd finally made peace with never. But now...

Her hand drifted to her stomach. Eyes red, heart pounding.

'Really, baby? Now?'

Her phone buzzed.

"Leah! Come quick! We've got good news!"

***

When Leah pulled up to Ian's parents' house and stepped out of the car, she barely had time to speak before getting yanked inside.

Everyone looked like they'd just won the lottery.

"Leah! Cecilia's pregnant!"

Her head snapped toward the couch. Excuse me—what?

Cecilia actually blushed. "Jacquelin, don't." All fake modesty. "It's only been a few days. I haven't even seen a doctor yet."

Jacquelin—Ian's mom—waved it off. "Oh, please. I've had two kids. I know the signs."

Cecilia dipped her head, all shy smiles, one hand resting gently on her stomach.

"Leah," Jacquelin said, beaming, "now that Cecilia's expecting, you'll have to take good care of her. After all, this is also..."

Yeah. No need to finish that sentence. This wasn't just Cecilia's baby—it was Ian's too.

Ian jumped in, quick. "Mom, you know Leah. Of course she'll take care of Cecilia."

"Of course!"

The whole room buzzed with excitement. No one even looked her way.

Leah knew she couldn't dip just yet, so she slipped upstairs.

She crashed for maybe twenty minutes before nausea slammed her. She barely made it to the bathroom.

"Leah, are you okay?"

She spun. Cecilia stood in the doorway—zero clue how long she'd been watching.

Leah kept it cool. "Nothing."

"Leah, I know you blame me, but I didn't want this either. It was Andrew's parents who pushed for it," she said, dragging a hand over her stomach. "And Ian agreed too."

Leah didn't flinch. Just rinsed, wiped, and brushed past her. "I know."

But as they passed, Cecilia grabbed her wrist. Her face twisted.

"This child is my only one. No one's stealing his spotlight."

Leah blinked. Then spotted the paper in Cecilia's hand.

Her report.

Panic exploded in her chest. She yanked her arm back, instantly covering her stomach.

"What are you trying to do?"

Cecilia's eyes locked on her hands. Her whole expression shifted—sharp, dangerous.

"You shouldn't be pregnant. Not now. I'm not letting anyone steal the love meant for Ian's and my baby."

Leah's pulse spiked. She turned and bolted.

"Ian! Ian!"

Cecilia came after her. "Shut up! I told them I was craving dried fruit, so they all ran off to get it. Right now, I'm the star. Me!"

Leah spun, breath ragged, keeping her distance. "I'm not fighting you. I'll leave. Keep Ian. Keep the Fillions. I'm done."

Cecilia's smile curled—feral. "You'll leave? That's not enough."