My mom had no clue how much I'd endured for Greyson.

To spare her worry, I'd always reassured her. "I'm happy with Greyson. He loves me. I'm not struggling, and I'm not the kind to settle for an unhappy marriage either."

She trusted me. Now, faced with the hard reality, she was devastated.

"What kind of husband are you?" she shouted. "Shannon has been in the ICU for a month. You don't care, and you think she's being dramatic?"

I'd never heard her so fierce. She was always gentle, almost timid. But for me, she was ready to take on anyone.

"You ingrate!" she snapped. "You don't deserve my daughter."

Greyson paused at her outburst, then lashed back. "Stop making things up. Shannon in the ICU? No way. She acted out alone in the past, and now she has roped you into her act. Come on!"

I saw disbelief in his eyes, but more than that, I saw contempt and irritation. It hit me how callous he could be.

Holly's voice cracked with fury. "Shannon will never forgive you, not even in death! And you will pay for this! I'll make sure of it!"

Greyson gripped the phone, his veins bulging. "Shut up! Shannon's not dead. Tell her to come home. If she wants to die, she can divorce me first."