Chapter 1
Chapter 1 In the morgue, I stared down at my grandma’s lifeless body, fresh tears blurring my vision. On my phone screen, a recent text from Bella Reid lingered. It was a video of her clinging to Ethan’s hand while they stared at each other under a sky full of fireworks. [I told Ethan I wanted fireworks, so he planned a whole night of them. He’s always loved me the most!] she’d written, smug as ever. The whole glittery scene felt like a slap. The silence in the hospital was ice-cold, pressing on me like a weight. Yesterday was supposed to be my wedding day. Right before we exchanged rings, Ethan got a call and just… walked out. My grandma, sitting in the front row, was so shocked she started coughing up blood. I begged for help, but all anyone did was laugh at my misery. I called Ethan again and again. No answer. By the time I got my grandma to the hospital, it was too late. She was gone. Ethan left our wedding for Bella. Even through my grief, I arranged her cremation and planned a small funeral. Just as it started, Ethan walked in—with Bella right there beside him. “No wonder my eye’s been twitching the last two days,” Bella said, pretending to look sad. “I guess it was because my hamster died.” Her eyes shimmered, like she was trying to look teary. Ethan stroked her head, all gentle. “Don’t be sad. I’m here.” Then he looked over and noticed me. “Grace, what are you doing here?” he asked, like I had zero reason to be at my own grandma’s funeral. I looked at him, icy. “Today is my grandma’s funeral.” She’d loved Ethan, trusted him. I’d hoped he’d at least show her some respect, maybe a last apology to give her some peace. Ethan scoffed. “You expect me to believe that? Last I heard, the doc said your grandma was in great health—probably had a few years left in her.” Before I could even respond, he added, “Don’t tell me this is some stunt of yours. Bella’s hamster just died, and here you are, taking over the funeral hall? You didn’t really lie about your grandmother’s death just to get my attention, did you?” My face went cold. This was on me—I’d let him get so wrapped up in himself that he actually believed everything I did revolved around him. But now? I was done explaining anything to him. Bella chimed in, all fake sympathy. “Ethan, don’t be mad. I’m sure Grace only did it because she loves you so much and wanted your attention. It wasn’t intentional. I shouldn’t have kept asking for your time—she probably just misunderstood.” She put on this innocent tone, but the dig was clear—she was making me out to be some obsessed, jealous idiot. I locked eyes with her. “Shut up.” Bella’s shoulders trembled, and she let out a little sob. “I’m sorry, Grace. This is all my fault,” she whimpered, all helpless. Ethan glared, pulling her close like he had to shield her from me. “Stop bullying Bella. If anyone needs to shut up, it’s you.” Bella shook her head, all saintly. “I’m fine, Ethan. Let’s just have a funeral for my hamster.” Ethan nodded, signaling to security. “Clear the room. We’re giving her hamster a proper funeral.” I just stared at him, numb. “Ethan Carter, are you insane?” The absurdity hit me hard. He was really about to shut down my grandma’s funeral—for a hamster?
Chapter 2 Bella shot me a mocking smile. “Grace, I talked to this expert, and he said if we hold a funeral for my hamster here, it’ll come back as a human. Isn’t that, like, a good deed?” Ethan gazed at her adoringly. “You’re always so thoughtful. Don’t worry; your hamster will feel it.” Then Bella’s eyes landed on the urn in my hands. “That white urn is beautiful. It’d be perfect for my hamster’s ashes.” I tightened my grip on my grandma’s urn, glaring at them. “If you even think about touching her ashes, I swear, I’ll fight you both.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “Your grandma adored you, and here you are cursing her with this pathetic fake funeral. Don’t you feel any shame?” My hands shook as I stared him down. “My grandma died yesterday—at the wedding. If you don’t believe me, go ask the hospital!” Bella’s tone turned sickly sweet. “Grace, we both know those ashes aren’t real. But my hamster’s death is real. Can’t you just give me the urn?” Ethan looked at me, annoyed. “I’ve got a hamster funeral to plan and no time for this drama. Hand over the urn.” I went ice-cold. “Over my dead body.” Ethan finally snapped, signaling to his bodyguards. They tore the urn from my arms, ignoring my desperate struggle to hold on. Two more bodyguards pinned me down as I fought, screaming, “Give it back! Give me my grandma’s ashes!” It was no use. I watched, horrified, as one bodyguard dumped the ashes onto the floor like they were nothing. My whole body shook with rage. All I wanted was to grab something sharp and end Ethan right there. Bella stepped forward, grinding her heel into the ashes. “Grace, on behalf of my hamster, thank you.” Seeing her crush my grandma’s ashes under her heel sent me over the edge. I let out a raw scream, “Get away, Bella!” With everything I had, I broke free from the bodyguards, lunging at Bella and shoving her down. Dropping to my knees, I frantically tried to gather up my grandma’s ashes, hands trembling as I whispered, “Grandma, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t protect you.” Bella, still on the ground, touched her forehead and shrieked when she saw blood on her fingers. “Ethan, I’m bleeding so much!” Ethan’s face changed instantly at the sight. “Grace, give Bella a blood transfusion—now!” The words “blood transfusion” jolted through me, and I wrapped my arms around my stomach. “I can’t. I’m pregnant.” In the past, they’d treated me like Bella’s personal blood bank. But this time, things were different. Ethan’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant?” Desperate to make him believe me, I pulled my medical report from my bag and handed it to him. “I’m really pregnant. I can’t give blood.” I’d already lost my grandma—I wasn’t risking my child, too. Bella’s voice trembled, eyes filling with tears. “Grace, I know you’ve always hated me and don’t want to help, but faking a pregnancy report just to get out of it? Just let me die if that’s how you feel.” Her tear-streaked, pitiful look and the blood on her forehead seemed to hit Ethan hard. He looked at me with cold, accusing eyes. “I thought you were kind and gentle. I never knew how low you’d go. Faking a pregnancy report? I was so wrong about you. You will give Bella that transfusion!”
Chapter 3 My face went pale as I staggered back, then tried to bolt for the door. But before I even got close, Ethan’s bodyguards grabbed me, ignoring my struggles as they shoved me into the car and sped off to the hospital. I shoved my pregnancy report at the doctor, my voice shaky. “Look, this is from your hospital! Tell him I’m actually pregnant. A transfusion could hurt my baby.” The doctor glanced at the report, then shot a quick look at Bella. “This isn’t from our hospital. It’s fake.” I felt a chill. Bella must’ve already paid him off. I turned to Ethan, pleading. “He’s lying! Take me somewhere else. You’ll see—I really am pregnant!” But Bella slumped against Ethan, her voice all weak and pitiful. “Ethan, I feel horrible… Am I going to die?” Ethan’s face tightened with worry as he held her. “No, Bella, I’m not letting that happen.” He looked at the bodyguards. “Hold her down.” I fought back, screaming, “Let me go! Ethan, you’re gonna kill my baby! You’re a monster!” Ethan just glared, his voice ice-cold. “Quit the act and give Bella the transfusion.” Helpless, I could only watch as the needle pierced my arm, draining my blood. By the time they finished, I was dizzy, barely standing. I heard the doctor mutter, “Mr. Carter, the blood isn’t enough.” Ethan didn’t even flinch. “Then take more.” My vision blurred with rage, and I could feel myself slipping. “Ethan Carter, I hate you!” He actually looked stunned by the bite in my words. “Grace, is this all because I left early on our wedding day? Once Bella’s better, I’ll take you and your grandmother on a trip overseas—will that make you happy?” I shut my eyes, feeling myself fade as I sensed my child slipping away, too. I drifted into a long, broken dream. I dreamed about the first time I met Ethan. I’d accidentally hit his car with my scooter, and instead of freaking out about the damage, he took me to the hospital to make sure I was okay. While I was there, he visited every day, always bringing lilies. When he finally confessed his feelings, I was hesitant—our worlds were nothing alike. But he stayed, patient and attentive. When I got sick, he cooked for me. On my birthday, he drove eight hours just to surprise me. He’d shown me a warmth I’d never known before, and I fell hard, daring to believe I could actually be loved. Ethan had been the light in my otherwise empty life. Then one day, he rushed me to the hospital, saying some girl needed a blood transfusion. She had hemophilia and the same rare blood type—only I could help. “Bella saved my life once. I owe her,” he said. As his fiancée, I figured his debt was mine too, so I agreed, thinking a little blood wouldn’t hurt. But later, when I found Bella’s photo tucked in his wallet, I realized she wasn’t just some random girl—they’d had a serious thing. She’d moved abroad after graduation, and eventually, distance had split them up. That was when it hit me: he’d never really let her go. When I confronted him, he swore I was the one he loved and even proposed. And I’d been dumb enough to believe it, clinging to those moments he’d once made me feel so loved. But that stupid faith had cost me my grandma’s life… and now, my unborn child. I hated Ethan for it—and I hated myself, too. When I finally woke up, Bella was there, sitting next to my hospital bed, her face twisted in a smug smile. “Pathetic,” she sneered. “Ethan only went for you because you have my blood type. He needed you as my personal blood bank. You think he’d even look at you otherwise?” Her words sank in, and my mind spun. Every sweet gesture, every touch—it was all fake. I was just his convenient donor. Bella pulled out a blood bag, turning it like it was something precious. “Isn’t the color beautiful? This is your latest donation to me.” Then, grinning, she dumped it straight into the trash. “Oh, and I don’t have hemophilia. I never needed your blood. I’ve trashed every bag you’ve given. You’re such a fool.” Fury exploded through me. I lunged at her, hands around her throat. “Bella Reid, you’re gonna burn in hell for this!” “What the hell are you doing?” Ethan’s voice sliced through the room as he stormed in, yanking me off her. Weak from the miscarriage, I stumbled back from his shove, crashing into the table. Pain shot through me, and tears blurred my vision. Forcing myself to stand, I pointed at Bella. “She doesn’t have hemophilia! She’s been lying to you and tossing out my blood—check the trash if you don’t believe me!” “Enough, Grace,” he snapped, ice-cold and dismissive. “I can’t believe you’d stoop this low, accusing Bella like that.” I froze, then let out a bitter laugh. He didn’t even bother to look in the trash. He just believed her, no questions asked. His blind loyalty hit like ice, hollowing me out. Once, he’d been my whole world. Now, I saw it for what it was—a cruel, empty joke. “Ethan,” I said quietly, “let’s get a divorce.”