Chapter 2

I pulled my wedding ring off without a word and laid it on top of the table. The gesture spoke volumes. I was done fulfilling the vows I had made at the altar.

God knows how fiercely I fought to hold on to him and to save what we had. I gave him every ounce of my love and every chance I could. It wasn't enough to keep us together, but I can walk away with peace in my heart, knowing I never stopped fighting for him until there was nothing left to give.

"Just remember, Grey—karma has a funny way of coming back around. Your father left your mother for a younger woman. Now you're leaving me for an old flame. I wonder..." I glanced over my shoulder, meeting his stormy gaze one last time. "Who will Natalia leave you for?"

Without waiting for his response, I walked out, closing the door behind me with quiet finality.

I marched to the parking area where my car waited, opened the door, and slipped into the driver's seat.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw Grey burst out of the restaurant and head toward my car. His tall figure moved swiftly, almost running. For a moment, my heart leaped traitorously in my chest.

But I knew better now. He wasn't chasing after me because he loved me or wanted to salvage our marriage. He was probably furious about my parting words regarding Natalia.

I jammed the key into the ignition with trembling hands and started the engine. The sound seemed to spur Grey to move faster.

"Lily!" His voice carried across the parking lot. "Lily, wait!"

Shifting into reverse, I drove away. A final glance through the side mirror caught Grey's face. His expression was a mixture of anger and something else—perhaps regret. But it no longer mattered. Four years of marriage, countless memories, and one dead child later, he had made his choice.

The restaurant diminished in my rearview mirror. Grey's figure became a dot, then vanished completely as I turned onto the main road.

My vision blurred again, and I quickly blinked. The last thing I needed was to get into an accident. One car crash had already destroyed my family. I wouldn't let another one take my life too.

The phone began ringing inside my purse. I didn't have to check the caller ID to know it was Grey, probably calling to yell at me.

The gas pedal sank beneath my foot. There was no destination in mind. Home was the last place I wanted to be. Every corner of the house I shared with my husband was filled with memories of him and my dead child. Walking through those doors would only tear open wounds that had never truly healed.

In the end, my mom's house was the only place that came to mind.

The drive passed in a blur. At some point, the incessant ringing finally stopped, but the silence that followed was just as suffocating. Sixteen missed calls. Every single one from Grey.

Soon, the old tree in front of my childhood home came into view. It was the same tree I used to climb as a kid, scraping my knees and making her worry. Now, at twenty-three, I was broken in ways no Band-Aid could ever fix.

The moment I pulled into the driveway, I jumped out of the car and hurried to the front door. Fumbling with my duplicate key, I finally unlocked it and rushed inside.

Celine, the nurse who was looking after my mom, was already waiting in the living room. The moment she saw me walk through the door, she rose from the long Victorian sofa.

"How is Mom?" The words caught in my throat as dread tightened its grip on my chest. She had been battling her illness for a long time, and with each passing day, it felt as though she was slipping further away. The doctors had given her six months at best, but she refused to stop fighting.

"She had a rough morning, Lily. The new medication is taking a toll on her system. She's been sleeping most of the day." Celine couldn't contain the tears that glittered in the corners of her eyes. She had been my mother's private nurse for years. They were so close that she treated Mom like her own mother, and we were like sisters.

I nodded, my throat so tight it hurt to breathe. Today, of all days, I needed my mom more than ever, yet she might not even be conscious enough to speak to me. It felt as though life took pleasure in twisting the knife when I was already bleeding.

"She's been asking for you, though," Celine added softly. "Even in her sleep, she calls your name."

A lump rose in my throat.

"I'll go upstairs to check on her. Thank you for looking after Mom, even though today is supposed to be your day off."

Celine shook her head with a small smile. "I told you, Lily, I'd still look after her even if you didn't pay me."

"Thank you. You're truly an angel. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She reached over and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before picking up her bag.

"You'll be fine," she said gently.

I managed a faint smile. "Have a safe trip home. And don't forget to put your seatbelt on."

"I promise," Celine said with a nod. "See you tomorrow, Lily.”

With one last reassuring look, Celine headed for the door, quietly closing it behind her.

I stood in the empty living room for a moment, looking at all the family pictures on the walls. There was one of Mom and me. When my eyes landed on another from my wedding day, I quickly looked away.

Taking a deep breath, I climbed the stairs. By the time I reached the familiar door to Mom's room, my heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

My hand settled on the doorknob, but I couldn't bring myself to turn it. A terrifying thought rooted me in place. What if I opened the door only to find her dead?

The thought of losing her felt like someone was crushing my heart in their fist.

A tear slid down my cheek. Grey asking for a divorce hadn't broken me enough to cry. Somehow, I'd managed to hold myself together. But the thought of opening this door and finding Mom gone unraveled me completely. She was the only family I had left. Losing her would mean losing my entire world.

Finally, I gathered enough courage and turned the doorknob. The door swung open, revealing an empty bed.

Shock hit me like a bolt of lightning, and I instantly ran into the room to look for her.

What if she had fallen off the bed?

The horrifying thought sent me dropping to my knees. I looked underneath, my pulse pounding in my ears, but there was no sign of her.

Then another terrifying possibility struck. What if she'd gone into the bathroom and slipped? I rushed to the bathroom and pushed the door open.

It was empty.

"Mom?" I called, my voice shaking. Only silence answered

Where was she?