Chapter 1
I was dying in an emergency room when my husband chose his ex-girlfriend over me.
"Stop being dramatic, Olivia," Matthew said over the sound of champagne and laughter. "Rebecca's gallery opening is tonight."
Dramatic? I was hemorrhaging from a miscarriage, signing my own surgical consent because my husband of seven years couldn't be bothered to save my life.
While I flatlined twice on the operating table, Instagram showed him tenderly wrapping his coat around Rebecca under fireworks.
Seven years of marriage. Seven years of being his backup plan while she remained his priority.
I survived that night, but something inside me died forever.
I signed the divorce papers with the same pen I'd used for my surgical consent—alone.
Olivia's POV
"Ms. Harrison, your condition is critical. We're looking at a suspected ectopic pregnancy rupture causing internal bleeding. You need surgery immediately."
The ER doctor spoke fast and urgent. "Where's your family? We need someone to sign the consent forms."
I curled up on the cold plastic chair in the emergency room. The pain in my stomach felt like someone was twisting a knife in my gut. Blood trickled down my inner thighs, staining my pale cashmere dress.
My hands shook as I dialed Matthew's number for the thirteenth time.
The first twelve calls had gone straight to voicemail. He was probably busy doing something important with Rebecca again, while I—his girlfriend of seven years—ranked dead last on his priority list.
Ring... ring...
Finally, someone picked up. The background exploded with cheers and fireworks popping.
"Matthew..." I whispered. "I'm at the hospital. The doctor says I need surgery right now. Can you please—"
"Olivia, are you fucking KIDDING me right now?" Matthew snapped. "Didn't I tell you tonight was Rebecca's gallery opening? She's been a mess lately, and I need to be here for her. You always pull this dramatic shit at the worst times!"
Dramatic shit?
I was dying, and he called it dramatic SHIT?
"I'm bleeding, Matthew. I might actually die here." I bit down hard on my lower lip, tasting blood.
"Give me a break. You were fine yesterday, and now you're suddenly dying? Just take an Uber home or find a nurse to babysit you. I'm busy. We're done here."
Click.
The line went dead.
I stared at the dark phone screen. Suddenly the stabbing pain in my stomach seemed almost... manageable.
Instead, this freezing cold just spread through my whole body.
Seven years. I'd stood by Matthew as he climbed from a broke kid in a Brooklyn basement to a senior partner on Wall Street. I thought I was the most important person in his life.
Until Rebecca's divorce brought her back to New York six months ago.
Since then, every time I needed him became "pulling dramatic shit." Every moment of pain became "putting on an act." Every cry for help became "bad timing."
"Doctor," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll sign the forms myself. I'll take the blame if anything happens."
The doctor looked stunned—obviously not expecting me to say that. But he nodded quickly.
The surgery lasted three hours.
I woke up the next morning to harsh sunlight streaming through the hospital window, bouncing off thick snow outside.
The leftover anesthesia made me sick to my stomach. I pressed my hand against my now-flat belly, where a tiny life had briefly existed in the wrong place.
The timing had been terrible for this pregnancy. But honestly, when would EVER be the right time for Matthew?
My phone lit up with an Instagram notification.
Rebecca had posted a photo: under a sky full of fireworks, Matthew was putting his coat over her shoulders, his eyes all soft and tender.
The caption read: "Even when the whole world is cold, you light up fireworks just for me. Thank you, M. ❤️"
I stared at that photo without crying.
Before, I would've called him screaming, demanding answers, only to hear his cold "You're being too sensitive."
But now? I just felt... nothing.
Completely, utterly nothing.
I spent the next three days alone in that hospital room.
I watched the IV drip into my arm, watched snow fall and melt outside. I saw families in other rooms coming and going with flowers and fruit, their voices full of worry and love.
Matthew never called. Never texted. Nothing.
He probably thought I was still pissed about him hanging up on me. Waiting for him to show up with some random flowers like always, expecting me to forgive him like I always did.
And yeah, I used to do exactly that. Cry, scream, throw fits—then forgive him anyway. Like a complete idiot, over and over.
But not this time.
On discharge day, I took a taxi back to our Upper East Side apartment with just a small bag.
I pushed open the door to total chaos. Rebecca's cashmere scarf was thrown over our couch, two used wine glasses sat on the coffee table. Her expensive perfume still hung in the air.
I walked over and dumped that designer scarf and the wine glasses straight into the trash.
Then I went into the bedroom and started packing my stuff.
I didn't make a big show of it. Just grabbed my important documents, personal things, and clothes that actually mattered to me.
All those designer bags and jewelry Matthew had bought me over the years? I left every single piece.
If I was already dead to him, keeping those things would just piss them off. Better to leave it all behind.
After packing everything that was really mine, I sat at the vanity mirror, staring at the pale, dead-eyed woman looking back.
Pathetic. Seven years of going from a bright, happy girl to... this shell of a person.
I sighed, grabbed my suitcase, and headed for the door.
That's when I heard keys in the front lock.
