Chapter 1

While agonizing cramps kept me curled up in bed, drenched in cold sweat and unable to move, Shawn was busy taking care of his childhood sweetheart because she was on her period.

When I ran into him at the hospital by chance, he showed not a shred of concern. Instead, he sneered, accusing me of faking an illness just to stalk him.

It wasn't until he saw the black morgue tag around my wrist that his entire world collapsed.

I said to him, "Never in this life, and never in the next."

The night was pitch black. Another violent wave of abdominal spasms hit me, leaving me drenched in cold sweat.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I gasped for Siri to dial Shawn.

After what felt like an eternity, his impatient voice came through the speaker.

"What is it now?"

"Shawn... where... where are you? I'm in... so much pain..."

Hearing my voice tremble, his tone softened just a fraction.

"Lana, Luna isn't feeling well these past few days. The doctor said she needs around-the-clock company."

"Shawn, please, I—"

"If you're having cramps, just drink some hot tea and go to sleep."

My voice caught in my throat.

My cycle wasn't even due for another two weeks.

Over the line, I heard Luna's delicate whisper in the background.

"Shawn, Lana sounds really sick. Shouldn't you go back and check on her?"

"Don't worry about her, Luna. What could possibly happen to her?"

"Luna, look at you instead. Why are you sweating so much?"

"Shawn... my stomach hurts..."

So it wasn't me he thought was bleeding. It was her.

I hung up, dialed 911 with trembling fingers, and collapsed.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a cold hospital room.

A doctor stood over me, his brow furrowed as he scanned my charts.

"Doctor..."

"You're awake. How do you feel?"

"Better... What's wrong with me?"

"We aren't certain yet. We need to run more tests. In the meantime, call your family."

I came from a struggling, impoverished small town in the middle of nowhere. My parents had exhausted their life savings just to send me to college.

Without knowing what was really wrong, I couldn't bear to terrify them.

Looking down at my call log, a wave of bitter patheticness washed over me.

The only emergency contact I had in this city was Shawn.

I dialed his number. He didn't pick up.

A few minutes later, a cold text popped up on the screen.

*I'm busy.*

Desperate, I called him again. He declined it immediately. When I tried a third time, the call wouldn't go through.

He had blocked me.

I couldn't tell if the sharper agony was in my gut or my heart, but it spread like poison until it consumed me whole.

A nurse woke me up for further tests. She glanced around the empty room, sighed with pity, and helped me out of bed.

As we stepped into the corridor, a familiar scent drifted past.

There was Shawn, gently supporting Luna with one arm while holding lab results in the other, murmuring sweet reassurances into her ear.

I used to believe that gentle side of him belonged to me alone. Now I saw the truth.

The way he doted on Luna eclipsed anything he had ever given me.

I tried to look away, but Luna's eyes caught mine.