Chapter 2

The glass vial slipped from my fingers and shattered on the floor.

A searing heat tore through my throat.

I felt none of it. I stepped over the broken glass in bare feet and walked out into the pouring rain.

I don't know how I ended up outside Stella's building, but I did.

My phone buzzed. I lit up the screen.

[Ava, I'm working late tonight. Remember to take your meds.]

But Liam's car was parked right in front of me.

I didn't reply.

I stood in the rain until almost dawn, barely conscious.

The door finally opened.

The two of them were tangled together like they couldn't stand to separate.

Stella pressed her lips to his temple.

"I don't want you to go. Can't you stay a little longer?"

Liam held her close, his voice gentle in a way that turned my stomach.

"I'll be back in a few days. I promise."

Something in me broke. I ran at them.

Before I could get within reach, I was shoved hard to the ground.

Liam looked down and saw me. His pupils contracted.

"Ava — how did you—"

I was shaking so badly I could barely point.

"She's supposed to be dead."

He went rigid. Then his expression tightened.

"Is that what you wanted? To actually watch her die? This is where she's been staying with the baby. Stop making a scene — we'll talk at home."

He reached for my arm.

Stella dropped to her knees behind him, eyes red.

"Liam, I'm the one who told her the truth. I couldn't stand watching you suffer because of me. This is all my fault. I don't need any claim on you. Riley can take a different name — or I'll go back up to the eighteenth floor right now if that's what it takes—"

Liam's face drained. He turned and caught her, holding her like she was made of glass.

"Don't say that. Don't ever say that."

Then he looked back at me, and something in him went cold.

"Ava. Are you done?"

"I've spent six months walking on eggshells for you because of your depression. I've barely seen Stella at all. And you still can't let it go."

The pain in my chest had nothing to do with the vial.

I scrambled up and lunged forward.

"You don't have a heart — neither of you do!"

He shoved me back down, harder this time.

"At least I have a heart to give. You were so obsessed at eighteen that you got yourself gutted in an alley. You're broken, Ava. You've always been broken."

He saw my face go white.

Something flickered behind his eyes. His mouth opened.

But what came out was:

"How dare you call us heartless. I just wanted a child. What did I do wrong?"

"Stop using your depression as a weapon. Stop threatening to die every time you don't get your way. Stella will clear your name."

'You're getting a child out of this — Riley will be yours to raise. You're still my wife. What more do you want?"

Tears fell from my face and hit the wet pavement.

I turned and ran.

That's when Liam finally looked down.

My feet were bare and shredded. A trail of blood marked every step I'd taken.

He caught up and grabbed me, steadying me whether I wanted it or not, ignoring Stella calling his name behind us.

I watched the muscles in his jaw tighten.

"Whatever else happens, we're getting those feet cleaned up."

The car was silent the whole way.

At a red light, he took my hand. His voice dropped.

"Ten years, Ava. You are the one I love. I know I broke your trust and I know that's not a small thing. But in a few months, Riley will come live with us. I'll cut things off with Stella completely. We can start over."

Riley. His child with her.

I stared at my lap and said nothing.

His phone rang.

Stella's voice, breathless and scared.

"Liam, the baby won't stop crying. She's burning up. I don't know what to do—"

He hit the brakes so hard my head cracked against the window.

He turned to look at me, and his tone left no room for argument.

"You're not far from home. Get yourself inside. And don't breathe a word about Stella being alive to anyone."

I met his eyes.

"And if I do?"

His patience ran out in an instant. His voice went flat.

"Don't forget. Your mother is still in the hospital."