Erika’s Pov

“I’m sorry, but your baby didn’t make it,” the nurse said the moment I opened my eyes. “You lost a lot of blood and were unconscious for three days. We tried everything, but we couldn’t save the baby.”

My ears rang at her words and I swallowed hard. My throat felt scraped raw.

“My husband,” I whispered. “Jacob… Did he come?”

The nurse’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, ma’am. No one has visited you since you were admitted.”

Bitter tears slid down my cheeks as the room blurred.

Three days ago, I had called Jacob until my fingers went numb. Ninety-nine missed calls. More than twenty messages.

Please send the jet. I’m in labor.

The bridge collapsed. I can’t get through.

I’m bleeding.

The pain had been tearing me apart when I finally called his office.

“I’m in labor,” I cried. “Where is Jacob?”

There was a pause before the assistant answered, his voice careful.

“The CEO isn’t here right now, ma’am. He’s taken the jet to fly his pregnant wife to the hospital because of the collapsed bridge. May I take a message?”

The world went silent.

“Pregnant… wife?” I whispered.

“No,” I said hoarsely, shaking my head. “You must be mistaken. I’m his wife. I’m the one in labor.”

Another contraction ripped through me. I cried out, clutching my stomach as pain split me open.

“Tell him it’s Erika,” I gasped. “Tell him to come now.”

“I’m sorry, Ma’am, it seems you’ve got a wrong number,” the assistant said.

“No, I'm not wrong. Call my husband... It hurts so much, call Jacob!” I cried but there was no response, only the dial tone showing the call had ended.

My grip loosened and the phone slipped from my hand, hitting the floor.

The pain surged violently through my body, my vision darkening as voices shouted around me.

“Jacob,” I called, my voice breaking.

But he never came and then everything went black.

“Here’s your phone,” the nurse said softly, pulling me back. “We picked it up when the ambulance arrived.”

I took it with shaking hands.

“If you need anything, press the call button,” she added before leaving.

The room fell silent.

I unlocked my phone, my heart pounding, half-expecting to see missed calls flooding the screen.

There were none. No messages, no calls.

It didn’t make sense.

When Jacob and I were newly married, he couldn’t go an hour without checking on me. Once, my car battery died and I was unreachable for three hours.

He searched the entire city.

Now he ignored me for three days.

I checked my messages again. Still nothing. Not from Jacob. Not from my parents. Not even from Lily.

Then a notification appeared.

Lily posted a new update.

I tapped it and a photo of Jacob, my parents, and Lily cradling a newborn filled the screen.

She was lying in a hospital bed and I recognized the room as one of the wards in this hospital.

The caption read: Family.

My fingers went numb as I scrolled.

I saw another post from three days ago, the exact time I was in labor and calling Jacob.

Lily was sitting inside a private jet, her head tilted toward Jacob as she kissed his cheek.

The bridge collapsed, so he didn’t want me stuck in traffic, she’d written.

He flew me here himself. He takes such good care of me.

Comments poured in.

Such a caring husband.

You’re so lucky.

So while I was bleeding out in the car, Lily was the ‘pregnant wife’ he had flown to the hospital.

The screen blurred as my grip tightened.

Two years ago, I had pulled Lily out of a mangled car.

That was how my parents found their daughter who’d been missing for twenty years.

I took her in.

Held her hand when she woke screaming from nightmares. Sat beside her hospital bed when she gave her kidney to save Jacob.

When he woke and learned it was Lily who saved him, he was grateful.

But when the doctors said she had cancer, his gratitude turned into devotion with him doing whatever she wanted.

I complained about his devotion and affection toward Lily but Jacob always said the same thing.

“I love you, Erika. Not her.”

“I’m just returning the favor.”

“She saved my life.”

I believed him and stopped overthinking things.

When Lily disappeared for weeks and returned pregnant, she refused to say who the father was.

My parents scolded her and called her careless. They told her to be more like me but I cautioned them and stood up for her.

I took care of her pregnancy and mine. Now she dared to post my husband as hers?

Even though Jacob had married me secretly he promised he'd announce our marriage to the world on our next anniversary which was in a few days' time so how dare Lily try to pull this stunt?

My hands trembled as I locked my phone and pushed myself out of bed. Pain shot through my legs, but I barely felt it as I made my way to the hallway.

That was when I heard the familiar voices of my parents and Jacob in a room at the end of the corridor.

I charged toward the room, anger coursing through me ready to confront them but Lily’s teary voice stopped me in front of the door.

“I feel so guilty,” she whispered. “Erika’s baby… I never wanted it to be like this.”

Jacob’s reply came immediately, “Stop blaming yourself. We didn’t have a choice.”

My breath caught. What were they talking about?

“Erika’s son was the only heart-compatible donor,” he continued. “The doctors confirmed it. If we didn’t use his heart, our son wouldn’t survive.”

My knees nearly buckled as the world went silent around me.

“You… you really took her baby’s heart?” Lily asked, her voice trembling.

“Yes,” Jacob said without hesitation. “He was born healthy. That’s why the transplant worked.”

I stopped breathing.

“But what about Erika?” Lily whispered. “When she wakes up…”

My mother answered instead.

“She should be grateful she was given an opportunity to be useful to this family. She owes us a lot after we adopted and raised her for twenty-two years. Saving your child is the least she can do.”

My father nodded and added, “Besides, you don’t have long. When you’re gone, the baby will need someone. Erika can raise him as her own.”

My stomach twisted violently as the room spun.

“You saved my life, Lily. There was no way I’d let our son die. Especially now that you're dying and I can’t save you,” Jacob said firmly.

Lily’s fingers tightened around the blanket. She reached out and touched Jacob’s hand.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For saving our son. For giving me my wish… to have a child with you before I die.”

Jacob leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“It’s worth everything,” he said softly. “I’d do anything for you.”

The hallway tilted and I stepped backward, my chest burning as the truth finally settled.

It wasn’t just Lily. My parents had known all along. They had known who the father of her baby was.

They had watched me stand by her, defend her, take care of her and said nothing.

Jacob hadn’t just abandoned me in traffic, he had lied to my face every single day.

They hadn’t just chosen Lily, they had agreed together as a family to sacrifice my son to save hers.

I stumbled into the bathroom and gripped the sink as my body convulsed, bile burning my throat, tears blinding my eyes.

The door opened and I heard a familiar voice.

“Dearest sister, I saw you lurking outside my room door, why didn't you come inside?”

I turned around to see Lily staring at me, a wicked smile gleaming in her eyes.

“You!” I choked out, angry tears rolling down my cheeks.

Lily giggled, “I've waited for this day for so long. Carefully playing my part of a sweet daughter and sister but I longed for the day I would see you in this state looking broken and weak.”

“Why, Lily? What did I ever do to you?” I asked confused.

“You were adopted and enjoyed every bit of luxury I should have enjoyed while I went missing and suffered for twenty years!” Lily snapped.

“How is it my fault that you went missing? Since you returned you've gotten everything back, why are you now doing this?!” I shot at her, fury burning in my chest.

“Because dearest sister, you should have never been in this family! If they didn't adopt you then they would have looked for me but now I'm back I'm going to take everything from you including your precious husband because they should have been mine!”

“You could have taken everything,” I sobbed, my knees threatening to give way. “Why didn’t you just leave my son for me? Why did you have to touch him?”

Lily laughed like a maniac, “Because I don't want you or your blood to breathe the same air as me and what better way to get everyone to do my bidding than to play the dying cancer card but guess what, I don't have cancer and I'm not dying.”

Blood drained from my face as I stared at her. “You monster! How could you lie to everyone for years?”

My voice trembled. “I’ll tell them. I’ll tell everyone.”

Lily giggled wickedly, “No one is going to believe you dear sister, not after I'm done with you.”

And before I could move an inch, she deliberately banged her head on the wall before letting out a scream.

“Jacob help me, she's going to kill me!”

Just as Lily fell dramatically to the ground, the door burst open, and my husband stood in the doorway.

“What have you done?!” he yelled at me in fury.

Erika’s Pov

I stared at Jacob as he stormed toward me and grabbed my wrist, his face twisted in anger.

“How dare you hurt her when you know she's sick! Do you want to kill her?!” he snarled at me.

“If I could, I wouldn’t hesitate,” I shot back, my voice shaking but firm.

Jacob looked taken aback by my response. He wasn't used to me ever talking back at him. All the years we spent together we'd quarrel and I would cower and apologize but not anymore.

His grip tightened. “When did you become this vicious, Erika? Your jealousy has turned you into something ugly.”

“It’s not her fault, Jacob. Please don't fight because of me. Erika didn't do anything, I just lost my balance,” Lily’s innocent voice sounded.

Jacob rushed toward her, carrying her up like a fragile doll, “You’re too kind, Lily. I’m sorry she keeps hurting you.”

I let out a hollow laugh. “Kind? You call this kind? I heard everything, Jacob. My son’s heart and the transplant. I know what you all did.”

For a split second, guilt flickered in his eyes then it disappeared immediately.

“If I had told you, you wouldn’t have agreed,” he said flatly.

The bathroom suddenly felt smaller and harder to breathe in as I stared at him with wide eyes.

“So you admit it,” I whispered. “You got her pregnant then killed our child to save hers.”

“He was my son too,” Jacob snapped. “I had the right to decide. Lily is dying. You can have another child. She can’t.”

“People die every day,” I said, my voice turning cold. “Her death won’t be special.”

Lily whimpered dramatically against his chest. “Please don’t fight over me. I never wanted this…”

Jacob glared at me like I was filth beneath his shoe.

“You disgust me, Erika. Your own sister is dying and all you care about is yourself. I’m sure your dead son is grateful he doesn’t have to call you mother.”

The words slammed into me as my knees buckled and I hit the floor.

For a moment, I couldn’t hear anything except the ringing in my ears.

Then slow clapping echoed down the corridor and my father’s voice sounded, “Yes, Jacob, you're right.”

I turned to see my parents standing at the end of the hallway.

My mother rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Lily. “Oh my poor baby, did she hurt you again?”

My father’s eyes were cold as they settled on me. “Erika, what is wrong with you?”

I stared at them from the floor. “You knew,” I whispered. “You knew they were taking my son’s heart. You all knew the truth and kept lying to me for months!”

My mother didn’t even blink. “Lower your voice. This is a hospital.”

My father sighed heavily. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Lily doesn’t have long. Instead of supporting her, you’re attacking her.”

“She lied about having cancer!” I cried.

A nurse passing by slowed down, staring at me like I was hysterical.

Jacob’s expression hardened.

“That’s enough,” he said. “You’ve clearly lost your mind.”

He turned to my parents. “I think she needs a psychiatric evaluation. She’s unstable, hallucinating, and making wild accusations about Lily’s condition.”

My mother nodded immediately. “Yes, that might be best. Her jealousy has finally driven her mad.”

I felt something inside me crack.

“You’re going to label me insane?” I asked hoarsely.

“If that’s what it takes to protect Lily from you,” Jacob replied coldly. “I won’t hesitate.”

A few nurses were now whispering nearby. I could feel their eyes on me. It was filled with judgment and disgust.

Lily peeked at me from Jacob’s chest and flashed me a smug grin.

That was the moment my tears stopped. It was strange how quickly grief could turn into clarity.

They had taken my child from me and probably thought I was too helpless and alone to fight them but they're wrong.

I slowly pushed myself up from the floor and stared at them with cold eyes.

“You all deserve each other and I'll make you regret it,” I vowed then I turned and walked away.

I limped back to my hospital room and closed the door behind me.

For several seconds, I just stood there staring at my reflection in the mirror, then I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in six months.

The line connected almost instantly.

“Grandpa,” I said softly. “I’m ready to come home.”

Six months ago, I saved a stranger who turned out to be my grandfather.

He told me my parents had died in a car accident when I was just three years old. Someone rescued me and took me to an orphanage, he did everything he could but he was unable to locate me.

He told me to come back home with him and that everything he owned was mine. The only issue was that my parents had betrothed me to the son of their business partner before they died so before I could claim my inheritance, I had to get married to him.

I should have left Jacob that same day but I was still in love so I thanked my grandfather and told him I couldn't accept his offer or marry someone else. How wrong had I been.

“Are you sure, Erika?” My grandfather’s worried voice pulled me out of my thoughts, “Last time we spoke you said you were married and you refused my offer.”

“I was wrong. I will return to take over my inheritance and get married to Liam Reynolds just as my late parents wanted,” I stated.

“Oh my dear child, that's wonderful news. I can't tell you how happy I am,” my grandfather said, “When should I come get you?”

“Just give me a few days to tidy things up here quickly but I’d like it if the wedding is arranged quickly,” I answered.

“What wedding Erika?” a voice asked.

I looked up and saw Jacob standing in front of the doorway, his eyes filled with suspicion.

Erika’s Pov

I ended the call and slowly locked my phone.

“What wedding were you talking about?” Jacob asked again.

For a moment, my fingers tightened around my phone.

Just hours ago I had learned the truth. My husband and my sister had stolen my child’s heart to save their own.

The old Erika would have screamed. She would have demanded answers. But the old Erika was already dead.

I forced my expression to relax.

“A friend of mine is getting married,” I said calmly. “She asked me to help with some preparations.”

Jacob studied me for a moment before nodding.

“You always liked weddings,” he said. “You even planned our anniversary like another ceremony.”

I didn’t reply.

Three years of marriage.

Three years of begging him to announce me as his wife.

Jacob had finally agreed to make our relationship public on our anniversary this year.

He promised the world would know I was Mrs. Reed.

We were supposed to stand there together with our newborn son.

The anniversary was in two days.

Now my son is dead.

And the man standing in front of me was the one who killed him.

I lowered my eyes so Jacob wouldn’t see the hatred burning inside them.

“What did you come here for?” I asked quietly.

Jacob seemed relieved that I wasn’t arguing with him.

“I know you’re upset,” he said gently. “But I’ll make it up to you. Lily only has a few months left. If you can just be a little kinder to her, everything will go back to normal once she’s gone.”

Once she’s gone, the words almost made me laugh.

How ridiculous. I had already decided to leave. There was no “normal” for us anymore.

But I simply nodded.

“Alright.”

Jacob visibly relaxed.

“Actually,” he continued, “Lily will be discharged soon. Could you prepare that medicinal soup for her? The one you always make. It helps her recover faster.”

So that was the real reason he came.

To ask the woman whose baby had just died to cook for the woman who stole his heart.

For a brief moment, anger surged through my chest.

Then I remembered something I once read.

If you want to defeat your enemy, never show them your real thoughts.

I forced a faint smile.

“Of course,” I said.

Jacob blinked in surprise.

“You… agree?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I replied calmly. “Lily is my sister.”

He seemed satisfied with that answer.

“I knew I could count on you.”

Jacob stepped forward and tried to kiss my forehead, but I turned slightly and avoided him.

“I’m still feeling a bit unwell,” I lied.

He paused awkwardly, nodding his head in understanding.

“I’ll go arrange Lily’s discharge,” he said before leaving the room.

The door closed behind him.

The moment he was gone, my smile disappeared.

For a long moment, the room fell into complete silence.

The faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the hospital room. The same room where my child had been declared dead.

I leaned back against the hospital bed.

My marriage has lasted three years. My escape would take two days but until then I would play the perfect wife.

—

Two hours later, I quietly left the hospital.

The afternoon sun was blinding after days inside the building. For a moment, I had to shield my eyes.

The world outside continued as if nothing had happened. No one knew that I had lost my child.

I raised my hand and hailed a taxi.

“Downtown,” I said calmly.

The driver nodded and pulled away from the curb.

As the city passed by outside the window, my hand slowly moved to my stomach.

The place where my son had once been. The child they stole from me.

A dull ache spread through my chest.

You deserved to live.

My eyes closed briefly but the tears never fell. If I cried now, those people would win and I would never let them win again.

My phone vibrated again. It was Barrister John.

I answered the call.

“Mrs. Reed,” his voice sounded concerned. “I received your message earlier. Is everything alright?”

“I’m fine,” I said calmly. “I need you to handle a few things for me.”

“Of course.”

“The divorce agreement must be ready today. I’ll sign it in two days.”

“Understood.”

“And another thing.”

“My legal identity needs to be restored.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line.

“You mean the identity your grandfather mentioned?”

“Yes.”

“I want the name Erika Reed cancelled.”

Barrister John inhaled slowly.

“That process requires documentation and official filing.”

“I will send you everything you need.”

“That can be arranged,” he replied. “It may take some time to finalize, but we can begin the process immediately.”

“Good.”

I looked out the window at the passing buildings.

“My marriage has lasted three years,” I said quietly.

“My departure will take two days.”

Barrister John seemed to understand what those words meant.

“I will handle everything,” he assured me.

“Thank you.”

The call ended.

I lowered the phone slowly and leaned back in the seat.

For the next two days, I would continue playing the role of Jacob Reed’s obedient wife.

After that, Erika Reed would disappear and their perfect world would begin to crumble.