The day Jasper Carter's terminally ill ex, Natalie Klutz, gave birth, his parents—Josephine and Raymond—hired ten bodyguards to keep me, his actual wife, out of the hospital.

But I never showed.

Josephine clutched Natalie's hand. "She's not getting near you or the baby."

Jasper wiped Natalie's forehead. "Relax. Dad's got men at every door. If Emily shows, we'll toss her."

Hours passed. Still no me. Jasper finally let himself breathe.

He didn't get what my deal was. He was just granting Natalie's dying wish—to be a mom.

The second the nurse handed over the crying baby, he smiled like everything was finally worth it.

If I came tomorrow and said sorry, he'd forgive me. Hell, he'd even let me raise the kid.

What he didn't know? I had just submitted my paperwork.

I'd leave the country, join Doctors Without Borders, and ghost him for good.

The day Jasper Carter brought Natalie Klutz home from the hospital, I was just clocking out from my last case.

Right as I hit the front steps, I caught laughter inside.

"This baby's adorable. Look at those eyebrows—just like our Jasper's. Natalie, you really made us proud!" Josephine was glowing, cradling the baby.

Jasper strolled out of the kitchen with a steaming bowl.

"You've been through a lot," he said. "I made this cream soup to help you bounce back. You still need rest."

He sat on the edge of the bed, feeding Natalie like some picture-perfect husband. They looked like one big happy family.

Raymond shook a rattle, grinning like he'd just won the lottery.

"This little guy's got his mom's charm. Thank God he's nothing like that buzzkill Emily. Can you imagine a doctor as his mom? Total nightmare."

My hand clenched around the doorknob.

I remembered the first time I met Raymond—how he'd clapped me on the shoulder and bragged about having a doctor in the family.

Now I was just some joke who didn't deserve one.

Right after we got married, Jasper's family hit rock bottom. I gave them everything—hundreds of thousands. My entire savings, gone.

All I did was leave for a year of advanced training. When I came back, it was like this house had erased me.

I looked down and forced a bitter smile.

We'd been married three years. We had a baby once too.

But after the accident, I lost it—and with it, my chance at ever having kids again.

When the doctor told me, I cried like I couldn't breathe. Jasper held me and swore I was the only one he'd ever have kids with.

Said he'd give it all up for me.

And now? He'd broken that promise—for his ex's so-called dying wish.

I still remembered the day I left for my program—Jasper cried like a kid, clinging to me like he couldn't let go.

For a year, we talked every day. Even our coworkers teased us for acting like newlyweds.

Then a month ago, I finally got time off and booked a flight home.

Nine hours in the air, no sleep, no complaints. I headed straight back—only to catch Jasper and Natalie walking hand in hand through the neighborhood. And yeah, she was definitely pregnant.

Natalie's voice snapped me out of it.

"Emily? When did you get back? Why are you just standing there?"

The whole room turned to stare.

When Josephine spotted the resignation letter in my hand, her frown got even deeper.

Josephine sneered, "Why did I ever let Jasper marry a jinx like you? Quit your job? What now—just mooch off him?"

Raymond jumped in. "You couldn't even hang onto a golden job. What good are you? If I'd known you were this useless, I'd have never let you marry Jasper.

"Natalie's health is delicate, raising a kid costs money, and instead of helping, you're just dead weight. What kind of wife is that?"

I let out a laugh.

"And what kind of husband gets another woman pregnant while his wife's out of the country?"

Jasper snapped, "Emily Haden, that's enough. I did this for you!"

His eyes were ice. "You can't have kids, so I let Natalie carry one—for you. I was trying to give you a shot at motherhood. Why can't you see how hard this was for me?

"We used IVF. It was perfect—Natalie gets her dying wish, and you get a baby without going through labor. What are you even mad about?

"If she hadn't saved me in that car crash two years ago, I wouldn't even be here. She lost her parents, she's dying of cancer—soon, no one will remember her.

"Can't you show a little sympathy? Or do you really think I'm just some heartless jerk?"

Natalie tugged his hand and gave me a soft look. "Emily, maybe cut him some slack. This is all on me. I promise I'll back off—just don't let this wreck your marriage, okay?"

I almost laughed, looking at the four of them all lined up like one big happy team.

So this was what a "real family" looked like.

Then Jasper turned back to me.

"My patience is wearing thin. Keep attacking Natalie and don't blame me for what happens. If you still want this marriage, chill out. At next week's banquet, I'll name you as the baby's mom."

Next week?

I glanced at the baby knocked out in the stroller. I'd be long gone by then.

But before I left, they were getting a goodbye to remember.

***

I nodded. "Cool."

Didn't wait for their reaction. Just turned and headed to the bedroom to pack.

I was done—wasn't leaving a single trace behind.

Laughter floated in from the living room. I froze mid-fold.

"Natalie, let's name him Nathan. Male version of your name. So even if he calls someone else 'Mom' one day, he'll still know who his real mother is."

I didn't need to see his face—I already knew the look he gave her.

And just like that, my busted heart cracked all over again.

I thought back to last month. I'd rushed home with a gift, something I picked up overseas just for Jasper.

But what I walked into? Him and Natalie, hand in hand. Her belly was impossible to miss.

Jasper looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Natalie just blinked and asked, "Did you get the wrong house? This is my home."

I didn't say a word. Just stared at her bump.

One year gone, and my husband had moved in his ex. Pregnant and cozy.

Didn't need an explanation. It was all right there.

Jasper jumped in, flustered. "This is my wife, Emily."

I thought Natalie might chill after that. Nope. She acted like queen of the house and even invited me in—like I was just some guest.

As we passed, she leaned in, voice all fake sweet. "Heard you and Jasper were married three years? Cute. A stand-in's still a stand-in. I'm the real one. You stepped aside the second I came back—just like I knew you would."

That was it. I snapped.

All the months of holding it in, missing Jasper, lying to myself—it all came out in one slap across her smug face.

A neighbor heard the drama and called the cops.

They dragged us both in, but since it was a domestic mess, all they did was send us home.

The second we stepped inside, Raymond and Josephine lit into me.

Said I embarrassed the whole neighborhood, wrecked my reputation, wasted my fancy degrees just to throw hands.

Warned me if I pulled something like that again, they wouldn't cover for me.

Turns out, they'd known about Jasper and Natalie the whole time. Supported it, even.

In one year, she'd become their perfect daughter-in-law.

I was just the clueless outsider.

My mouth went dry.

Jasper, eyes rimmed red, came over and reached for my hand.

"Emily, I never meant to hurt you. It's just... Natalie only has six months left. Her one wish was to be a mom. She saved my life once—I couldn't let her die with regrets.

"I wanted to tell you, but you were overseas. I didn't want to throw you off. I thought I'd explain everything when you got back.

"If you're willing... we can raise the baby together."

***

Something that huge, and he said it like he was ordering takeout.

I zipped up my suitcase right as Josephine pushed the door open.

Her eyes landed on the luggage, and she smirked.

"You weren't here, so I let Natalie have your room. The study's a nursery now. Couch is all yours. If that's a problem, find a hotel."

I didn't bother fighting. Just nodded and got ready to crash on the couch.

But all night long, the baby's cries echoed through the house.

I rolled over, about to pop in earplugs, when I heard Natalie's voice.

"Jasper, can you handle the baby? He won't stop crying."

Then Jasper, laughing softly. "Aren't you my big baby? As long as I've got you, we're good. Let him cry—it's good for his lungs."

I yanked the blanket over my head, trying to drown out their laughter.

But every time I shut my eyes, I saw Jasper from back when he first told me he loved me—bright-eyed, all sunshine, like I was his whole world.

That guy was long gone.

I must've dozed off at some point, because by sunrise, I was already out the door with my suitcase.

Went straight to handle the relevant procedures.

Everything moved fast—clean paperwork, no questions.

Right as I was leaving, one of the staff stopped me and handed over a few candies. "Hope you get everything you wish for."

I gave her a small smile, checked into a nearby hotel, dropped my stuff, and headed out for food.

And that's when I saw them—Jasper, Natalie, and both his parents.

Natalie was flashing a Patek Philippe watch, glowing like she just won the jackpot.

Didn't exactly scream terminal illness.