Too Late, Doctor: She Will Never Return

obs to put my secret husband thro

kup, I discovered that my best frie

y baby, he held her in his arms

nd my mother-in-law publicly humiliated me at m

, my husband threw our real marriage certi

arriage certificate," he said. "Stop ma

y for him to hand my sacrifices over to his mistress and leave

shed anot

ted an immediate overseas transfer, an

pte

n Patr

et husband through medical school and residency. On

ull my best friend into his arms, and say, "You're c

o feet away, my phone scree

he corners of her eyes. She turned and grabbed my hand. "Jill, this is the Derek I to

from Alexia's fac

nds of dea

cheeks jumped. The hand resting on Alexia's waist stiffened into a claw. He knew me. He knew every inch

t voice, he extended his hand. "Hello. Alexia talk

inger. Five years ago, when he was making our cheap anniversary dinner, he cut his hand while choppin

t was cold. The moment my fingertips touched hi

diamond bracelet on her wrist. "But my Derek makes time no matter how busy he is. Look, he had this d

ger there was only a band of skin paler than the rest-seve

you back?" Alexia leaned

id he'

adjusted his entire surgical schedule today just to come with me. He even put together a Hawaii itinerar

ad sent Derek a photo of a crib in a shop window near my office. He replie

. "At least he checks his messages. My guy sometimes goes three hours

rgery." I pressed my

a patted her chest and smiled again. "Anyway, let's not talk about that. T

d the door open

tep forward, but Derek bent down

veryone is watching!"

or the entire waiting area to hear. "Until the doct

rby smiled and sighed.

ollowed behind them. Derek carried Alexia inside, h

entire time, staring at the ultrasound screen. The m

s. Very strong heartbea

led, and he kissed her fingers.

my cotton shirt. The child inside me shared the same man

led out his phone and opened his notes app. "What vitamins should she take? Shou

all cup a day is fine. Just ma

lf from now on. Organic vegetables. I'll adjust my

ur rented apartment, clutching my lower abdomen while blood soaked through my sweatpants. I called De

I gasped through the pain. "

e common in early pregnancy, Jillian. It's just abnormal cells passing naturally. Put

d off his shoes, threw his dirty clothes on the floor, saw my swollen eyes, and said, "Stop cry

intake, I had only one thought left: Derek was

The technician smiled an

rly to the technician, "She is my everything. Her health

ke his mother cut off his trust fund. "Just until I finish my fellowship," he promised me over and over. "Then I'll te

art and studied the lab result

rick?" Dr. E

tepping out from the

said, her expression grave. "Your emergency blood work from this

urned around, frowning. "Doctor

Evans said bluntly. "The exam shows significant bleeding, a

into my stomach. My

?" I whispered, m

stational sac is still intact, but the situation is critical. Starting today, you need

l examination room, her eyes mov

r partner? I need to speak with him immediately about the injection protocol and ma

ell into d

aut knuckles pushed against the expensive wool of his trousers. He stared fixedly at the linoleum floor, his lips pr

d less than a meter away, playing the

he bitterness rising in my thr

clear, and without a tremor. "This baby has no fath