When I woke, it was already morning, and the pain in my stomach felt entirely different—deeper, emptier.

I lifted the sheet with trembling hands and saw a fresh scar running across my lower abdomen.

Jared sat beside me, his eyes red and bloodshot.

“My love, there were severe complications during the night,” Jared said, holding up a sealed file.

“They found cancerous cells in your uterus, so I had to authorize surgery to save your life.”

Every page of the paperwork looked completely legal and flawless.