Squelch—

The sharp sound of a blade slicing into flesh tore through the air.

Sera Monroe felt a sharp pain shoot through her body before her knees buckled, and she collapsed like a rag doll.

"Elliot! Cece!"

Elliot Monroe caught her just in time. The always stone-cold man now looked completely shaken.

"Ethan Cole!"

His voice was low and dangerous, his eyes locked on the attacker like a demon from hell.

The man flinched. He was so terrified, he forgot to even try to run.

Ethan Cole snapped out of it fast, motioning for his men to seize the assailant.

The scene had already descended into chaos from the bloody attack, but no one dared get close to the man standing at the center of it all.

Elliot held the unconscious woman tightly in his arms, his face dark with fury. The sheer force of his presence made the crowd instinctively part, clearing a path for him.

He strode out with Sera in his arms, barking orders

"Get an emergency room ready. Now."

In her haze, Sera thought she heard something in his voice—a tremble. And… that name.

"Cece."

He hadn't called her that in so long.

Her heart gave a little jolt. She tried to see his face, to read his expression… but all she could make out was that hard, chiseled jawline.

And then everything went black.

*****

When she woke up, the sterile white of the hospital ceiling greeted her.

The first thing Sera did was look to her side—hoping, even just a little. But the chair next to her bed was empty.

Just like her heart.

She couldn't help it. A bitter laugh slipped out.

What the hell was she expecting? That he'd sit by her bed and wait for her to wake up?

"Sera! You're awake!"

A cheerful voice rang out. It was Chloe Lane, walking in with a big insulated food container swinging from her hand.

"Sera, you scared the hell outta me! Why'd you go running like that? God, if that knife had gone even an inch the other way… you wouldn't be here right now."

She kept chattering as she carefully helped Sera sit up, then opened the container and poured out a bowl of soup.

"Chicken noodle soup. I heard it's good for healing, helps your wounds close up faster. Come on, drink it while it's hot."

Before Sera could say anything, a spoonful was already at her lips.

The warm, fragrant aroma of chicken and herbs hit her nose, and for the first time since she woke up, she felt… a little comfort.

She smiled weakly, "Thanks. I can manage."

Her wound was on her left shoulder blade, so her right hand was still functional.

Chloe set the bowl down and handed her the spoon.

Sera took a sip of the soup. It was good—really good.

And oddly… familiar.

But before she could dwell on that, noises started coming from the hallway.

She froze. She thought she heard a name. A name she recognized.

Chloe didn't notice her reaction. She leaned in, whispering like they were back in high school gossiping between classes.

"Sera, guess who I just saw outside? You are not gonna believe this—Sloane Carter. The Sloane Carter. America's sweetheart, Hollywood's golden girl."

She pulled out her phone and started tapping through news sites.

"Look! It's live right now… Wait—hold up—isn't that Mr. Monroe?"

Sera didn't even need to look twice.

There he was.

Elliot Monroe.

Her husband.

And next to him?

Sloane Carter.

The latest woman in his life.

As Sera stared at those familiar eyes on the screen—eyes that weren't hers, but felt like they should've been—something twisted deep in her gut.

In the three years they'd been married, Elliot had gone through mistress after mistress.

And every single one of them had something in common—each one looked a little like her.

Like he was chasing a ghost. Constantly reminding Sera she'd never be enough.

At first, it broke her. Then she got used to it. Now? She was just numb.

She looked at the man on the screen. He was supposed to be hers. Her husband. But he was there with her. Just a few rooms away, on the other side of the wall, smiling like nothing else mattered.

Sloane Carter was clutching his arm, giggling up at him like they were the only two people in the world.

"Miss Carter, why are you at the hospital with Mr. Monroe? Rumors say you're dating—is it true?"

"Someone just saw you coming out of the OB/GYN department… is there happy news to share?"

Sera's mind went blank.

The reporters kept asking questions, but she couldn't hear them anymore.

All she could hear was that word.

OB/GYN.

She gripped the blanket over her stomach, knuckles white.

She knew damn well his grandmother had been pressuring them to have a baby.

But he wouldn't touch her.

He told her she was dirty.

That he'd rather sleep with any other woman than lay a finger on her.

And for three years, he'd stuck to that.

New woman after new woman—anyone but her.

And now?

He got Sloane Carter pregnant?

She thought back to that morning…

How he'd forced her to take those birth control pills.

And now, just hours later, Sloane Carter was standing by his side, holding his hand, smiling like a blushing bride-to-be.

Sera felt like someone had shoved a knife straight into her chest—and twisted it.

The pain was sharp. Cold. Bone-deep.

"Ugh—"

She suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed backward, unconscious.