The night before I gave birth, I overheard my husband secretly offer the doctor $500,000 to make sure I died during delivery so he could start a new life with his five-month-pregnant mistress. I pretended to be asleep—but by the next day, his plan had completely backfired.

Part 2

I slept less than one hour that night.

Every sound made me tense.

A nurse entered twice.

Each time, I almost grabbed her hand and told her everything.

But I did not know who I could trust.

Not yet.

Dr. Hale was the physician managing my delivery.

Daniel had chosen this hospital because Marcus Hale was supposedly one of the best obstetric specialists in the city.

Daniel admired him.

That should have bothered me.

I never understood why until now.

At three fifteen in the morning, my phone vibrated.

Laura.

I opened her message.

Do not consent to any procedure until we speak.

Police have been notified.

Ethan is with me.

You are not alone.

I stared at those last four words.

You are not alone.

My eyes filled.

For the first time all night, I could breathe.

Then another message arrived.

We need to move carefully because the recording includes an active threat.