Everyone at Hayes Medical Group knew I was the CEO's model wife. Then my son died, and I became a ghost. I stopped pressing Carter's suits at dawn. Stopped timing dinner to his schedule. And today I came alone to fill out Leo's death certificate. The clerk took my paperwork and asked without looking up, "Where's the father?" "His father's dead." She frowned. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but our records show the father is Carter Hayes, CEO of Hayes Medical Group. Mr. Hayes is alive." "Alive or dead," I said. "What's the difference anymore." "Why didn't you wait for me?" I went stiff but didn't turn around. Carter strode up beside me, voice tight. "My assistant found you here. I'm Leo's father. Why the hell would you shut me out?" I finally looked at him. "You're busy. I didn't want to interrupt." I saw the anger in his eyes. Maybe more than that. I used to ask permission for everything, like which wine to serve at dinner parties, whether she should cut her hair. Always checking with him first. Since Leo died, I'd stopped asking. "Mr. Hayes!" His assistant burst in, cutting him off. "Another incident at the hospital. That nurse, Tessa, mixed up patient meds again. The family's threatening to sue!" Carter's jaw went tight. Annoyance flickered across his face. "How many times do I have to tell her to be more careful?" But his body was already turning toward the door. Feet already moving. He glanced back at me. Half a second of hesitation. "Wait here. I'll handle this fast and come back." He didn't wait for an answer. Just walked out, his expensive shoes clicking against the tile until he was gone. I stared down at the death certificate in my hands. Then I laughed. Tears hit the paper before I even felt them coming. Again. Always Tessa. Carter and I grew up in the same world. Old money, summer houses, prep school. He built Hayes Medical Group into a billion-dollar empire by thirty. I graduated top of my Ivy League research program with offers from institutions all over the world. Everyone thought I'd chase that. But I turned it all down for Carter. Walked away from my career to become Mrs. Hayes to stand beside him at galas, run his household and give him a son. And for years, Carter had cherished me. When my migraines got so bad I couldn't see, he used to drive across town at 2 AM to get that specific herbal tea I liked. When I mentioned a vintage Hermès bag once—once—he spent weeks tracking one down. When insomnia kept me up, he'd read to me in bed, moonlight on his face. I loved him completely. No conditions. And in return, I made his life run like clockwork. Society magazines called me the perfect wife. Every year we topped the Power Couples lists. Then we had Leo.He was a beautiful boy with Carter's eyes and smile like me. I thought it would last forever. Then Tessa showed up. She was an orphan the Hayes family had taken in after her parents died. Carter, playing the hero, gave her a job as a clinical assistant at his private hospital. I'd welcomed her myself. And helped her settle in. I never imagined that kindness would become my nightmare. The day Leo spiked a fever, his face flushed red, crying nonstop, I panicked and rushed him to the hospital. Tessa was on duty. I left Leo in her care, reminded her twice about the medication, and ran home for his medical records. Fifteen minutes. That's all it was. When I got back, Leo was convulsing. Tessa stood there frozen, face white, hands shaking. It was already too late. I held his cold body and screamed until I had nothing left. The memory broke apart. I gripped the death certificate, chest cracking open, barely able to breathe. I wiped my face, stood up and went home. The mansion was empty. Leo's toys still on the coffee table. His little sneakers lined up by the door exactly where he'd left them. I went to the study. My hands were shaking when I dialed the number I'd buried for years. "Hello?" "Dr. Sterling. It's Serena Hayes." My voice came out quieter. "That research position in Switzerland. I'll take it." A beat of silence. "Serena? Are you sure? It's a ten-year contract. You might not see Carter for a long time, the NDA alone—" "I'm sure," I said. "I don't love him anymore." "Don't love who anymore?" The door slammed open. Carter stood in the doorway, face drained of color.
I tightened my grip on the phone for a split second before hanging up. "Just a guy from my old research program who keeps asking me out. I told him I'm not interested." Carter's shoulders dropped slightly, though his jaw stayed tight. "This is exactly why I never wanted you working. Too many men hovering around." He stepped closer, studying my face like he was looking for cracks. "So you do still love me, right, Serena?" I didn't answer. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at nothing. Carter waited. I could feel his patience thinning, some edge of anxiety creeping into his silence. Finally I gave the smallest nod. Barely anything. Could've been nothing. But he caught it. The tension in his chest visibly loosened. He reached toward my hair, fingers stopping just before making contact. Fine. She's still grieving, but he could wait. The front door lock clicked. Tessa breezed in like she owned the place. "Carter! You were amazing today!" She spotted him immediately and threw her arms around him without hesitation. "If you hadn't shown up, those people would've destroyed me. I made one tiny medication error and they're acting like I killed someone. I didn't do it on purpose!" Halfway through her complaint, she seemed to notice the silence in the room. Her eyes slid over to me on the bed. "Oh. Serena. Didn't see you there." Carter's expression darkened. He didn't want her words dragging me back to Leo. "Enough. Go to your room." Tessa pouted but caught his look and left, slowly and with obvious reluctance. That night, Carter showered and climbed into bed beside me, skin still damp. We hadn't been close since Leo died. He watched my back, turned away from him, then slowly wrapped his arm around my waist and pressed his lips to my neck. "Serena..." My whole body went rigid. I didn't turn over. I just shifted away until I was nearly off the mattress. His arm dropped. "Serena, what the hell do you want from me? Last time you said you had your period. Time before that you felt sick. What is it now? I'm your husband." I buried my face in the pillow. "I'm tired." Three words. He stared at me for a long moment, then threw back the covers. "Fine. Rest." He grabbed his jacket and left. The door clicked shut behind him. Only then did I let my body go slack. Around midnight I got up for the bathroom. Passing Tessa's room, I noticed the door was slightly open, and strange sounds drifted out. It was suppressed breathing and low moans. Then Tessa's voice, sweet and deliberate: "Carter... does this feel good?" I froze. "So good..." Carter's voice, low and rough. "These past two months, Serena's been so lost in her grief. Thank god you've been here to help me through it." "Aren't you worried she'll hear?" "She sleeps like the dead. Nothing wakes her. Don't worry about it." The floor dropped out from under me. My ears rang. I clamped my hand over my mouth before the nausea could come out. So that was it. Carter wasn't defending Tessa out of pity for some orphan. It wasn't family obligation. They were sleeping together. I pressed myself against the wall to keep from going down. I don't remember walking back to my room. I just found myself sitting on the bed, phone in my shaking hands, barely able to dial. "Dr. Sterling. It's me. How soon can I leave?" "...Seven days at the earliest. We'll send someone to pick you up and take you straight to the airport. I'll expedite everything on my end. Serena, are you absolutely sure?" I closed my eyes and breathed. "I'm sure." I hung up and pulled the blanket tight around myself. The sounds from next door continued for a long time. I lay there with my eyes open and let the night go on forever.
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