Chapter 2 - Fifteen Days Earlier
Madison screamed, "Vincent, don't leave me!"
Vincent stood beside the delivery-room door with his phone in one hand and Madison's crushed wedding-band imprint visible across his palm.
One word glowed across the incoming call.
SOFIA.
Madison knew that name would change everything.
"Five minutes."
Vincent leaned over the bed.
Madison grabbed his wrist.
"No."
Another contraction ripped through her.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Her entire body tightened.
Vincent looked toward the monitor.
Then toward the phone.
It stopped ringing.
Three seconds later, it started again.
"Vincent."
Madison's voice was weaker.
"Don't answer it."
He looked at her.
For months she had tried not to become the kind of wife who asked questions.
Where were you?
Who called?
Why did you leave dinner?
Why does Sofia Bellini know your schedule better than I do?
Madison knew what marrying Vincent meant.
At least she had thought she did.
She knew his businesses were not ordinary businesses.
She knew powerful men lowered their voices around him.
She knew the security guards outside their house weren't there because Vincent was a successful real-estate investor.
But she had created rules for herself.
She would not ask about things she did not want answered.
Vincent would keep his world away from their home.
And when their child came, their family would come first.
That last promise had been his.
Not hers.
"I'll be right outside."
"You said that the last time."
"When?"
"At my twenty-week ultrasound."
Vincent paused.
Madison laughed bitterly.
"You don't remember."
"I had a situation."
"You always have a situation."
The phone continued ringing.
Madison stared at the name.
Sofia.
"Is she more important than this?"
Vincent's expression hardened.
"This isn't about Sofia."
"Then don't answer."
He hesitated.
That hesitation told Madison more than any answer could have.
She released his wrist.
"Go."
"Madison—"
"Go."
"I'll be five minutes."
She turned her face away.
Vincent kissed her forehead.
Then he left.
The door closed.
Madison stared at it.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Then twenty.
At 12:09, the doctor entered.
At 12:14, Madison started pushing.
At 12:16, her son entered the world screaming.
Madison cried when they placed him against her chest.
He had dark hair.
Vincent's hair.
A tiny angry face.
Vincent's son.
Their son.
"Oh, baby."
Madison kissed his forehead.
"Hi."
She looked toward the door.
Still closed.
"Can someone call my husband?"
A nurse nodded.
Then Madison felt warmth beneath her.
Too much warmth.
The nurse's expression changed.
The doctor moved quickly.
"Madison, I need you to stay calm."
"What?"
"We're having some bleeding."
Someone took the baby.
Madison reached for him.
"Wait."
"He's okay."
"Give him back."
"Madison, listen to me."
More people entered.
The room changed.
Voices became faster.
Equipment moved.
Hands pressed against her abdomen.
Pain exploded through her.
"Call Vincent."
"We are."
"Call him now."
A nurse reached for the phone.
Madison stared at the ceiling.
The lights blurred.
"Mrs. Carter, stay with me."
"I'm here."
"Look at me."
"Where's my husband?"
"We're trying him."
Madison began shaking.
The doctor said something about blood.
Then surgery.
Then consent.
Madison couldn't understand everything.
"Am I dying?"
Nobody answered immediately.
That was the moment she became terrified.
"Am I dying?"
"We're going to take care of you."
"Where's my baby?"
"He's safe."
"Vincent."
"We're calling him."
Madison grabbed the nurse's hand.
"If he answers..."
Her voice broke.
"Tell him I love him."
"You can tell him yourself."
"If he answers, tell him."
The room disappeared behind tears.
Then darkness came.
Six hours later, Madison opened her eyes.
The first word she whispered was his name.
"Vincent?"
Margaret was sitting beside the bed.
Not Vincent.
Madison looked toward the door.
"Where is he?"
Margaret hesitated.
That hesitation became the first crack.
"He hasn't arrived yet."
Madison closed her eyes.
"Did he call?"
Margaret didn't answer.
The crack widened.
Later that night, Madison held her son.
She named him Leo.
The name she and Vincent had chosen together.
At 2:10 a.m., she asked again.
"Any calls?"
"No."
At sunrise, she stopped asking.
But she kept watching the door.
On the second day, flowers arrived.
Not from Vincent.
On the third day, a gift arrived.
A diamond bracelet.
The card said:
For Madison. Congratulations. — V.
Madison stared at it.
"Did he send this?"
Margaret asked.
Madison turned the card over.
No handwriting.
Printed.
She put the bracelet back in the box.
"His assistant did."
On day four, Madison called Vincent herself.
Voicemail.
She called his office.
A woman answered.
"Mr. Carter's office."
Madison knew the voice.
"Sofia?"
Silence.
Then:
"Madison."
"Where is my husband?"
"He's dealing with something."
"I almost died."
"I know."
Madison went still.
"You know?"
"Vincent knows you're stable."
"Put him on."
"He can't speak right now."
"Then tell him his wife needs him."
Sofia exhaled.
"Madison, Vincent has responsibilities you don't understand."
Madison looked at Leo sleeping against her chest.
"My son is one of them."
"Of course."
"Tell him to call me."
"I will."
Sofia hung up.
Vincent never called.
Day six.
Day seven.
Day eight.
Madison became stronger.
She began walking.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Margaret helped her shower.
She learned to feed Leo.
She learned which cry meant hunger and which meant exhaustion.
She learned she could survive nights alone.
On day nine, she stopped looking at the door.
On day ten, she called an attorney.
On day eleven, she signed papers for a small apartment under her maiden name.
Then she made another call.
A number she had promised herself she would never use.
A man answered.
"Hello?"
Madison couldn't speak.
The voice changed.
"Madison?"
Her eyes filled.
"How did you know?"
"Nobody else has this number."
She looked down at Leo.
"I need help."
There was a long silence.
Then the man said:
"Does Vincent know you're calling me?"
"No."
"Good."
Madison's hand tightened around the phone.
"Can you get me out?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
She swallowed.
"Daniel..."
"Yeah?"
"If Vincent finds out you're alive—"
"He will."
Madison froze.
"What?"
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Because, Madison, Vincent Carter is the reason everyone thinks I'm dead."
The hospital-room door opened.
Madison looked up.
A woman stood there.
Pale pink dress.
Blonde hair.
May you like
Sofia.
And in her hand was Vincent's private key.
