Jenifer's POV
My surgery was scheduled for the holiday of all days.
Fireworks burst outside the hospital window, brilliant and dazzling against the dark sky.
But I sat here completely alone.
The IV needle pierced my right hand as I trailed behind the nurse, filling out surgical forms. Exhaustion weighed heavy on my face, impossible to hide.
Right before they wheeled me into the operating room, I called my husband Reed Gould. "Could you possibly come to the hospital..."
Romano's voice cut through before I could finish. "Mommy, Daddy's taking me to see fireworks tonight... They're so pretty!"
"Mommy, stop bothering us!"
The line went dead with sharp beeps.
I pressed my lips into a thin line, dropping my gaze to mask the crushing disappointment. After pulling myself together, I started toward the operating room.
My phone buzzed twice.
Hoping it might be Romano or Reed reaching out, I quickly unlocked the screen.
What I saw next made my blood turn to ice.
*Holiday celebration, so grateful for everyone here with me. Here's to many more nights like this.*
The notification came from my special contact—Lorelei Keller's Instagram.
A photo accompanied her post.
I zoomed in and found the three of them huddled close together, spectacular fireworks exploding behind them...
I'm not sure how I ended up dialing Reed's number. His icy voice finally broke through, snapping me back to reality as I gripped the phone. "Where are you right now?"
Silence stretched between us.
I could hear my own pulse hammering like drums. When Reed finally spoke, his voice sounded distant, oddly tender. "Romano and I will catch up with you for the next celebration."
He clearly knew I'd discovered something, yet he refused to offer any explanation.
I ended the call.
The procedure went without complications.
As the anesthesia faded, sharp pain radiated from my lower belly, spreading through my back in waves of discomfort.
I rubbed my abdomen gently, but my left hand moved on its own to unlock my phone.
Lorelei's photo filled the screen.
My eyes locked onto the image of Romano in her embrace, beaming with pure joy. His small arms circled her neck tightly, his cheek pressed against hers. He gazed at the man beside her—someone who shared his features—smiling as he formed half a heart with his fingers.
Standing next to them was Reed, wearing a soft smile.
So different from the distant man I knew. I'd always believed Reed couldn't smile at all.
Turns out he could—just not for me.
I shut my eyes as bitterness flooded my chest, devouring every warm memory until nothing remained but cold emptiness. My eyes burned, though no tears would fall.
On this holiday evening, my husband and son abandoned me to celebrate with another woman. They weren't family, yet they looked more complete than we ever had.
Meanwhile, I lay here as wife and mother, facing surgery's pain and terror completely alone.
Lorelei was Reed's first love. They'd supposedly been crazy about each other until she left for her dreams overseas, which led to my marriage with Reed.
The hospital kept me until the early morning hours before discharge. When I finally got home, I found Reed sitting with Romano, both watching some livestream.
I frowned immediately. "Romano, why aren't you in bed?"
Romano had been born with a congenital heart condition, spending months in the ICU. Days after his release, doctors diagnosed him with congenital asthma too.
Since then, I'd been obsessive about his health routine.
I couldn't stand him staying up this late. My stern tone startled Romano so badly he dropped his phone.
The device clattered to the floor, landing right at my feet.
From where I stood, I could see the screen clearly. Lorelei was broadcasting live.
The realization hit me like a slap across the face. My mind went completely blank.
"You're being too hard on him—tonight's just special," Reed spoke first, breaking the awful silence. He rubbed Romano's chest soothingly, then casually retrieved the phone and killed the screen. "Life doesn't always follow our plans."
Even with the screen dark, the livestream audio continued.
Lorelei's voice rang out crystal clear.
"I want to thank a sweet boy named Romano for creating such a magical evening for me... The fireworks were gorgeous, but his innocent love was even more beautiful. Romano, if you're listening: I love you too."
"And to Mr. G, whose identity we'll keep private, who stayed by my side all evening. Thank you."
Mr. G?
I stared at Reed.
His typically cold, sharp eyes softened as he gazed at the phone, as if I—standing right across from him—was nothing more than invisible furniture.
It had always been this way.
I stood beside him, slept in his bed, yet from start to finish, I remained Plan B—the choice nobody actually wanted.
I watched Reed's fingers thread gently through Romano's silky hair.
Then I saw Romano wrap his arms around Reed with that sweet smile, giggling with pure happiness.
So this was the "special" exception Reed allowed Romano to stay awake for!
I loved fireworks too, but apparently the ones I treasured were launched by my husband and son for another woman.
After Lorelei finished speaking, the stream ended.
Only then did Reed glance my way. I lowered my eyes to look at Romano.
Catching my gaze, Romano finally remembered my earlier scolding. His lip jutted out as he bolted upstairs, but not before shouting, "Mommy's so mean! I don't like you!"
"Romano!"
Reed's sharp voice cut Romano's words short.
After those few minutes of being reprimanded, Romano stormed upstairs in a huff.
His small back looked so resolute, so final, carrying deep resentment. It felt like a thorn lodged in my heart, those childish yet cutting words echoing in my head.
I stumbled backward as sudden, sharp pain tore through my abdomen. I couldn't help curling forward, my face draining of all color.
"What's wrong?" Reed caught my arm, frowning. "You look terrible."
He'd noticed the moment I walked in—my face white as bone.
Something clicked, and he asked, "Where were you tonight?"
At his touch, I pulled away, staring at the man I'd loved for years.
Tonight, on this holiday, I'd undergone surgery.
For an ectopic pregnancy.
Because Romano wanted a little sister, I'd pushed for a second child with Reed, but something went horribly wrong—the pregnancy developed in the wrong place.
I didn't want to burden father and son, so I handled the surgery secretly, but no one seemed to care about my breaking heart.
"Reed, let's get divorced."
I was exhausted. I couldn't hold on anymore.
I'd loved Reed for years, been Mrs. Gould for so long, and given him a son. Though our life was simple, I'd been satisfied. Not until tonight did I realize everything I'd sacrificed was purely one-sided devotion.
If it was one-sided, I'd have to face the consequences.
After speaking those words, I clutched my abdomen and stumbled upstairs.
Confusion flickered across Reed's face as he reached for me. Just as his fingers grazed my sleeve, his phone rang.
That special ringtone froze his movement, giving me the chance to escape. He glanced toward me with a sigh, then answered, "Lorelei."
I swallowed two painkillers, and within minutes the abdominal pain subsided.
Lying quietly on my bed, the night's events replayed in my mind like scenes from a movie. My thoughts inevitably wandered to Reed and Romano's obvious preference for Lorelei and their indifference toward me. My eyelids grew heavy.
The door creaked open. Romano stood in the doorway looking somewhat sheepish. "Mommy, happy holiday."
My racing thoughts snapped back to the present as I looked at Romano—the son I'd fought so hard to have, who shared Reed's features in so many ways.
My heart softened despite everything.
I was about to respond when Romano asked, "Mommy, you said me and Daddy are your whole world. What we love, Mom should love too, right?"
I felt confused and asked, "Romano, what are you getting at?"
"I love Lorelei, so Mommy should love her too," Romano declared, "just like Daddy and me."