"I survived a car crash with both legs broken, only to wake up in a hospital bed and realize my husband was angrier that I cost him money than he was relieved I was alive."

CHAPTER 1

I survived a car crash with both legs broken, only to wake up in a hospital bed and realize my husband was angrier that I cost him money than he was relieved I was alive.

The door slammed so hard the heart monitor beside me jumped into a faster rhythm.

“Enough of this performance, Rebecca!” Caleb shouted.

For twenty-one days, I had waited for him.

I had imagined him walking into my hospital room with flowers, guilt in his eyes, maybe even tears. I imagined him taking my hand and saying, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”

Instead, he stood near the foot of my bed in dark jeans and a black shirt, looking at my casts like they were an inconvenience he had purchased by mistake.

“Caleb,” I whispered.

“Get out of that bed.”

I stared at him.

Both of my legs were trapped in heavy casts. My ribs burned every time I breathed. There were stitches along my shoulder and bruises fading across my body from the accident that should have killed me.

“I can’t,” I said.

His jaw tightened.

“I’m not wasting money on this anymore.”

The words landed harder than the crash.

I had given Caleb twelve years. I had given him my career, my savings, my patience, and every excuse I could invent for his temper. I raised our daughter, Emma, while he built a life where everything was my fault and every sacrifice was expected.

“My legs are broken,” I whispered.

“Then figure something out,” he snapped. “Sell your jewelry. Sell your things. I’m done paying for a wife who’s useless.”

Useless.

I looked at the man I married and finally saw him clearly.

Not stressed.

Not misunderstood.

Cruel.

“Caleb,” I said, voice trembling, “I gave you everything.”

He laughed.

“You’re a burden, Rebecca. An expensive burden.”

Tears burned my eyes.

“I’m your wife.”