“I can’t wait until we have our own place,” I murmured.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I just need a little more time to save up. Houses are ridiculously expensive right now.”

“I know.” I smiled. “But when we finally get one, I want a big kitchen. And a backyard.”

“For a dog?” he teased.

“For a baby,” I corrected with a grin.

His expression softened, and he kissed my forehead. “We’ll get there.”

I believed him.

When he left for a work trip that Friday, I barely thought twice about it. His job required travel, and I had grown used to it. I figured I’d use the weekend to deep clean the apartment.

A decision I would soon regret.

While dusting the top shelf of the hallway closet, the ladder beneath me wobbled.

For a split second, I was weightless. Then, I crashed to the floor.

A sharp, searing pain shot through my leg. My vision blurred as I gasped for air, struggling to move. Gritting my teeth, I reached for my phone, barely managing to swipe the screen with trembling fingers.

Minutes later, paramedics arrived. The pain was unbearable as they lifted me onto the stretcher, and I barely kept my eyes open as they wheeled me into the ambulance.

At the hospital, the X-ray confirmed my worst fear—I had broken my leg.

“You’ll need to stay for a few days,” the doctor said after wrapping my leg in a cast. “We need to monitor the swelling before you can go home.”

As soon as he left, I grabbed my phone and called Toby.

He answered immediately. “Kate? Hey! How’s my beautiful wife doing?”

“Toby,” I whispered. “I… I broke my leg.”

“What?” His tone shifted from playful to panicked. “How? What happened?”

“I fell off a ladder while cleaning.”“Jesus, Kate.” I heard rustling on the other end. “I’m coming home. I’ll cut my trip short.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Don’t argue. I should be there with you.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “Okay.”

As we spoke, the door opened, and a nurse walked in.

“You must be Kate,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m Stephanie. I’ll be taking care of you while you’re here.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said, forcing a smile through my discomfort.

“Don’t worry about a thing,” she assured me. “We’ll take great care of you.”

At first, Stephanie was wonderful. She checked on me regularly, adjusted my pillows, and even brought me an extra blanket when I mentioned feeling chilly.

“You must be tired of hospital food already,” she joked one afternoon as she handed me a tray.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but yeah… this is not exactly gourmet dining,” I laughed.

“Don’t worry. I’ll sneak you something better if I can.”

Over time, we talked about our lives.

“So,” she asked one evening, fluffing my pillows, “do you have kids?”

“Not yet,” I admitted. “My husband and I want to buy a house first.”

“That’s smart. Kids are expensive.”

I smiled. “What about you? Are you married?”

She shook her head. “No, but I’m seeing someone. Nothing serious yet.”

“Do you think he’s the one?” I teased.

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “He’s great. The kind, thoughtful type. He’s been spoiling me lately.”

“That’s sweet,” I said. “It’s nice when someone makes you feel special.”

The next day, when Stephanie walked into my room, something caught my eye.

A bracelet.Not just any bracelet. A delicate gold chain with a small heart charm—identical to the one my grandmother had given me. The same bracelet I had lost a month ago.

At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But then, as Stephanie adjusted my IV, I saw it up close.

The tiny engraving on the back of the heart charm. A little smiley face.

My grandmother had requested the jeweler to add that engraving, just for me.

My stomach twisted.

“That’s a beautiful bracelet,” I said, forcing a smile. “Where did you get it?”

She glanced down and smiled. “My boyfriend gave it to me.”

A chill ran through me.

“That’s sweet,” I said. “When did he give it to you?”

“A month ago.”

My fingers gripped the hospital blanket.

Memories flooded back.

I had been getting ready for a party when I realized my bracelet was missing.

“Toby, have you seen my bracelet?” I asked, rummaging through drawers.

“You probably left it somewhere,” he said.

“But it’s always in my jewelry box.”

He sighed, checking his watch. “Kate, we’re running late. Just wear something else.”

His reaction had felt off at the time, but I let it go.

Now, as I stared at the bracelet on Stephanie’s wrist, the pieces clicked into place.

Toby had taken it. And he had given it to her.

I needed to be sure.

My heart pounded as I scrolled through my phone until I found a photo of Toby and me from our anniversary dinner. I turned the screen toward Stephanie.

“Is this your boyfriend?”