Chapter 1Not Worth a Single Hair

I was secretly married to Liam Ashford, Hollywood’s golden boy, for five years.

Our son, Leo, was just diagnosed with leukemia.

And Liam, the A-list actor beloved by millions, is the only bone marrow match.

But to protect the newest starlet hanging from his arm, he kicked us away.

“His life,” he said, his voice like ice, “isn’t worth a single strand of her hair.”

I wiped my tears, my hand trembling as I dialed a number I hadn’t touched in five years.

“Mr. Ashford,” I said into the phone. “Would you be interested in meeting your only grandson?”

* * *

I spent the entire night in the hard plastic chair of the emergency room hallway, holding a feverish Leo in my arms.

My phone’s screen lit up and dimmed, over and over, but the call to Liam went straight to voicemail every time.

Leo was burning up in my lap, his small face flushed, his lips chapped and dry.

He tugged weakly at my sleeve. “Mommy, am I going to die?” he whispered.

“Is that why Daddy doesn’t want me anymore? Because I’m sick?”

My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a giant fist, the pain so sharp I could barely breathe. All I could do was kiss his forehead again and again, murmuring lies. “No, baby, of course not. Daddy loves you so much. He’s just busy with work.”

The next morning, Liam’s name was trending everywhere.

The headline, splashed across TMZ and every gossip blog, was: #LiamAshford’sFranticNight, Rushes AvaBrooksToER.

In the photo, he was clutching the industry’s new ‘It Girl,’ Ava Brooks, shielding her from the paparazzi flashbulbs. His brow was furrowed, his eyes filled with a raw panic and tenderness I had never, not once, seen him direct at me.

The background of the photo was unmistakable. It was the entrance to the very hospital where I had just spent the night on the floor.

So, he wasn’t busy.

He just didn’t have time for us.

In that single moment, my world shattered.

My phone buzzed. A text from Liam.

How's Leo?

Six short letters. I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

I called him back. This time, he answered.

Before I could speak, his voice cut through, sharp and impatient. “I’m in the middle of something. Make it quick.”

In the background, I could hear Ava’s syrupy-sweet voice. “Liam, honey, the doctor said you need to rest. Let’s go home.”

My fingers tightened around the phone, my knuckles turning white.

“Liam,” I said, my voice flat. “Leo’s bone marrow results came back.”

I paused, letting the silence hang in the air.

“You’re the only match.”