Chapter 1

"Is Julian checking up on you again?"

My friend Howard and I married the Franklin sisters.

We’ve been married for five years now, and each of us has a beautiful little daughter.

I married Georgina, the older sister who runs the local pharmacy across the street from our townhouse complex.

Howard married Vivian, the younger sister who works as a tattoo artist.

I’ve had chronic stomach issues for years and take daily medication. But this time, right after swallowing my pills, a violent wave of nausea hit me. I spat out a mouthful of dark, blackish-red blood.

Georgina’s pharmacy was right across the street. She had medical training, so clutching my burning stomach, I frantically called her for help.

She declined my calls six times before finally picking up. When she did, her irritated voice blasted through the receiver.

"Didn't you just get your meds from my shop last week? If your stomach hurts, take your pills! What do you want me to do about it?"

"Koman just came over to bring me lunch, and his hand got scratched by an unsterilized needle. I need to give him emergency treatment right now!"

"If he gets an infection from this, he’ll have to go through absolute hell with heavy antibiotics!"

I felt a violent squeeze in my stomach and threw up mouthful after mouthful of blood.

On the brink of death, Howard, who had just picked up the girls from preschool, found me and saved my life.

On the way to the ER, he called Vivian, telling her to rush home and look after our young daughters.

But Vivian just screamed at him over the phone:

"Do you have any idea how busy I am? I work late almost every night, and you're constantly harassing me with these stupid phone calls!"

"Koman’s wound needs to be treated immediately! I don't have time to waste on your childish drama!"

Left completely unattended at home, our young daughters wandered out of the house to look for us.

But I was fighting for my life in the ICU. By the time we realized what had happened, both of our girls had gone missing.

Howard and I were completely done. No matter what, we were getting a divorce!