Clara's POV

I was in a coma for five years. And for five years, my husband cheated on me with his secretary right next to my bed.

Today, I finally woke up.

The first thing I heard was Alexander Reid's voice, low and gentle, right by my ear.

"Clara, you're no use to me anymore." His fingers stroked my cheek. "Five years, and you still won't die. Do you know how much you cost me?"

My blood turned to ice.

"Why don't you just keep sleeping forever, huh?"

I had loved this man since I was twelve. I had nearly died giving him two kids. And now he was talking to me like I was trash he forgot to take out.

His phone buzzed. He answered it right there, and his whole voice changed. It went soft and sticky.

The room was so quiet I could hear her through the phone.

"Hey, baby. Where are you?"

"Downstairs in the car. I'm bored." Olivia Hughes's voice was sweet and lazy. It was the voice she never used at work. "Is the corpse behaving?"

"She hasn't moved an inch." He laughed. "Five years, and not a single complaint. Best wife I could ask for."

Olivia giggled. "You're awful."

"Only to her." His voice softened. "You know I'm not like that with you."

I wanted to scream. I wanted to jump up and slap that smile off his face. But my body lay there like a stone, and my heart pounded so hard I thought he would feel it.

Then someone knocked on the door.

"Mr. Reid? Sorry to disturb you. Visiting hours are over."

Alexander hung up so fast the phone almost slipped. His face changed in a heartbeat. The smirk vanished. His eyes turned red and wet, and his shoulders sagged like a man who had been crying for hours.

"Of course," he said, in a hoarse, broken voice. "I just can't stand leaving her."

He bent down and kissed my forehead, slow and tender.

"Wake up soon, okay? I'll wait for you. Always."

Then he leaned closer and added, so quietly that only I could hear, "Or don't. I'm tired of coming here just so people can watch me do it."

The door shut. His footsteps faded.

Two young nurses were whispering in the hall.

"Mr. Reid is the perfect husband," one sighed. "He's visited his wife every week for five years."

"And he's a billionaire," the other said, a little jealous. "Not one scandal!"

"She must have saved the world in her last life."

The perfect husband. Right.

Seven years ago, I was about to board a plane to the best medical institute in the world. Then he said, "Stay, Clara. I need you." So I stayed.

I worked until my stomach bled, and I built the drug that put him on the board. He swore he'd treat me like a queen forever.

I believed him. What a fool.

Now he wanted me to disappear. What a catch.

That was when I opened my eyes.

The ceiling was white and blurry. My eyelids felt like bricks. But when I told my finger to move, it moved. Then the next one. Pins and needles ran up my arm, and I had never been so happy to feel pain.

I lay there, breathing hard, and let my fingers move on the sheet. Then, faintly, Alexander's voice drifted up from the parking lot, low and warm.

What was he up to now?

I grabbed the bed rail and pulled myself up. The moment my feet touched the floor, my legs folded, and I crashed onto the tile. My knees burned.

Get up, I told myself. Get up.

I couldn't. So I crawled. Inch by inch, I dragged myself to the window and hauled myself up on the sill. My whole body shook.

Down in the lot sat a black luxury car. I knew it. The plate was my birthday. Alexander gave it to me on our first anniversary.

"Do you really love me?" I had asked, laughing, with my arms around his neck.

"You're my wife," he said. "Who else would I love?"

I was so happy that day. For one second, my eyes stung.

Then Olivia stepped out of the car in high heels and a white dress. She strutted across the pavement like she owned the place. Alexander walked up to her, and she tripped over nothing and fell right into his arms.

"Careful!" He caught her at once. His face was full of worry, like she might break. "Did you hurt your ankle? Let me see."

I stared at that look. He had never looked at me that way. Not once. Not even the night I almost died.

Then the back door swung open, and my world stopped.

A boy and a girl jumped out. They looked like little porcelain dolls. They were so big now. In my head, they were still tiny newborns.

"Lucas! Luna!"

My voice cracked. Tears poured down my face. I pressed my palm to the glass.

Look up, I begged. Please look up and wave.

They ran straight to Olivia.

"Mommy Olivia!" Luna jumped into her arms and kissed her cheek, and kissed it again. "I drew you a picture! See? That's you, and that's me, and that's Daddy!"

"Oh, sweetheart, it's beautiful." Olivia kissed her forehead. "I'm putting it on my fridge."

Lucas tugged her sleeve. "Mommy Olivia, you're cold. Wear my scarf."

"You're such a gentleman." Olivia laughed and let him wrap it around her neck.

Alexander smiled at all three of them, like a family on a Christmas card.

My chest caved in. Alexander came every week, but the kids came maybe once a year. And the one time he finally brought them, Olivia came along too. The second the room was empty, she bent down to Luna and said sweetly, "Honey, call me Mommy."

Luna did. Three feet from my bed. I screamed inside my head, and my body didn't even twitch. I wanted to tear that woman's mouth apart.

Now Luna looked up at my window.

Our eyes met.

My heart leaped. I smoothed my hair and gave her the warmest smile I had ever made. Hi, baby. It's Mommy.

Luna went white and hid behind Olivia's skirt.

"Daddy! A lady with long hair is up there!"

Alexander looked up at my window. For a second, his face went tight. Then he shook his head.

"That's your mom's room, sweetheart. She hasn't even opened her eyes in five years." He took Luna's hand. "Come on. Let's go home."

But he glanced back at my window once more before he walked away.

I didn't care. I was only looking at Luna. She held Olivia's hand and didn't look back at all.

My own daughter was afraid of me.

Tears ran down my face, and I couldn't stop them. My knees started to shake. I held on to the sill, but my fingers had no strength left. All I could think was, I want my babies back. Please. They're mine.

The sill slipped out of my hands, and I dropped to the floor.

I tried to get up. I couldn't. The room spun, and my breath came in little gasps.

Then the door banged open.

Dr. Walker grabbed his phone and called Alexander.

"Mr. Reid, you need to come to the hospital. Your wife just woke up!"