When My Daughter Was Critically Ill, They Were in Love — Novel

About

When love crumbles under the weight of tragedy, what remains? Riley thought she had a family, a future, until a devastating illness tore her daughter away, revealing the truth about her husband, Cody. In the aftermath of loss, the sharp edges of betrayal cut deeper than she ever imagined. How can one reconcile grief with the stark reality of abandonment, especially when the person who should have been by her side is wrapped in the arms of another?

As Riley grapples with her shattered heart, the lines between love and hatred blur. Yara, Cody's first love, seems to revel in the chaos, her presence a constant reminder of everything that went wrong. With every confrontation, Riley is faced with painful memories and a choice: to let go of the past or to fight for her own dignity in a world that feels utterly unforgiving. Will she find the strength to reclaim her voice, or will the ghosts of their shared history drown her in despair?

In a story of love, loss, and the fierce battle for self-worth, emotions run high, and every decision could lead to liberation or further heartbreak. Can Riley rise from the ashes of her daughter’s memory, or will the ties that bind them all prove too strong to sever?

When My Daughter Was Critically Ill, They Were in Love1

My daughter had come down with acute pneumonia, but my husband said he had something urgent to take care of and told me to go home and take her to the hospital.

What could possibly be more important than our daughter’s life?

I thought at the very least, he’d wait for me to get back. But when I walked through the door, he was gone, and there she was, lying on the floor, pale and barely breathing.

My hands shook as I dialed 911, then tried calling him.

But instead of his voice, I heard hers, his first love.

“Cody’s cooking dinner for me right now. I’ll have him call you later.”

By the time I’d cremated my daughter, my husband, Cody Luke, finally called me back.

——

“Our daughter’s got you with her. Yara’s having a serious breakdown. It’s dangerous, and she needs someone with her!” Cody insisted.

I laughed bitterly. “Is she dying? Should you go die with her, too? After all, being alone in the afterlife would be pretty lonely, right?”

Cody snapped, “Riley, can you not be so cruel?”

I didn’t care to hear him yell any longer. I hung up and blocked him on everything.

My daughter was gone, and with her, my love for him was dead, too.