Prime Priority

The drive up the mountain was silent.

Ethan's warm hand rested over mine as he said gently, "I hired your favorite five-star chef. Whatever you want for your birthday dinner, he can make it."

He paused, his gaze softening. "Once things settle down, we should think about having a baby. You've always said you love kids."

I didn't respond. I just watched the scenery blur past the window.

He didn't know that we could have had a child long ago. But that little angel died because of the order he personally gave to the hospital staff.

We hadn't driven far from the banquet when his personal phone rang.

He answered the call, spoke softly, then turned back to me with an apologetic expression. "There's an urgent issue at the company. I need to go back and handle it myself."

I nodded calmly. "Go ahead. Work comes first."

He looked taken aback, as if wanting to explain. "Laurel, I…"

"It's fine. Go," I said with a small smile, nudging his arm. "I'll wait for you at the top. You promised to watch the sunrise with me, remember?"

I climbed the mountain alone.

The wind was icy. My phone's bright screen felt harsh in the darkness.

Vivian had posted a new update.

In the photo, she was wearing a hospital gown, sitting on a bench with a pitiful look as she held her stomach.

The caption read, "Tonight was terrifying. Poor me, getting pushed while pregnant. Thank goodness the baby is fine! But someone dropped everything to rush here and stay with me. I don't even know how to thank him."

I recognized the blurred silhouette beside her instantly.

It was Ethan.

I called him. The phone rang for a long time before Vivian picked up. "Hello? Laurel? Ethan's busy. He's talking to the doctor about my condition."

Her voice was dripping with pride. "You have no idea how much he cares about me. Once, I tripped but told him I was hit by a car. In less than ten minutes, Ethan called every specialist in the hospital to me!

"Even the surgeon who was supposed to perform an emergency operation had to come check my foot first. Do you think you could ever compare to me?"

Her sharp, triumphant laugh echoed through the speaker.

But all I felt was my blood turning cold.

How could I not know about the night she mentioned?

That was the night I lost my child. The "delayed emergency operation" they never performed was mine. And all of it happened because of a lie she made up on a whim.

My hand trembled as I ended the call.

I waited the entire night. It was long enough for darkness to swallow the mountains and the hours to drag by without end.

As sunrise approached, Ethan still hadn't shown up.

I told the driver beside me, "You can go back first."

He hesitated. "Mrs. Fuller, aren't you coming with me?"

I shook my head softly. "I just want to stay here a little while and get some fresh air."

He seemed unsure, but remembering who I was, he finally left.

I walked forward slowly, staring at the dull gray sky.

I recalled his sweet words, his embraces, and his promises…

Memory after memory drifted through my mind, but none stirred anything in me. Compared to his "Priority above everything" for Vivian, they felt like a joke.

When the first trace of sunlight broke through the clouds, I dialed his number one last time.

This time, his phone was turned off.

I stared at the screen and scheduled a timed email to be sent to him.

Inside, I attached three things.

First, a photo of the hospital order stating, "Prioritize treatment for Vivian."

Second, a medical report confirming my miscarriage due to delayed treatment.

And third, an audio recording of Vivian admitting she lied about being hit by a car.

Once it was done, I looked at the sunrise spreading across the horizon. Without hesitation, I stepped forward and jumped.

…

At the hospital, Ethan was preparing to leave.

Vivian reached out to stop him, her voice weak. "Ethan, stay with me a little longer, please?"

He shook his head firmly. "No. Today is Laurel's birthday. I promised to watch the sunrise with her. I have to go find her."

Just then, his assistant, Thomas Walters, rushed in. He was pale and frantic as he exclaimed, "Mr. Fuller, something terrible happened! Mrs. Fuller jumped off the cliff!"