Chapter 1

I was in a coma for three years after the car accident.

When I finally woke, my family cried with relief.

Their attentiveness was almost too perfect. Beneath the devotion, something felt wrong.

There were men's clothes in the house that didn't fit me.

Baby items I didn't recognize kept appearing in my mother-in-law Susan's shopping cart.

My father-in-law David got a congratulatory text from a friend about “a newborn.”

And Serena, my wife, was always working late.

The night Serena left for another “business trip,” I followed her.

In a warmly lit house, my in-laws and Serena sat around a table.

A man who looked almost exactly like me was holding a child, gently urging them to call my wife "Mommy."

Under the soft, warm light, the man held the child beside my wife-a portrait of a happy family.

My in-laws watched them, their eyes full of tenderness.

"We should start planning Leo's birthday party, Dylan. You've both been through so much."

Dylan hesitated. "A birthday party...are you sure that's safe?"

Susan reached over and gently squeezed his hand.

"You've suffered enough, dear. If Julian hadn't woken up, you wouldn't be living like this-always in hiding."

"We'll keep it quiet. We're giving Leo a party. Even if we have to hide it from Julian!"

My wife, Serena, also gently took his arm. "She's right."

Watching their picture-perfect family scene from outside the window, I felt a chilling cold spread through my entire body.

I'd been in a coma for three years due to a car accident, waking up just a month ago. They had all been overjoyed.

A few days earlier, I'd been discharged and moved back home, only to find my bedroom completely redecorated.

Even my closet contained many clothes that weren't my size or style.

Susan had explained then, "Mike came to stay for a bit, said he missed you and wanted to help take care of you. We agreed."

Mike was my best friend since childhood, so I didn't question it.

But when I walked into my in-laws' bedroom later that night, intending to share some heartfelt words, I saw them holding tiny baby clothes and toys, laughing about something.

Seeing me, their faces instantly changed. They quickly shoved everything behind their backs.

Before I could say anything, David sternly barked, "Why did you come in without knocking?"

I froze.

My in-laws always treated me like their own son. They'd never asked me to knock before. In fact, they used to scold me if I did, saying, "Why are you treating us like strangers?"

Now, their faces were clouded with anger, their tone accusatory.

They quickly caught themselves, and Susan rushed off the bed to pull me closer.

"We just... haven't gotten used to things yet."

I forced a smile, pushing down the strange feeling in my chest.

But I lost all desire to chat and went back to my bedroom.

Serena was taking a shower, but I couldn't understand why she'd been in there for over an hour.

She used to take ten-minute showers, tops.

I waited on the couch. Serena finally emerged from the bathroom, phone in hand, a sweet smile still lingering on her face.

That smile. I knew it better than anyone. It used to be my favorite.

I couldn't help but ask, "What's making you so happy?"

She snapped back to reality, and her smile instantly faded.

As if afraid I'd check her phone, she immediately turned off the screen and tossed it aside.

Then she affectionately hugged me, but I noticed a red mark on her neck.

"Mosquitoes? This time of year?"

I asked, feigning confusion. Serena's face was a mask of bewilderment.

Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, her phone suddenly rang.

I saw a photo of a man, almost identical to me, fill her screen as the caller ID.