Three years ago
Richard’s POV
After the incident.
I’d just brought Payton home from the hospital. She was shattered—completely broken—when the doctor told her our baby hadn’t made it. So was I. But one of us had to stay strong, so I buried my grief deep and focused on her.
I guided her gently into our bedroom.
Tears streamed silently down her cheeks. I eased her onto the bed and sat beside her, brushing damp hair from her face.
“Babe… please stop crying,” I whispered.
“Mia is gone,” she said, voice cracking. “My Mia…”
“I know.” My throat tightened. “But you’re still here. We’re still here. We can… we can try again. We can make more—”
“Don’t say that, Richard.” Her eyes flashed with sudden anger. “She was too precious for you to replace her like that.”
The words stung because she
