Chapter 3 - The Sterile Husband
Ethan stopped shaking Madison’s shoulder. He turned back to Dr. Vale, his eyes wide and bloodshot.
“What detail?” Ethan asked, his voice barely audible.
“When we audited the archived genetic files from your former clinic,” Dr. Vale said, holding up a sleek barcoded sheet, “we didn’t just re-evaluate Claire’s samples. We also re-evaluated yours.”
Madison let out a sharp, choked gasp. She tried to turn around and push past the crowd that had gathered around us, but two hospital security guards—who had been standing discreetly near the elevator doors—stepped forward, blocking the exit.
“My samples?” Ethan stammered. “What about my samples? Dr. Harrison said my sperm count was exceptional!”
“Dr. Harrison lied about that, too,” Dr. Vale replied coldly. “According to three separate high-resolution semen analyses conducted over four years—as well as your baseline genetic screen—you suffer from severe, irreversible obstructive azoospermia caused by a congenital duct deletion. You do not produce viable sperm cells, Mr. Vance. You never have.”
The words seemed to hang in the air, echoing off the high ceiling like thunder.
Ethan stood completely frozen. “I... what?”
“You are biologically sterile,” Dr. Vale stated with absolute medical certainty. “It is physically, genetically impossible for you to father a child naturally.”
Ethan’s breathing became fast and shallow. He looked down at his own hands, then slowly, terrifyingly, turned his head to look at the one-year-old boy in Madison’s arms.
The baby had fair skin, dark brown hair, and bright hazel eyes.
Ethan had black hair and deep blue eyes.
For a whole year, Ethan had paraded this baby around town like a trophy, boasting to his friends, his family, and the media that he had finally proven his manhood after divorcing his “defective” ex-wife. He had named the child after his late grandfather. He had put the child’s name on his family trust.
And he wasn’t the father.
“Ethan...” Madison sobbed, her face pale as a sheet, backing away until her spine hit the concrete pillar behind her. “Ethan, listen to me! Doctors make mistakes! Science isn’t always right! It’s a miracle! Leo is a miracle baby!”
“A miracle?” Ethan whispered, his voice dropping into a dark, terrifying register.
He stepped toward her, his face twisting into a mask of pure rage.
“You told me Claire couldn’t give me a child!” Ethan roared, his voice booming through the entire hospital lobby. “You told me she was broken! You let me throw her out of her own house! You let me divorce her! And the whole time... the whole damn time... you were lying to me?!”
“Ethan, please!” Madison cried out, clutching the baby tight against her chest. “I did it for us! I loved you so much! You were suffering with her! She didn’t appreciate you!”
“Who is the father?!” Ethan screamed, grabbing Madison by her forearms, ignoring the baby’s sudden loud crying. “WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?!”
“Get your hands off her, sir!” one of the security guards barked, stepping in immediately to pull Ethan away from Madison.
“Ethan, don’t do this here!” Madison wept, ducking behind the guard.
I stood beside Dr. Vale, watching the absolute destruction of the two people who had destroyed my life a year ago. I didn't feel rage anymore. I didn't feel hatred. I felt an incredible, weightless sense of absolute freedom.
I folded my arms and looked down at Ethan, who was currently on his knees on the marble floor, gasping for air as his entire ego, his family legacy, and his pride shattered into a million sharp pieces around him.
“You said leaving me was the best decision you ever made, Ethan,” I said softly, looking down at him.
He slowly raised his bloodshot eyes to look up at me.
“It turned out to be the best decision for me, too,” I added with a cold, beautiful smile.
I turned on my heel and began walking toward the front glass exit of St. Catherine’s Hospital.
May you like
Dr. Adrian Vale walked beside me, his long, confident strides keeping pace with mine.
Behind us, Ethan’s broken screams and Madison’s frantic crying echoed through the halls, but I didn't turn back once.
