Chapter 3

I suddenly recalled something as I questioned Anthony. He had told me he would never be able to give me children and urged me to seriously consider if I wanted a divorce back when he was diagnosed with acquired azoospermia.

I had refused back then, shaking my head firmly. "You ought to stop being so silly, Anthony. I married you for who you are; I don't mind not having children."

In the past five years, whenever others questioned why we were childless, I claimed it was my choice, shielding him from any embarrassment.

I had assumed that after being together for so many years, Anthony would at least tell me that he believed me; after all, medically speaking, "gestational age" is based on the first day of the last period, not the date of conception.

In other words, a three-week-old pregnancy would appear as five or six weeks on an ultrasound. Anthony couldn't have been ignorant of that fact as someone who had studied biology at university.

He, however, actually uttered a remark that utterly broke my heart. "You should just produce the evidence if you're innocent, Madison—just like Emily did."

I chuckled softly—a quiet, brittle sound, like something snapping. "You want evidence? I'll give it to you—we'll do a paternity test!"

Anthony immediately panicked. "I-It's still so small, though…"

Emily sneered. "You're so naive, Anthony. If she's bold enough to suggest a paternity test, then she's already figured out an escape route. Maybe she'll find some excuse to terminate the pregnancy before it's even born, or maybe she'll rig the results at the hospital.

"You can't just let her talk her way out of this, Anthony."

I maintained an impassive expression and said, "You can pick the testing facility and appoint the doctor. You can even have your people watch the entire procedure from start to finish. I won't offer a single objection. Is that enough for you?"

Emily was taken aback, clearly not expecting me to be so decisive. She looked me over, then retorted, "Who knows what other tricks you might have up your sleeve—"

Anthony finally broke his silence. "That's enough! We'll do what Madison suggested. We'll go ahead with the paternity test!"

Emily sprang to her feet. "How can you still take her side, Anthony? She has completely humiliated you, yet you're still protecting her! Have you lost your spine?"

Leah stood up as well. "That's enough. We'll wait for the results of the paternity test before making any more claims."

I didn't pay them any more attention; I walked over to the door and put on my shoes.

Anthony called out from behind me. "Where are you going, Madison?"

I didn't even look back as I replied, "I'm going to my mother's for a few days, so just let me know once you've settled on a location."

"You're running away because you've got a guilty conscience, aren't you, Madison?" Emily yelled mockingly from behind.

I kept my hand on the doorknob as I turned to survey the house one final time. Leah was standing in the middle of the room, caught between panic and anger. Anthony looked at me helplessly, as though I were the one making a scene. Emily had her hands on her hips, wearing a triumphant expression.

I was suddenly struck by the urge to laugh, thinking that there truly were some things in this world that were more ridiculous than anything scripted for TV.

I could hear Emily's voice faintly from within once the door closed behind me. "You have nothing to worry about, Mom. I'm sure that once the paternity results are out, Madison won't have any defense left. We'll make sure she walks away with nothing, and since Anthony's prospects are so good, he'll have no trouble finding someone better..."

It was then that the elevator doors slid shut, cutting off all the noise.

I looked down at my belly, noting that it was still perfectly flat.