Chapter 3

Andre had no intention of explaining. He did not even look at me, his gaze fixed only on the leading doctor as he nodded simply.

The doctor immediately straightened his back and respectfully walked toward me, who had been forcibly pressed onto the operating table. "Mrs. Garcia, this is an ovulation induction drug. It might hurt a little, but please cooperate."

I was taken aback. Recalling what Andre had just said, my face paled. "Are you trying to have a baby through IVF?"

Andre finally turned around and gave me a cold gaze. "Haven't you always wanted to give me a baby? I'm giving you this chance now."

My lips trembled, but I could not say a word.

The needle in the doctor's hand, which was thicker than I imagined, reflected coldly as it slowly approached like some kind of torture device.

I could not help asking hoarsely, "Andre, why do you have to do it this way?"

If he were just willing to touch me once, I would not have to suffer such humiliation under the cold operating light.

Andre frowned and answered icily, "It's for the common interest of the Garcia family and the Lawson family, of course. We must have a child."

It turned out... it was just about interests. The last bit of hope I had for him in my heart shattered instantly.

Children should be the continuation of love, not victims born out of necessity.

I clenched my hands tightly, my nails sinking into my palms. "I refuse."

Andre froze. It was the first time I had refused his request. I had always obediently done whatever he asked. Now, I was not even willing to have his child.

He could sense the change.

A feeling of loss of control and displeasure instantly welled up in Andre. He frowned, gripping my chin tightly and forcing me to look up. "Repeat that."

The pain in my chin made my eyes redden, but I insisted, "I said, I refuse!"

Andre's eyes flickered with impatience and confusion for a second. He never needed to guess what others were thinking as everyone was afraid of him. I was the exception. However, he instantly extinguished that emotion.

He scoffed. "Danielle, do you think I'd touch you for the sake of conceiving a child? Let me tell you, I have absolutely no desire for you."

His remark instantly shattered my mind. He flung me away and turned around as if discarding a worthless object. “Danielle, you have no right to disobey my orders. You must give me a child.”

With a wave of his hand, the group of people bound me firmly to the bed, ignoring my fierce struggles.

I desperately reached out to grab Andre, but I could not even touch the hem of his clothes. I could only watch him leave without looking back.

The intense pain as the needle pierced my skin made me curl up involuntarily. The tears that had been welling up in my eyes finally rolled down. The anesthesia gradually took effect, and my consciousness began to blur.

In the last second before I lost consciousness, I could not help but wonder, 'Why? Why did Andre, who had held my hand at our wedding and spoken so gently to me... become this way?'

…

The next day, I woke up with an intense headache.

The doctor stood by my bedside, pushing an incubator toward me. "Mrs. Garcia, the fertilized eggs are being cultivated. Look."

Neatly arranged petri dishes filled the transparent incubator.

I was stunned. "Are these my children? They're completely different from the warm and adorable little angel I imagined."

Even more ironically... Andre had refused to touch me till the very end. He must have been looking at Maya's picture when giving them his sperm sample.

It was disgusting. I covered my mouth and gagged violently, almost unable to breathe.

The doctor beside me was startled. "Are you alright? You need to be in good health so that we can put the fertilized eggs back into your body... Mrs. Garcia, what are you doing!?"