Chapter 5

Erin's POV

“Now you are not who I expected to see walking through that door,” Azure Blackwood sat in his expensive suit at a cheap laminate table similar to the one in the room I’d just left.

His leg was propped up on his knee, and he looked utterly relaxed for someone who had just found out that they might be having a baby with their enemy's wife.

“You’ve got to be playing some sort of prank,” I turned towards Dr. Swart, eyes pleading with him to laugh it off, and take me to the right room.

This couldn’t be happening.

“Mrs. Connolley, I can assure you that there is no prank happening,” Dr. Swart offered a tense smile. “This is the donor whose sperm was used in your egg. It appears that the two of you know one another?”

“Loosely,” I mutter.

Azure smirks, “Very loosely.”

“Shut it,” I snarled, making him let out a chuckle.

Azure Blackwood was your typical man of power. He flaunted himself with fancy cars, did numerous interviews over the years bragging about his accomplishments, and had every woman in the state of Oregon drooling over his perfect face and body.

We’d run into each other more than once at Gala’s and charity auctions. Once, he’d purchased a date with himself for the low price of one-million dollars just to avoid going on a date with someone random.

I wanted to be angry about it, but it was honestly a genius plan.

“In that case, we can skip introductions,” Dr. Swart hesitantly moves to the opposite side of the table with his thick folder, and I take the furthest seat from Azure.

“Two weeks ago, there was an issue with a new employee and, unfortunately, that involved Mrs. Connolley’s egg and Mr. Blackwood’s sperm. While this is still in the very early stages of development, we wanted to have the two of you meet as soon as possible to decide what to do moving forward,” Dr. Swart explained, beginning to pull out paperwork.

He slid a document over to me, showing the tests that were run on Azure, ensuring that he was a healthy donor for IVF. He received one that showed that I was a healthy egg donor as well.

“How does something like this happen in such a renowned clinic?” Azure arched a brow, looking bored as he reviewed my paperwork.

“Human error,” I hissed. “It’s actually quite natural to make mistakes.”

“Not for me,” he spoke slowly before sliding his tongue along his teeth beneath his lips. “But certainly, you must be used to it considering you’re here.”

The memory of Rowan’s harsh words flood my mind. You’re not broken. That’s what he said to Ophelia.

I was broken.

“Natural or not, we plan to take full responsibility for the mistake. The nurse in question has already been terminated, and refunds have been backdated. All future appointments will be comped as well. Please understand that this is a one in a million chance and does not happen often, therefore it is not taken lightly.”

“Money isn’t an issue,” Azure waved his hand, as if it didn’t matter, but to me, it did. It really fucking did. Because in a few short months, I was going to be on my own, without the support of my millionaire husband. Sure, if I played my cards right, I wouldn’t be left penniless, but IVF is costly, and every penny will matter when it comes down to raising my child. ‘

“What is the next step?” I ignored Azure, focusing on the doctor.

“You said you’d taken a test,” he arched a brow, and that was the moment Azure turned his attention to me.

“Yes,” I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up under his scrutinizing gaze. “It was positive.”

“You probably should have led with that,” Azure’s tune shifted entirely. “You’re pregnant? As in, carrying my baby?”

I dug through my purse, tossing the pregnancy test with two bright pink lines at him. He caught it with ease, not looking the slightest bit disgusted while holding my piss stick, and just stared at it with wide, bright gray eyes.

“We’ve implanted over thirty donors,” his eyes slowly raised to Dr. Swarts, “And you’re telling me she’s the one that stuck?” Azure thumbed towards me, and my shoulders fell.

For a whole two seconds, I thought he might actually be a decent human, but then he decided to open his mouth and ruin it.

“Fuck you,” I hissed under my breath.

“You wish, sweetheart,” he winked.

“We haven’t confirmed it yet here in the clinic, but as soon as we conclude this meeting, Mrs. Connolley will be taken in for further testing,” Dr. Swart explained, wringing his hands nervously. “While I go order the tests, you two can discuss what happens next.”

The sound of the door closing made my heart race.

I was alone in a room with Azure Blackwood.

“Where is Rowan on this lovely morning?” Azure smirked. “Didn’t you want to let the hubby in on the fact that you were pregnant with another man’s baby?”

I ignored his dig, “I’m keeping this baby.”

“I wasn’t planning on letting you run off with him,” he snorted.

“Him?”

“Oh yes, you are carrying my son.”

“That’s quite sexist. Do you have anything against having a daughter?”

“Not in the slightest, I just know you’re carrying my son,” he shrugged, as if that were enough of an explanation. “Did you tell him already?” Azure looked like a crazed man, eyes wide and wild as he stared at me with that damned smirk. “Rowan, I mean.”

“You’re being awfully laid back about this situation. Won’t your partner be upset?”

“Don’t have one,” he shrugged.

My brows furrowed together, “Then why are you going through IVF?”

“Are men not allowed to want children without a woman in their life?” he tilted his head, staring at me with a hardened gaze. I swallowed thickly, realizing that I was just spouting off nonsense. “And here I thought I was being the sexist one.”

He didn’t need a partner. Just like I didn’t need one either.

“I can pay you handsomely when you give birth. Then you can spend the rest of your life in luxury while trying for a baby of your own,” Azure explained at my silence. “I’ll have Finnick draw up legal documents.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I snapped at the insinuation. “This is my baby too.” I stood, jabbing my finger into my chest.

“Are you really planning to destroy your marriage with this?” his scoff wasn’t surprising, but whatever he saw in my face must have tipped him off, “Wait,” Azure sat up straighter, “There is a reason Rowan isn’t here, isn’t there?”

“I will not be pushed out of our child’s life,” I whispered, ignoring his question. “You can either coparent with me or walk away. But you don’t get to demand that I give away the only child I’ve been able to conceive.”