Chapter 2: Open Secrets

Harvey's Pov

“What do you mean?” I managed to stammer, my hands gripping the edge of the desk so tightly my knuckles turned white. “The problem is from me? No... no, that can’t be right.”

It can't be. Before I got married, I had done a lot of health tests as it was also required by Derek's parents. I've always been careful; I took supplements that my mother in law gave me, and I exercised regularly. I had never had any issues, nor had I ever been told that something was wrong with my body. How could this be happening now? How could the problem have been from me all along?

“Doctor, are you sure there hasn’t been a mistake?” I pleaded, my voice rising in pitch as panic took over. I leaned forward, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Maybe you mixed up the charts? Perhaps you gave me someone else’s results? Please, check again.”

The doctor did not look sympathetic. He gave an impatient sigh and picked up the paper card from his desk, turning it around and sliding it across to me.

“There is no mistake, Mrs. Harvey,” he said coldly, his finger tapping the top of the paper.

I looked down. My name, Harvey Fox, was printed in clear, dark letters right at the top. There was no denying it. It was my card.

“But how?” I whispered, a tear finally escaping my eye and splashing onto the paper. “How did this happen?”

“It could be due to your health,” the doctor explained, his voice entirely flat, as if he were reading a weather report. “After all, you have been sick for a very long time. Your body is simply too weak, and your system has shut down. You are infertile.”

I sat there, utterly numb. Infertile. The word repeated in my head over and over again, each time sounding louder and more terrifying. All these years... all the tears I had cried in secret, all the cruel, mocking comments from Derek’s mother and sisters at the dinner table, all the guilt I had carried... it was actually my fault?

I looked up at the doctor, hoping to see some shred of pity or reassurance, but his face was like stone. He didn’t say anything to comfort me. Instead, he tapped his pen against his desk and checked his watch.

“Look, Mrs. Harvey,” he said, his tone dripping with annoyance. “My next patient is already waiting outside. I have a very busy schedule. If you want to cry or do anything of the sort, please leave the office and do it outside.”

His utter lack of empathy was like a slap to my face. I couldn't even find the words to respond. Trembling, I stood up from the chair. My legs felt like jelly as I grabbed the test results with numb fingers, folded them messily, and stuffed it into my bag as I stumbled out of the office.

The hallway of the hospital was bright and busy, but to me, everything looked gray. I walked slowly, barely seeing the people passing by. But then, my eyes locked onto two figures standing near the reception desk down the hall.

It was Derek. And right next to him, laughing softly, was Olivia, his coworker.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Derek’s arm was wrapped securely around Olivia’s shoulders, pulling her close against his side. He was looking down at her, and on his face was a smile, a warm, tender, incredibly happy smile.

I felt as if my heart had been pierced by an icicle. Derek hadn’t smiled at me like that in years. In fact, almost immediately after we got married, his behavior had changed. The sweet, attentive man who used to bring me flowers and hold my hand had vanished. He became cold, distant, and easily irritated.

For three years, I had believed him when he said it was just because of the stress of his new position at work. I kept making excuses for him. I told myself that he still loved me deep down, and that if I was just patient enough and supportive enough, the old Derek would come back.

But seeing him now... it turned out Derek could still smile like that. He just didn't want to smile at me. My grip on my purse tightened. A sudden wave of anger and hurt rushed through my veins. I wanted to march over there and confront him, to demand to know why Olivia was clinging to him like a wife.

But before I could take a step, I overheard two nurses standing nearby. One of them pointed toward Derek and Olivia, a wistful look on her face.

“Look at them,” she whispered to her colleague. “They are such an enviable couple. The wife is one month pregnant, and the husband is so sweet. He always comes with her for her checkups. He hasn’t missed a single appointment for the past month.”

“Yeah. If you saw how happy he was the day his wife's test results were brought out, you would think someone plucked a planet and handed it to him on a silver platter. He was so happy that he promised to buy her a car immediately. I was so jealous.”

The words felt like a bucket of ice water poured over my head. I instantly froze. One month? Olivia was one month pregnant and the child was his?