Chapter 2

It didn't take long before Theo burst into the ER, dragging in a screaming Cecilia with a ruptured corpus luteum.

The second he saw me in the white coat, he froze.

Same as last time.

After sending Cecilia to the lab, I made sure the nurse added one extra test—DNA.

Results came back clear: 99% match.

Theo was the dad. No getting out of it now.

I quietly tucked the test results away.

Cecilia was laid up in the ward, Theo hovering like some worried husband.

"Mrs. Madoff, I'll be okay, right?" she asked.

I gave her a soft smile, like I hadn't just read the proof. "What were you doing before the pain started?"

She blushed and shot Theo a flirty look. "Just... a little exercise. You know, Mrs. Madoff... woman to woman, you get it."

She played coy, smugness dripping from every word as she threw shade.

Watching her act all innocent while flaunting her win made my skin crawl.

She caught the fire in my eyes—and still pushed it. "It hurts so bad down there. My lower belly feels like it's been hammered. Is it 'cause he loves me too much? Did he hurt the baby?"

She rubbed her barely-there bump.

Then she went for the kill. "You can't get pregnant. You'll never know how incredible it feels to carry a child."

Rage surged through me.

"Too bad," I said, "You couldn't control yourself, and now your baby's heartbeat is gone."

Theo shot up. "What did you say?!"

Cecilia froze, then screamed through the pain, "You're lying! My baby was fine! Why would you say that?!"

I held up the report and made sure everyone heard. "The rough intercourse caused internal bleeding. The fetus couldn't handle the trauma. It's gone. Prep for a surgical abortion—we can't wait."

The ward was packed, and the crowd was already reacting.

"Seriously? She's pregnant and still doing stuff like that?"

"Unreal. She clearly didn't care about that baby at all."

Cecilia's face went ghost-pale. She grabbed the report and ripped it to pieces. "Aren't you the miracle baby doctor at Brighton Hospital? Please, save my baby!"

Theo, just as rattled, turned to me like we were still a team. "Honey, please... show some compassion. Save Cecilia's child."

I looked at them and let out a laugh. "A kid born from an affair like that doesn't deserve to be born."

Theo's face dropped. He knew I was onto everything.

His voice turned cold. "That's still a life. My child. You're a doctor—if you let it die, people will tear you apart."

Cecilia dropped the sweet act and snapped, "Who do you think you are? You can't even have kids, and you dragged Prof. Madoff into a childless life! No man would stick around for that!

"You're just jealous I can give him a baby. You misdiagnosed me on purpose, didn't you? You bitter old hag! No wonder he doesn't love you!"

The crowd turned on me fast.

"A woman who can't have kids isn't complete. If she can't give him an heir, why's she acting like a victim?"

"Right? She forced him into a childless marriage. He stayed with her for years—he's a saint."

I looked at Cecilia's smug face and stepped forward.

No hesitation—I raised my hand, ready to slap her.