Chapter 3 : Just tell me what’s going on

Candice’s POV

The sound of my heartbeat pounded in my ears as I stormed into the hospital. My feet carried me almost on autopilot, through the familiar hallways and up the stairs to Dr. Ruby’s office. The world around me blurred—a mix of sterile smells, distant voices, and fluorescent lights—but I wasn’t focused on any of it.

I needed answers.

I flung the office door open without knocking. Dr. Ruby sat behind her desk, startled by my sudden entrance. Her face was pale, her usually composed demeanor replaced with visible anxiety. She looked exactly how I felt: trapped.

“Candice,” she said softly, as though her voice could soften the chaos swirling in my head. “Please, sit down.”

“Don’t,” I snapped, my voice trembling. “Don’t ask me to sit down. Just tell me what’s going on.”

Her shoulders sagged, and she motioned toward the chair again. “Candice, this is… complicated.”

“Complicated?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You called me earlier and said there was a mistake. You told me it wasn’t Joshua’s sperm. What does that even mean, Dr. Ruby? Because I can’t wrap my head around it.”

She hesitated, her fingers gripping the edges of her desk like she needed the support. “Candice, I need you to stay calm,” she began, her tone laced with caution.

“Don’t patronize me!” My voice cracked, and tears burned the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over. “I deserve the truth. I’ve been through hell for years, blaming myself for something that wasn’t even my fault. So if you know something, just say it.”

Her eyes filled with regret, and I could see how much she hated what she was about to tell me. “Candice,” she said quietly, “Joshua doesn’t have any active sperm cells. He’s completely infertile. He never could have fathered a child.”

The words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “That… that doesn’t make sense. We were told…” My voice trailed off as the weight of her revelation settled over me.

All those failed attempts. The tears. The arguments. The guilt. And it was never me.

My knees buckled, and I sank into the chair, my hands trembling. “You’re saying… all this time…”

She nodded, her expression solemn. “Your fertility was never the issue, Candice.”

Anger flared, hot and sharp. How could he not tell me? How could he let me bear the blame for all of this? And then another realization hit me.

“Violet,” I said, my voice cold. “She said she’s pregnant with his child.” I let out a bitter laugh, the sound harsh in the quiet room. “She’s lying. She has to be. If Joshua can’t have kids, then what the hell is she playing at?”

My head spun, but there was still a question lingering. “If it wasn’t his sperm…” My voice trailed off as I looked at her, dread building. “Then whose was it?”

Ruby froze, her face tightening. She glanced toward the door before leaning closer. “Candice… this is where things get dangerous. Promise me you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to say.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, my heart racing.

She hesitated before whispering, “The sperm… it belongs to Dorian Anderson.”

I blinked. The name rang faintly familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “Who is that?”

Ruby’s voice dropped even lower. “He’s not just a billionaire, Candice. He’s… dangerous. The kind of man you don’t cross if you value your life.”

I frowned. “Dangerous how?”

“He controls this hospital,” she explained, her voice trembling. “He wanted a surrogate, and his team arranged everything. Your file was accidentally swapped with the one he approved. I didn’t realize until it was too late. If he finds out…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “This could cost me my career—or worse.”

I stared at her, stunned. My voice was barely a whisper when I asked, “You mean I’m pregnant with his child?”

Ruby nodded, her face pale.

I sat back, trying to process the weight of her words. “Maybe…” I started hesitantly. “Maybe I can talk to him. Explain the situation and convince him to co-parent. I mean, I’ve wanted to be a mom for so long. Now that I’m finally pregnant. Not to mention that this might be the last chance I could be a mother.”

Ruby’s head snapped up, her expression incredulous. “Candice, you have no idea who you’re dealing with. Dorian Anderson doesn’t co-parent. He takes what’s his. Do you understand?”

Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I am refusing to back down. “There has to be a way,” I insisted. “He’s human, isn’t he? Maybe if I explain, he’ll—”

“Stop,” Ruby interrupted, her voice sharp. “You’re too naive. Dorian Anderson is not the kind of man you reason with. If he feels like his plans have been derailed, he won’t just come after me—he’ll come after you. And the child.”

I looked at Ruby, my voice softer now. “You and I… we’re both orphans. We’ve had to fight for everything we have. I know what it’s like to lose everything, to feel alone. I don’t want you to lose your career because of this.”

Ruby’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked away. “Candice, this isn’t about me. This is about keeping you safe. Promise me you’ll stay away from him.”

Before I could answer, heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Ruby froze, her face draining of color. “Oh God,” she whispered. “It’s him.”

I stared at her in confusion. “What? Who?”

Before she could respond, the door swung open.

A man stepped inside, his presence dominating the room. He was tall, his tailored suit emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean frame. His jet-black hair was perfectly styled, and his sharp, angular features looked as if they’d been chiseled from stone. But it was his eyes—cold, calculating, and an icy sapphire blue—that stole my breath.

Behind him, another man in an expensive suit followed, his expression just as unreadable.

Dr. Ruby rose shakily to her feet.

“Dr. Ruby,” the second man said smoothly, his voice calm but firm. “Mr. Anderson would like an update on the surrogate’s progress.”

Ruby’s hands trembled as she gripped the desk. I stayed seated, frozen under Dorian Anderson’s piercing gaze.