CHAPTER 2

“Mr. Dominic…” Dr. Anthony began carefully. He folded his hands on the desk before continuing. “I don’t want either of you to misunderstand what I’m about to say. There are other ways to build a family. You could consider adoption, or perhaps—”

Dominic slammed his palm against the desk, making me jump in my seat.

“Enough please!” he barked, his patience finally snapping. “Stop going around in circles and get to the point. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

His eyes burned with frustration as he glared at the doctor.

Dr. Anthony drew in a slow, heavy breath before looking at me with eyes full of sympathy.

Somehow, I already knew I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say.

“The truth is your wife, Anna, is completely infertile.”

My breath caught in my throat.

He continued, each word striking my heart like a hammer.

“Her womb is unable to carry a pregnancy. Medically speaking, she will never be able to have a child of her own. I’m truly sorry. That’s why I strongly recommend that the two of you consider adoption if you wish to build a family.”

It felt as if the entire world had stopped spinning.

My ears rang, and the doctor’s words echoed over and over inside my head.

It felt as though God had cursed me from the very beginning.

First, I grew up without parents, abandoned in an orphanage with no one to call my own. And now I was being told that I would never experience the joy of becoming a mother.

What could possibly be more heartbreaking than that?

Tears streamed down my cheeks, blurring my vision until I could barely see. The room seemed to spin around me as my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Suddenly, Dominic shot to his feet. His chair scraped loudly across the floor, the harsh sound breaking the suffocating silence.

"Doctor, what about me? Am I okay? Medically?" he demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of rage and panic.

"Yes, you are perfectly fine," Dr. Anthony replied. "Medically, there is nothing wrong with you."

With those words, Dominic turned to me. The hatred in his eyes was blinding. He looked down at me and said the cruelest, most painful thing I had ever heard in my entire life.

"Then there is no reason for me to suffer the fate of a barren bitch. Your broken body isn't my problem."

Before I could even process the words, Dominic turned and stormed out of the office.

"Dominic, please!" I sobbed, pushing myself out of the chair. I ran after him into the hallway, my chest heaving as I managed to grab his sleeve. "Dominic, wait!"

"Don't you ever touch me!" he roared.

He shoved me away so hard that I lost my balance and collapsed onto the cold corridor floor. He didn't even look back as he walked away. I sat there on the floor, burying my face in my hands, crying.

Why does my life have to be this painful? Why can’t I just be like other women? Why can't I just be happy?

But a voice inside told me not to give up. I forced myself to stop crying, quickly put myself together, and ran toward the hospital exit.

But when I burst through the doors, my heart sank. The car was already pulling away. I watched helplessly as Dominic drove off into the distance, leaving me completely stranded. I didn't have my phone, my purse, or a single cent on me. I stood there under the sun, watching the car shrink until it vanished out of sight.

"I had a feeling he would react this way," a gentle voice said behind me.

I turned around to see Dr. Anthony standing there. He stretched out his hand and offered me a tissue. I took it gratefully, wiping the tears from my eyes.

“This isn’t the end of the world, Anna,” Dr. Anthony said gently, offering me a reassuring smile. “Every marriage goes through difficult seasons. I know I’m probably the last person who should be giving relationship advice.” He let out a soft chuckle. “After all, I’m still a bachelor.”

He leaned forward slightly, his voice becoming warm and encouraging.

“But I believe this is something you and your husband can overcome. Go home, sit down together, and have an honest conversation. If the two of you truly love each other, you’ll find a way through this.”

I forced a small, appreciative smile and nodded.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash. He held it out to me.

"No, it's fine, Doctor. I can manage," I said, trying to hold onto the tiny bit of dignity I had left.

"Yeah, I can clearly see that," he said with a warm, knowing smile. He glanced down at my completely empty hands. I didn't even have a handbag with me. “Please, Anna. This isn’t charity. Just think of it as a friend helping another friend.”

"Thank you so much, Doctor," I whispered.

I took the money, thanked him again, and hurried to find a taxi. All I could think about on the ride back was getting home, begging Dominic, and making him understand that this wasn't my fault. I wanted my husband back.

But the moment I pushed the front door open and stepped inside the house, I froze. My breath caught in my throat.

I stood there completely paralyzed, staring at the absolute shock of my life, utterly speechless.