Chapter 3

Jared didn't say a word. Just marched her straight into the OB/GYN wing.

The medical team was already lined up, waiting.

One of the doctors stepped forward, all polite and professional.

"Mrs. Dawson, please change into the surgical gown. We'll start with an ovulation shot. The egg retrieval might sting a little—"

Lucia froze. "Egg retrieval? For what?"

Jared's patience snapped. "For IVF. How else are we having a baby?"

Her blood ran cold.

They were both healthy. He still chose IVF?

Just to avoid touching her?

She tried to hold steady, but her voice cracked. "Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

"Why have this baby?" Her eyes snapped up. "Do you even want a kid with me?"

He'd been planning to divorce her—so what was the point?

Jared's brow creased. Something felt off.

Lucia used to dream about having his baby. Even through IVF, she should've been excited.

But now? She looked like she was barely holding it together.

That look lit a fuse in him. His voice went cold.

"Because our families need a kid to lock in the alliance. What, you thought I actually wanted a kid with your DNA?"

Her face went ghost white.

It was never about love. Just the families. Always the damn families.

She lowered her head, eyes burning.

What was she to him, really?

Even with divorce on the table, he still had to squeeze every last bit of worth out of her?

Her fists trembled. "What if I say no?"

"What?" Jared actually froze.

He clearly hadn't considered that. But then his expression twisted—like something clicked.

He grabbed her chin, sneering.

"Afraid that once there's a kid, you'll lose your last excuse to beg me for sex?" His tone dripped with mockery. "You'd rather I do it myself? Sorry, not into you."

Then he shoved her to the floor.

"I'm not asking, Lucia. If you want my kid, this is the only way."

He turned to the staff.

"Hold her down. Prep the OR."

Lucia fought, but they pinned her to the table.

The needle pierced her—white-hot pain exploded. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

'Why...

'Why do you have to treat me like this, Jared...'

The hormones hit hard. Everything spun. Then—darkness.

***

Lucia came to the next day, groggy and aching.

A doctor beside her let out a breath of relief.

"Good, you're awake, Mrs. Dawson. You had a strong reaction to the hormones—acute stress response. Thankfully, nothing serious."

Her voice came out hoarse. "Where's Jared?"

The doctor paused.

"He left after... providing his sample."

Lucia blinked. Then it hit her—what "sample" meant.

Her hands clenched the sheets.

Had he used Alice's photo again?

Thinking about her while making a child with Lucia—

Her stomach turned.

The doctor kept going.

"The procedure was rough, but embryo creation went very smoothly. Look."

He opened a chilled container. Inside sat five tiny test tubes.

Lucia stared.

These... were her children?

The doctor kept talking. "Once you're stable, we'll implant the strongest embryo. Then you—Mrs. Dawson! What are you—"