Later, the doctor shook his head. "Mrs. Gilbert, your uterus was severely damaged ten years ago. This pregnancy was a miracle. The emotional shock caused a sudden detachment... I'm afraid there will never be another chance."
I had seen the ultrasound. The fetus was tiny, no bigger than a peanut.
The child Jesse had waited ten years for was killed by his own indifference.
At that time, I still loved him. Loved him enough to drive myself into a nervous breakdown, terrified of one question: Did he still love me?
When my health collapsed, Jesse took me to the hospital. The attending physician was Joanna Fox.
The moment she saw him, her eyes widened in theatrical surprise.
"Jesse? Is that really you?"
Tears welled instantly. "I'm so sorry. I know my older brother committed those crimes. He's paid the price, but I still must apologize on his behalf."
I looked at Jesse, confused. The Fox family was responsible for my kidnapping. They were the reason for my nightmares.
But Jesse didn't recoil. He smiled—a warm, forgiving smile I hadn't seen directed at me in years.
"It's fine," he said softly. "That's all in the past. You were just a child ten years ago. You aren't responsible for Isaac's sins."
A cold dread settled in my stomach. Before I could speak, Jesse ushered me into the examination room.
The exam was clinical and cold. When I stepped out, I found Joanna speaking to Jesse, her brow furrowed in feigned concern.
"The endoscopic results are concerning," she said, her voice pitched perfectly—professional yet reluctant. "Your wife's uterine wall is dangerously thin. Extensive scarring consistent with frequent trauma. Judging by the damage... she must have had at least seven or eight abortions recently."
Jesse froze. The color drained from his face.
"Impossible," he whispered. "Every time... I used protection."
"Is it possible... that the man responsible for your wife's pregnancy wasn't you, Mr. Gilbert?"
The accusation hung in the sterile hospital air. My expression turned to ice as I faced Joanna. I demanded to know the basis for such a filthy claim.
Immediately, she shrank behind Jesse, eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I'm a doctor. I have no conflict of interest here. I'm simply interpreting your physical condition truthfully. Why would I need to frame you?"
My gaze dropped to the ID badge pinned to her white coat.
Joanna Fox.