Chapter 4

Two years can change a lot of things.

Leo and I settled into a cozy two-bedroom apartment.

Every morning, I dropped him off at preschool before heading to the hospital. In the evenings, I cooked, played with him, and tucked him into bed.

Life was busy, but peaceful.

Julian and Chloe got married three months after our divorce.

The wedding was a massive social media event. Instagram was flooded with pictures of Chloe in a million-dollar custom gown and Julian holding her waist with a gentle smile.

A smile I hadn't seen in years.

After the wedding, Chloe was desperate to get pregnant.

She knew that only a baby could secure her position as the true Mrs. Vance and completely erase me, the "ex-wife."

She posted daily updates of her prenatal vitamins on Snapchat with captions like: Waiting for our little miracle!

I just smiled and swiped past them.

A year passed, and Chloe's belly remained completely flat.

The Vance family began to grow anxious.

My former mother-in-law was dropping hints constantly, and Julian even stopped drinking and smoking to prepare for conception.

Another year passed. Still nothing.

Chloe started visiting the most expensive private fertility clinics in the city. Every single test showed she was perfectly healthy.

And yet, she couldn't get pregnant.

Julian's impatience was reaching a boiling point. He was the only son of his generation.

But what drove the family truly crazy was that none of Julian's secret mistresses on the side were getting pregnant either.

Whispers and rumors began to spread through the elite circles of Boston like wildfire.

At first, Julian dismissed the rumors. He had physically witnessed Leo's birth and ordered a DNA test immediately after, which confirmed 100% paternity.

How could he possibly have a fertility issue?

But at a family dinner, his uncles and cousins looked at him with increasingly mocking eyes.

That night, old Arthur Vance called Julian into his study. "Julian, the Vance family cannot rely on just one child. Go get yourself checked. Silence those gossiping bastards once and for all."

I was making breakfast for Leo when my phone rang.

"Dr. Bennett, we have a high-profile client in the executive health suite who specifically requested you. It's Julian Vance."

I turned off the stove. "Understood. I'll be there in thirty minutes."

When I arrived at the clinic, Julian was already waiting in my office.

He sat rigidly in the chair opposite mine, trying desperately to maintain his usual arrogant posture.

"I need a complete male fertility panel. The most detailed one you have," he said, his voice unusually raspy.

I nodded, opening my laptop. "Do you want to rush the results?"

"Yes. Rush it."

The tests took the entire day. I personally supervised every single procedure.

When the lab tech handed over the samples, she whispered to me, "Dr. Bennett, isn't this your..."

"My ex-husband," I replied calmly.

Three days later, the report was ready.

When I walked back into my office with the sealed envelope, Julian was already sitting there. He had dark circles under his eyes.

"What are the results?" he asked directly, though his fingers were twitching nervously on his knees.

I didn't answer immediately. I simply placed the manila folder on the desk and slid it over to him.

"See for yourself."