Chapter 79: Unspoken Fears

Chapter 79: Unspoken Fears

In the first two years of their marriage, Ethan and Emily had never seriously considered having children. Ethan harbored his reservations due to past misunderstandings, while Emily, still in her early twenties, was content with delaying motherhood. They had never discussed the matter, tacitly agreeing to avoid it.

Ethan made every effort to prevent conception, but despite his precautions, they occasionally found themselves dangerously close to an "accident." They had experienced several close calls recently—on the car, yacht, or private jet.

Despite their carelessness, they had never faced an "accident."

Now, reflecting on it, Ethan realized that something was definitely off.

He was lost in thought when Dr. Gu's voice came over the phone, discussing treatment options with a soothing, almost comforting tone.

"Partial removal," "deficiency," "possibility of ectopic pregnancy post-surgery"—phrases that Ethan instinctively recoiled from. The thought was distressing.

She was so afraid of pain…

"Are there any other options?" he asked.

Dr. Gu responded with a slight pause, "If the surgery isn't effective, we could consider in vitro fertilization (IVF)."

Ethan knew about IVF but had never imagined it would become relevant to him.

"What's the success rate?"

"With the advancements in technology, the success rate is high, but… we can't guarantee results. However, our hospital's technology is advanced, and our success rate is above average."

Dr. Gu sighed lightly, "IVF requires a significant investment of time and money. Of course, for you and Mrs. Harrison, it shouldn't be an issue… Oh, and IVF has the advantage of allowing you to choose the baby's gender."

Dr. Gu was aware that patients at private hospitals were usually affluent. She understood that a prestigious family like the Harrisons might still hold some traditional views.

Ethan, however, seemed unmoved by this "advantage." He paused for a moment before speaking again, "I heard that IVF can harm a woman's body?"

Dr. Gu was taken aback, her tone faltering slightly. "Not exactly. Technically, as long as it is managed properly, the physical harm to a woman is minimal. However, the psychological and emotional stress of IVF can be significant."

"Infertility can already be a source of distress and pressure for women. From my experience, IVF can add to that burden, causing concerns about failure and the fear of disappointing family expectations…"

Ethan felt a pang in his heart. He struggled to connect these concerns to his wife. Just thinking about her being upset and distressed was unbearable.

He frowned and realized he had forgotten to ask a question. He picked up his phone and searched for information. A search result with an image caught his eye.

Ethan clicked the link and saw a long, thick needle with a sharp tip. The words "egg retrieval needle" made him flinch, as if he had been physically pricked.

He turned off the screen and took a deep breath, placing his hand over his forehead.

When Jason entered, he found Ethan standing motionless, deep in thought.

"Chairman Harrison," Jason called gently, but Ethan looked exhausted.

"This is Mrs. Harrison's necklace," Jason said, placing a deep blue velvet box on Ethan's desk. "The dress has been sent directly to the house."

He checked his watch. "Chairman Harrison, the meeting with Mr. Zheng is arranged. If you head over now, you should be done before the evening event."

Ethan put the jewelry box in a drawer and collected his thoughts. "I won't meet Mr. Zheng today. I'm going to the hospital first."

**

After they started trying to conceive, Emily had become a pampered housewife, enjoying the luxury of having everything done for her.

Although she enjoyed this leisurely lifestyle, she decided to step out occasionally to avoid becoming too idle.

Tonight, she was to accompany Ethan to a party. Before that, she wanted to visit Olivia and her newborn daughter.

Emily had received a photo of Olivia's newborn, and she wondered why the baby didn't seem as attractive as Olivia and her husband. She hoped her and Ethan's baby would be beautiful and adorable.

A month later, seeing Olivia's baby now, Emily could hardly believe that this tiny bundle was the same wrinkled newborn from the photo.

The baby, wrapped in a pink blanket, looked perfect and delicate.

Emily admired the baby's soft skin and tiny hands and feet, unable to take her eyes off her. "She's so small and soft!" Emily exclaimed, "Are all babies this soft? So cute!"

Looking at Olivia, who was sipping her soup, Emily said, "Your daughter is cuter than you!"

Olivia, usually sensitive about her looks, beamed with pride and raised her chin. "Of course, who else would it be?"

Seeing Emily's reaction, Olivia laughed even more. "If you like her so much, why don't you have one yourself? With you and your husband's looks, your baby would surely be adorable."

Emily gently stroked the baby's soft hair, replying, "We're considering it, but we'll let nature take its course."

Despite saying so, Emily felt a pang of anticipation when she realized how timely the relative's visit was. They had been casual about trying for a baby, but now that they had reached a mutual understanding, she couldn't help but feel some hope.

She wondered if Ethan felt the same way.

Olivia continued, "But if you get pregnant now, the baby will be born in summer, which makes postpartum recovery harder. Maybe you should wait a couple of months to conceive. Fall is better for delivery. Then you can recover and maybe try for a second baby when the weather warms up—"

Emily shook her head, interrupting, "We plan to have only one."

Olivia was stunned. "Only one? Is your husband okay with that?"

"Yes. I'm afraid of the pain," Emily admitted, pouting slightly.

"If he didn't really want a child, I wouldn't want one at all!"

Olivia was speechless.

She had often read about wealthy families pampering their wives, but seeing Emily's contentment and how Ethan treated her, Olivia finally understood what it meant.

Emily left the hospital with a small gift for the baby and headed to Creston Media. Ethan had told her to wait in his office.

Once there, Ethan messaged her, saying the jewelry for the evening was in his desk drawer.

Emily found the velvet box but noticed a document underneath. The title on the top page read starkly:

Divorce Agreement

Her temples throbbed, and a wave of memories rushed back—Ethan's detached expression, his indifferent tone, and her repeated feelings of waiting and disappointment.

The memories flooded her mind, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and nauseous.

She placed a hand over her heart, her brow furrowing in distress, tears welling in her eyes.

Struggling to breathe, Emily felt as if she were suffocating, and her mind was a haze.

She remembered everything.

**

As Ethan exited the hospital, Emily's call came through.

"Where are you?" Her voice sounded strange, hesitant. "I don't want to go to the party tonight…"

"Ethan, can you come home early tonight? I need to talk to you about something."

Ethan glanced at the medical report in his hand, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll come to see you now."

"I have something to tell you too."