Chapter 1

"I need the most skilled physician here immediately!"

As I exited the private staff elevator, I encountered my spouse, Nelson Fairclough, causing a commotion outside the surgery room.

My initial thought was, "Why is he present?"

He had informed me he'd be away on business today, unable to join me in celebrating our seventh marriage anniversary.

Before I could comprehend the situation, he shouted at the nurse once more.

"You'd better ensure my wife and child survive, or I'll see to it that this medical center goes under!"

His words left me paralyzed.

I pondered, "If his spouse is the one in that operating room, then who am I?"

The truth struck me like a thunderbolt. I had been deceived.

As I stood there, stunned, a junior physician rushed towards me.

"Dr. Fairclough, you've arrived just in time. All our experienced surgeons are occupied with other procedures. Please, you need to enter the OR now!"

I inhaled deeply, clenched my hands, and moved towards the operating room.

Nelson obstructed my path, his tone laced with animosity.

"Are you the chief surgeon?"

I was momentarily bewildered that he failed to recognize me.

"Even with the surgical cap and mask concealing most of my face, how could he not identify his wife of seven years?" I wondered.

But then I realized he likely never imagined I'd be here.

The previous month, I was temporarily assigned to this rural hospital as part of an exchange program.

I recalled mentioning this to Nelson, but it was evident that he had been too absorbed in his phone to pay attention.

From behind my mask, I stated calmly, "Please move aside, Sir."

I walked past him.

Nelson yelled after me, "There aren't any males in that OR, correct? Other men shouldn't see my wife's body!"

I silently cursed him, repulsed by his ridiculous possessiveness.

However, my inquisitiveness grew. His words made me more curious about the identity of the "wife" he was so protective of.

After sterilizing, I entered the OR. A pregnant woman lay pallid and feeble on the operating table.

The instant I saw her face, my chest constricted.

It was Olivia Hilton, the spouse of Edmund Hilton, Nelson's cousin.

Edmund was a military man and often away on duty. Olivia would frequently summon Nelson to her residence with pretexts like malfunctioning appliances or plumbing issues.

I'd been so preoccupied with work that I never paid much heed to these occurrences. But now, I realized they had been carrying on an affair behind my back!

The nurse handed me Olivia's medical file.

Olivia was eight months pregnant. Her premature labor was induced by sexual activity during her pregnancy.

I perused the file, my mind racing. Edmund had been absent for nearly a year. I couldn't help but think, "Could the child Olivia is carrying be Nelson's?"

My insides churned.

Recollections of suspicious incidents surfaced.

Despite years of marriage, I hadn't been able to conceive. My menstrual cycles were irregular, and last year, I'd proposed Nelson get examined. He'd outright refused, insisting he was perfectly healthy. Even his mother, Rosina Fairclough, had sided with him.

I thought, "No wonder he was so confident. He's already impregnated someone else."

It dawned on me that Rosina must have been aware all along.

"Dr. Fairclough," my assistant interjected, "should we prepare for a cesarean section?"

I checked the fetal heart rate and ultrasound. The baby was developed enough to survive outside the womb.

"The irony," I thought bitterly. "I'm about to perform a C-section on the woman who's been intimate with my husband."

But as a physician, I had no alternative.

Taking a calming breath, I said, "Yes. Prepare for anesthesia."

As we began preparations, Olivia suddenly cried out, "I want my husband here! I don't want to go through this alone!"

The nurse attempted to pacify her.

"Ms. Hilton, that's against protocol..."

"Why not? I've seen spouses in the delivery room on television!"

After the anesthesia took effect, Olivia's contractions eased, and she began shouting energetically.

The nurse explained patiently, "Those require prior approval, and our hospital doesn't..."

Olivia yelled, "I don't care! My husband is a high-ranking executive! If you don't allow him in, you'll face consequences!"

I thought, "Your actual husband is a soldier, Olivia. Nelson's just your paramour, isn't he? How brazen."

Clearly, neither Olivia nor Nelson valued their marriages. They openly referred to each other as husband and wife.

"I refuse to deliver unless my husband is present!" Olivia declared.