Chapter 2: Chapter 2: I Turned Out to Be the ’Infertile’ One

Ignoring the churning in my stomach, I subconsciously lifted my gaze to look at him.

"That’s not right..."

But before I could figure out what to say, Theodore Grant suddenly frowned and dismissed his own thought. "You can’t be pregnant."

I didn’t know how he’d come to such a conclusion, but in my daze, a sense of relief washed over me.

Just half an hour ago, I couldn’t wait to share the happy news of my pregnancy with him, but now...

I lowered my head, poured a glass of water to rinse my mouth, and said nothing.

Theodore Grant grabbed a nearby towel and handed it to me, his brow furrowed. "I know you’ve always wanted a child, but you can’t torment your body like this. All medicine is poison to some degree..."

I subconsciously looked up at him.

The bright bathroom light shone down on his handsome face. He had deep-set eyes, and his brow and lashes caught some of the light, making his eyes seem all the more deep and dark.

This was Theodore Grant, the man I’d had a crush on for ten years. The pages of my girlhood diaries were filled with every little detail about him.

Such concern from him... In the past, I would have been overjoyed.

But now...

"Chelsea Joyce, don’t hide things from me and run yourself ragged all day for nothing."

I froze, not yet processing his words. "What?"

"The prescription list you asked me to pick up this morning... Clara happened to see it."

’Clara...’

Hearing such an intimate name come from Theodore Grant’s lips was like having ice shards poured into my ears.

But Theodore Grant continued speaking in a low, unfazed voice, "She said those are ovulation-inducing drugs, the kind only people who have trouble conceiving would take. But I asked you before, and you told me they were just vitamins and supplements..."

"Clara Langley said that?" I cut him off, only to realize my voice was low and hoarse.

Theodore Grant frowned, seemingly displeased by my focus. "She saw it by accident, not on purpose..."

’I couldn’t believe that even now, the thing Theodore Grant cared about most was making excuses for Clara Langley.’

Emotions churned within me, and I could barely keep them in check.

’No wonder Theodore Grant was so certain I couldn’t be pregnant!’

’It was because Clara Langley told him those drugs were for people who have trouble conceiving, and he just believed her!’

"So..." I stared straight into his eyes. "You think I can’t get pregnant, too?"

Theodore Grant raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised by my demeanor.

’Usually, I was always considerate and gentle around him. Even the occasional little fits I threw were just to spice things up.’

’This was the first time I’d ever been so aggressive.’

"Isn’t it true?"

Theodore Grant’s brow furrowed, a hint of impatience in his voice. "You’ve been running to the hospital every other day, and you’re popping pills like they’re candy. Did you really think you could hide something like this?"

I stood there, utterly stunned, feeling that all my agonizing sacrifices over the past year were just a ridiculous joke.

’I knew Theodore Grant was a proud and aloof man, so I did my best to hide anything related to his fertility issues.’

’I was taking heaps of medication and enduring the scornful gossip of others, who said that Theodore Grant had married a hen that couldn’t lay eggs.’

’But I still did everything in my power to protect his masculine pride.’

’But in the end, I was the one who was labeled ’infertile’!’

For some reason, my vision blurred. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, so tight I could barely breathe.

’This was the man I had loved for twelve whole years...’

"You want to know why I’m taking medicine? Then I’ll tell you. I..."

But before I could finish, a knock on the door interrupted me, and immediately after, the door was pushed open...

"Ah, I’m so sorry, I’m not interrupting, am I?"

Clara Langley pushed the door open and walked in. She was apologizing, but there wasn’t a hint of remorse on her face as she said, "Theodore Grant, my car broke down. Can you give me a ride home?"

I turned to look at Theodore Grant. Though still fuming, a sliver of hope remained in my heart. I wanted to see what he would choose.

Perhaps—

’Maybe I also wanted to leave myself an out.’

’I was carrying the child I had longed to conceive for two whole years. And since Theodore Grant might have low sperm motility, this could be his only child.’

’But if Theodore Grant chose Clara Langley...’

—then I would truly give up for good.

Theodore Grant seemed surprised that Clara Langley had returned. He frowned and said, "I’m busy. Have Noah Brown take you home."

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief, secretly glad that Theodore Grant hadn’t chosen Clara Langley.

But Clara Langley just pouted with a look of disdain. "Theodore Grant, don’t tell me getting married turned you henpecked? Chelsea won’t care about something so small. She’s not that petty!"

She looked at me with a wide grin as she spoke. "Right, Chelsea?"

I stared at Clara Langley, taken aback.

’I had to admit, her carefree and frank demeanor almost made me wonder if I was being too suspicious and had misunderstood her...’

’But for some reason, I just disliked her on a visceral level.’

I smiled back at her. "You guessed wrong, Miss Langley."

Clara Langley froze, the smile stiffening on her face.

"Assistant Brown, please call a car for Miss Langley," I said, looking at Noah Brown.

Noah Brown instinctively glanced at Theodore Grant.

Theodore Grant’s brow furrowed slightly; he was clearly hesitant.

"Theodore Grant!" Seeing that he wasn’t saying anything, Clara Langley grew petulant. "You’re no fun! Are we still buddies or not? Ditching your friend for a girl! If the paparazzi were to photograph me, it would be a huge headache. A scandal would be a disaster..."

I turned to face her. "Oh? And it wouldn’t be a problem if you were photographed with my husband?"

"That’s not what I meant..." Clara Langley looked at me in disbelief. "Chelsea, do you have some sort of misunderstanding about me? Theodore Grant and I grew up together. We’ve always been close, he thinks of me as one of the guys. If we wanted to be together, we would’ve gotten together a long time ago. There wouldn’t have been a place for you..."

"Clara Langley!"

Theodore Grant, his face contorted with anger, cut Clara Langley off. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Clara Langley covered her mouth as if she’d just realized her mistake. "Oh? Chelsea... she doesn’t know I’m your ex-girlfriend? I’m so sorry, I-I thought you’d told her! But that’s all ancient history. She wouldn’t still care about that, right?!"

"Just shut up!" Theodore Grant seemed to have finally lost his patience. "Noah Brown, take her home!"

Clara Langley pouted and rolled her eyes at him. She didn’t look angry; rather, she had the smug confidence of a favored child who knows they can get away with anything.

"Okay, okay, fine. I’m leaving. We’ll catch up some other time."

As Clara Langley walked out of the office, I finally snapped out of my stupor. I realized Theodore Grant had taken my hand at some point and immediately yanked it away. "Don’t touch me!"

Theodore Grant’s lips pressed into a thin line, his voice low. "She and I are ancient history. Don’t overthink it."

"And now?" I stared directly into his eyes. "Do you still have feelings for her?"

He answered almost without thinking, "No."

I took a deep breath, forcing down the ache in my chest. "Theodore Grant, if you still love her, I can step aside. We can part on good terms..."

Through my blurry eyes, I glimpsed a shadow by the door—a flash of black leather boots disappearing from view...

’There was someone outside the door!’

’But this was Theodore Grant’s office. No one would be brazen enough to eavesdrop on their boss.’

"Chelsea Joyce, do you have any idea what you’re saying?" Theodore Grant’s brows were knitted tightly, as if he found me utterly unreasonable. "This nonsense has a limit! I told you, there’s nothing between Clara Langley and me. Can you please stop being so suspicious?"