After three years of trying to conceive, my wife suddenly became pregnant—with twins.
Just as I was about to share the joyful news with everyone, I discovered something that shattered me: her appointment for an abortion.
When I confronted her, Clara Lynn’s eyes turned red as she whispered, “Uncle Albert Shane is in the late stages of cancer. The Shane family has had only one son for three generations. His final wish is to see Felix continue the family line.”
The words struck me like thunder. I tried to reason with her, and even our friends and relatives urged her not to go through with it. But Clara remained unmoved.
“ Ethan, it’s just one child,” she said stubbornly. “Do you really want Uncle Shane to die with regret?”
Her voice was cold, her tone cutting. “For so many years, my Lynn family has supported you. Isn’t it enough that you took over Mr. Henry Lynn’s position? Do you have to interfere with my reproductive rights, too?”
I looked at her—this woman I had loved for years—and felt something inside me break. Her familiar face now looked distant, almost foreign. “Clara,” I said quietly, “if you give birth to our child, I’ll agree to IVF for him. That’s my greatest compromise.”
But Clara only stood, her expression detached. She placed her ring on the coffee table and said, “I’m not as cold-blooded as you. Felix saved my life. He’s like a brother to me. I can’t let them die without a family line.”
Then, meeting my gaze with icy calm, she said, “I won’t keep the child. I’m informing you, not asking.”
My hands trembled as I finally let her go. “Clara,” I said, “let’s divorce.”
——
The room went silent. Clara froze at the doorway, turning back slowly, disbelief in her eyes. “What did you say? Divorce?”
Before I could respond, my father stormed over and slapped me hard. “Why can’t you talk things out properly? You want a divorce already? Are you even a man?”
Everyone rushed to hold him back, their voices blending into a blur. Clara frowned, her tone sharp with irritation.
“ Ethan Hill, you’re already thirty-two. Why are you still so childish?” she said coldly. “Felix is six years younger than you, yet he’s more mature. This IVF plan was carefully thought through. Once we fulfill my uncle’s last wish, Felix will give us the child. You’ll still be the biological father, and he’ll help raise it. Isn’t that enough?”
Her words were calm, even logical—but they cut deep.
So this was what I amounted to: a man unworthy of fatherhood, lucky even to raise another man’s child.
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as memories flooded back.
Ten years ago, I was the poor student everyone mocked. Clara, then our class monitor, stood up for me. I still remember her fiery words on the podium, calling out those bullies and exposing their arrogance. She shone like sunlight in my dark world, tutoring me, paying me generous fees, and giving me confidence.
I thought our paths were bound together forever. But after graduation, disaster struck. The Lynn family was accused of smuggling; their assets were seized, and her father died mysteriously in prison. Overnight, Clara became a fugitive, hounded by creditors.
I gave up my position at a Fortune 500 company to stay by her side. It took us three years to uncover the conspiracy—a frame-up by a corrupt vice president—and seven more to rebuild the Lynn Group from ashes.
Together, we begged key engineers to return, rekindled old partnerships, and rebuilt the company one deal, one drink at a time.
Everything I am today, I built with her.
And now, the woman who once saved me wants to kill our children—for another man’s dying wish.
She and I knelt together to beg the technical director back, bringing back all the key personnel, and, one drink at a time, we built the Lynn Group into what it is today.
