The day my son was born should have been the happiest of my life. Instead, it became the day everything I knew about my marriage began to fall apart. When my husband, Ethan, finally showed up at the hospital, his words shattered me, leaving me questioning everything.
Ethan and I had been married for 21 years, most of them spent battling infertility. Those years were a mix of hope, disappointment, and heartache. I cried more than I thought possible.
At first, Ethan was supportive. He came to doctor’s appointments and held my hand through treatments. But over time, things changed. His late nights at work became more frequent, and I started overhearing hushed phone calls.
“I’ll call you later,” he’d whisper, quickly hanging up when I walked into the room. I tried to ignore it, convincing myself the stress of infertility was affecting him too. I couldn’t afford to let suspicion take over when my heart was focused on one goal: having a child.
By the time I turned 40, I was ready to give up. But something in me—stubbornness or desperation—refused to let go. I decided to try one last time. When I told Ethan, his response was flat. “Whatever makes you happy,” he muttered. Though it stung, I pushed forward.
And then, against all odds, I was pregnant.
When I showed Ethan the positive test, my hands shaking with joy, his reaction was lukewarm. “That’s… great. Really great,” he said, forcing a smile. I ignored his lack of enthusiasm and focused on the miracle growing inside me.
Nine months later, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Ethan refused to be in the delivery room, saying he’d “pass out” and be more of a hassle than help. So, I went through it alone.
Two hours after our son was born, Ethan finally entered my hospital room. I looked up, eager to share this life-changing moment, but his first words stopped me cold.
“Are you sure this one’s mine?”
The room seemed to freeze. “What?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “How can you even ask that? Of course, he’s yours! We’ve been trying for years!”
Ethan’s jaw tightened as he pulled out a small envelope. “I have proof,” he said, his voice cold.
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