To prepare for this procedure, I had endured three months of injections. My lower abdomen was covered in bruises, and my entire body was swollen beyond recognition.
Every step-from medication to injections to egg retrieval-was something I gritted my teeth and endured alone. Erik told me that there was an emergency at the company and that he couldn't accompany me.
I believed his words.
I was even alone when I signed the pre-surgery documents.
I lay alone on the cold examination bed as the instruments entered my body.
Sharp, intense pains radiated from my abdomen, and cold sweat trickled down my forehead, soaking the collar of my medical gown.
After the examination, I mustered my strength and texted Erik to let him know I was alright.
At that moment, I received an anonymous email on my phone.
Despite the abdominal cramps, I clicked to open it, revealing a scandalous video!
The video showed two naked people having passionate sex. Their breathless gasps and moans echoed occasionally.
I instinctively wanted to turn it off, but then I noticed that the guy in the video was Erik!
I gripped the phone tightly and stared at the screen intensely. I watched the video over and over again.
There was clearly a scar above his left arm. It was a mark he got five years ago while saving me!
Because of that scar, I was certain the guy was Erik!
Staring blankly at the video, I realized it was true!
At that moment, I understood that Erik had cheated on me on the day I was undergoing IVF!
In the video, he was wild with passion, thrusting into the woman beneath him with all his might.
He was completely different compared to when he was with me!
I stared at the screen intensely, recognizing the dark gray bedsheets beneath them as the birthday gift I had given him last month!
He had the audacity to bring his lover to our marital home on the day of my IVF procedure.
Anger and humiliation sent a chill through my body.
My body, beneath the medical gown, trembled uncontrollably.
I had been married to Erik for three years and had never known that his secretary was actually his lover!
His secretary, Mia, was stunningly beautiful but came from a poor family.
Years ago, she was being harassed by an older man during a job interview. I gave her a job. She always seemed especially respectful towards me, so I recommended her to Erik as his secretary!
She and Erik had really hidden it well. If I hadn't received this anonymous email, I might have remained in the dark forever.
I had once trusted them the most, but they betrayed me!
The world spun before my eyes, and my heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles.
Then, Erik said, "Mia, it would be great if you were carrying my baby. Just the thought of Doreen having my baby makes me sick."
Mia nestled against Erik's chest and looked pitiful. "You are so good to me. You know I can't get pregnant, so you let her undergo IVF instead."
Erik sneered, "Otherwise, why do I keep her around? Back then, she was determined to break away from her family and marry me. I kept her because she's so obedient and stupid, so I just keep her as a tool for having children."
Erik's movements became even more intense. "Mia, don't worry. Once she gives birth to a son, I'll send her away immediately."
My body went cold, and the phone clattered to the floor.
I had endured countless injections, hormonal imbalances, and sleepless nights to get pregnant.
I had turned my back on my family and suffered untold hardships for him. But he saw me as nothing more than a repulsive breeding tool!
The world darkened before my eyes, and I curled up on the cold waiting chair.
When my vision cleared, the calendar on my phone popped up with a reminder for the "Wedding Anniversary Dinner" three days later.
How ironic it was!
Just then, a message from Erik popped up.
I wiped away my tears, swallowed the pain, and opened it.
Erik said, "Doreen, did the IVF go smoothly? Thank you for everything you did."
I stared at the message and trembled as I replied, "I'll take care of myself. You go ahead with your work."
Erik said, "Oh, by the way, the master of the dinner had an emergency and can't make it, so I've asked Mia to step in. She is beautiful and isn't afraid of the stage."
He attached a photo.
In the photo, Mia was dressed in an elegant gown with flawless makeup. She was smiling sweetly at the camera.
At that moment, the pain and anger nearly suffocated me.
Erik truly knew how to humiliate me. When I endured medication torment for the IVF in the hospital alone, he not only entangled with Mia but also planned to have her stand under the spotlight on our wedding anniversary.
What was he planning?
Was he preparing to announce his new lover to all our friends and our family at the anniversary dinner?
My nails nearly dug into my palms as I slowly typed. "Do you think it's appropriate for Mia to host our anniversary dinner?"
Erik quickly replied with a voice message. He sounded patient to be trying to persuade me. "Mia is very capable. We don't have to worry about anything if we let her handle such an important occasion."
Listening to the affectionate tone when he mentioned Mia, I suddenly wanted to laugh.
I couldn't help but wonder whether he was entangled with this "capable" secretary while I was vomiting from side effects during my late-night hospital visits.
A physical nausea mixed with the hatred in my heart churned my stomach.
Erik sent another message. "You know how important this dinner is. I'll be officially taking over the Hayes Group that day. Your previous design was too plain, so I had Mia help adjust it. She has good taste. All the important business partners will be there, so we need to make a good impression. Make sure you perform well. Don't make us a laughingstock."
What was he talking about?
Erik thought I was unfit for the stage, yet he held Mia in high regard.
Ha, I was the biggest laughingstock in the world!
Gritting my teeth, I clutched my fingers until they turned pale from the pressure. "Don't worry. I'll prepare a "grand gift" for her."
I typed "grand gift" with a heavy hand.
My body ached all over, but the betrayal and deceit from Erik hurt even more.
Since he had trampled on my dignity like that, I would make him pay the price!
As I was overwhelmed with pain and hatred, Erik sent another picture. "By the way, because of the swelling from your injections, I had Mia order a dress for the dinner according to your current size."
I opened the photo and was furious instantly.
The dress he prepared for me was a size too large, an outdated style that had long gone out of season.
Meanwhile, Mia's dress was the latest limited edition. It required months of advance booking, and it even matched Erik's suit as a couple's outfit.
I had trusted them the most, yet on the day of my IVF, they had an affair, treating me like a disposable breeding tool.
They even acted in front of me and thought they were well-disguised.
But they didn't realize that Erik's disdain for me was already spilling from the screen.
Did they plan to have me wear the outdated dress at my wedding anniversary dinner while they flaunted their love in the lovers' clothes?
Did they really think I was a fool?
Of course, if not for that anonymous email, I would have foolishly gone through with the procedure, given birth to Erik's baby, and then been thrown out.
At the dinner, I would have applauded Erik's takeover of the Hayes Group, watched them flirt under my nose, and even thanked Mia for her help after the dinner!
How ridiculous it was!
Cold sweat soaked through my medical gown.
I mustered all my strength to reply, "Okay."
Then, I struggled to stand up and walked towards the nurse's station.
"Excuse me," I said in a firm voice, "but I won't be going through with the IVF procedure."
Under the nurse's bewildered gaze, I left.
Didn't he want a baby?
Didn't he want a perfect takeover ceremony and anniversary dinner?
I would expose all his dirty secrets under the bright light on the very day.
Three days later, at the dinner, I would watch them face their downfall!