Chapter 2

I woke up to the hushed, sterile beeping of machines. The world was a blur of pain and muffled sounds. I was in a private hospital, one funded by Nicole' s wealthy family. I tried to move, to speak, but my body was a prison of agony.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, I caught fragments of a conversation. Nicole' s voice, sharp and cold, cut through the fog.

"Is he stable, Doctor?"

"He's lucky to be alive," a man's voice replied. The surgeon. "The burns are extensive, third-degree over sixty percent of his back and legs. But his vitals are holding."

There was a pause. Then the surgeon's voice lowered slightly. "Given the nature of the blast, it's a miracle, but his reproductive organs are... salvageable. There's no damage."

I felt a sliver of relief, a strange, distant thought in the sea of pain.

Then Nicole spoke again, and her words were like ice.

"I see. Doctor, during the skin graft surgery, I want you to perform a vasectomy."

The surgeon sounded taken aback. "A vasectomy? Councilwoman Chavez, that's... not medically necessary. It has nothing to do with treating the burns."

"Claim it's to prevent potential infection," Nicole said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll sign whatever consent forms you need. I have his power of attorney."

"But why?" the surgeon asked, his voice a mix of confusion and unease.

Nicole' s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, a sound more chilling than any scream. "My real son, Caleb, is the heir to the Chavez legacy. I cannot risk Ethan having another child, some new brat who might one day try to lay claim to my family's fortune or political dynasty. This loose end needs to be tied up. Permanently."

My mind, what was left of it, shattered. Real son? Caleb? The name meant nothing to me. But the intent was clear. It was a mutilation disguised as a medical procedure. An act of pure, calculated cruelty.