CHAPTER 10: BE A REAL MAN

Raymond sat still, his gaze fixed on Olive as she lay unconscious in the bed, the rhythmic beep of the machines the only sound filling the sterile room. He had been here for hours, watching over her, but his mind was far from peaceful. Olive’s condition had stabilized, but the unease he felt gnawed at him. There were too many questions swirling in his head, too many things he didn’t understand about what was happening to him, to her, and to the child she carried. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger than him was at play, something that threatened to unravel everything.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and in walked the doctor. The man looked at him with a serious expression, his lips tight.

“Mr. Raymond,” he said, glancing at Olive briefly before returning his attention to Raymond. “I need to speak with you in my office. It’s about Olive’s condition. There’s something important we need to discuss.”

Raymond’s brow furrowed, his concern for Olive growing. But he nodded, standing up slowly. “Lead the way.”

As Raymond turned to follow the doctor down the corridor, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked the screen, seeing the name “Mia” flashing across it. He sighed, irritation creeping into his chest.

Not now, he thought, but he answered the call anyway.

“Hey, love,” Mia’s voice came through, dripping with her usual sweetness. “You weren’t in Chicago, so I was told you’re in New York for some business deal. When will you be coming home? What should I prepare for you?” She said it in a seductive tone that made Raymond’s skin crawl.

Raymond’s expression hardened. “Mia,” he said, his voice cold. “I don’t know what you’re doing in my penthouse, but before I get there, I don’t want to see your filthy shadow anywhere near it.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a soft sob. “Raymond, you’re hurting me,” Mia whined, her voice fake and manipulative. “Besides, Grandpa asked me to come take care of you. The last time he saw you, you had lost some weight. I was just worried.”

Raymond’s frustration boiled over. His palm met his forehead as he tried to rein in his emotions. “I don’t care what Grandpa said,” he snapped. “I told you to stay away from me. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Without waiting for a response, Raymond ended the call, tossing his phone back into his pocket. His jaw clenched as anger and confusion mixed in his chest. Mia. She had always been a thorn in his side, but now, with Olive in the hospital, everything felt more complicated. He couldn’t focus on Mia right now. He needed to focus on Olive and his unborn Child.

The doctor led him to his office, and Raymond followed, still replaying his conversation with Mia in his head. He didn’t trust her—never had.

When they entered the office, the doctor gestured for Raymond to sit, then took a seat behind his desk. “Mr. Raymond, there’s something I need to explain to you regarding your wife's pregnancy.”

Raymond leaned forward, his attention fully on the doctor. “What’s going on?”

The doctor cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable. “It’s about her pelvic walls. They’re too tight to hold the child for long. As the pregnancy progresses, her body will need to adjust to accommodate the growing baby. But right now, it’s not expanding as it should. This could lead to complications for both her and the child.”

Raymond’s heart raced, a sinking feeling in his stomach. “So what does that mean? Is the child in danger?”

The doctor nodded solemnly. “In a way, yes. Her pelvic walls need to stretch to allow the child to grow properly. This is a delicate process, and it’s essential for both your wife's health and the baby’s health. The solution…” He paused, clearly unsure how to proceed.

Raymond’s patience was running thin. “What’s the solution, Doctor?”

The doctor hesitated before continuing, his voice quieter now. “You need to engage her in sexual activity. It may sound strange, but it’s the only way to help her body adjust. Her body will naturally expand, and the baby will have enough room to grow. It’s critical for her and the child.”

Raymond was speechless. “What are you talking about?” “Are you telling me that I need to sleep with her for her to stay healthy?”

The doctor nodded, his expression. “Yes. It’s the only way. Besides you are her husband and you need to be a real man and do your duties. And it’s not just for your wife's sake—it’s for the baby, too. You need to do your part as a man, Mr. Raymond.”

Raymond’s face went pale. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. The words the doctor had just said were incomprehensible to him. He had never thought about things like this before. He had been so focused on the business side of his life.

The doctor cleared his throat again, snapping Raymond out of his thoughts. “Mr. Raymond, I know this is difficult to understand, but this is the only way. You need to be the one to take action for Olive’s health and the baby’s future.”

Raymond clenched his fists, his jaw tight with frustration. “Fine,” he muttered, turning on his heel and heading for the door. “I’ll do it.”

Meanwhile, back at Raymond’s penthouse, Mia was preparing herself for what she believed would be her ultimate victory. She had been the mastermind behind Raymond’s failed surrogacies all along. Every move he made, every step he took, had been carefully orchestrated by her. She had known that this last surrogacy would fail too, but the doctor’s mistake had thrown a wrench in her plan. It didn’t matter, though. She was still in control.

Mia sat in the room she had chosen in Raymond’s penthouse, her fingers running over a stack of documents. These weren’t just any documents—they were the key to her next move. She had gathered all the information she could on Olive Bennett, including her medical records.

She smirked as she glanced at Olive’s picture, her eyes narrowing with malicious intent. She knew that Olive was Raymond’s biggest weakness right now because she is carrying his child. She knew that if she could get rid of Olive and the child, she would have Raymond all to herself.

Without hesitation, she tossed the documents to the floor, her eyes locking onto Olive’s picture. She took out a lighter, setting it alight, watching as the paper curled and blackened. As the flames danced, Mia grinned wickedly, her mind already working on her next move.

Raymond arrived back at Olive's ward his mind still reeling from his conversation with the doctor. He entered Olive’s room quietly, not wanting to disturb her too much. She was still sleeping, but her condition had improved since the night before. He stood at the door, staring at her for a long time, trying to steady his emotions.