Chapter 7

This morning, everyone seemed to be sitting quietly, eating breakfast. No one said a word until, once again, Flora initiated the conversation.

The woman never tired of trying to bring her husband closer to his second wife. Flora remembered that back in college, Ethan and Amelia were very close. Why now did they seem like strangers who didn’t know each other?

"Amelia, are you going back to work today?"

Amelia, who was finishing her glass of milk, nodded. She wiped her wet lips before answering Flora's question. 

"Yes. I don't feel comfortable taking too much time off. I feel bad for Clara. And coincidentally, this month there are a lot of deadlines that need to be met."

"So, who do you usually go to work with? Does Clara pick you up? Or is there a driver?"

"I usually drive myself."

Flora nodded. Her gaze then shifted to Ethan, who had finished his breakfast. 

"In that case, from now on, you should drive Amelia to and from work. It's too much for her to drive herself. Something could happen on the road."

Ethan turned to look at her and immediately nodded in agreement. He didn’t protest or object to Flora's request in the slightest. 

"Sure. I'll take Amelia to and from work. Besides, the hospital and her boutique are on the same route."

Amelia just smiled. She thought it was a good idea. Consider it a way to break the awkwardness between herself and Ethan.

That's why, when her husband asked her to leave and get in the car, Amelia agreed without hesitation. Although they remained mostly silent during the drive, she tried hard to break the ice by starting a light conversation with Ethan.

"Driving me to work doesn’t inconvenience you at all, does it?"

Ethan nodded, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. He responded briefly. 

"No, it's fine."

"If you're busy and can’t pick me up, just let me know. I can go with Clara or take a taxi home."

"No need. I’ll pick you up. Just wait at the boutique."

Amelia nodded. Not long after, the car they were driving arrived at the boutique where Amelia worked.

After grabbing her shopper bag from the back seat, Amelia was about to say goodbye. 

"I'm off to work. Be careful on the road."

Once he made sure Amelia had gotten out of the car and entered the boutique, Ethan continued on his way to work. Upon reaching the hospital, instead of heading straight to his office, he made his way to one of the doctors’ offices he wanted to visit that morning.

Luckily, the doctor he was looking for had already arrived and was preparing to start the day. Ethan knocked on the door once and asked for permission to enter. 

"Excuse me, Cha, can I have a moment of your time?"

Alissa, who was arranging some papers on her desk, looked up and smiled warmly, gesturing for Ethan to come in. 

"Come on in. My clinic doesn’t open for another 30 minutes. So why are you hanging out in my office so early? Is there something you want to ask?"

Ethan nodded. He had been thinking about something for a while, and it was weighing heavily on his mind. He thought Alissa was the only one who could help him right now. 

"I want to ask about IVF and artificial insemination."

"Sure, what do you want to know about those?"

"In your opinion, which is more effective and quicker to succeed? IVF or artificial insemination?"

Alissa smiled and gave a detailed expAmeliation. 

"Of course, IVF. Besides being more complex, IVF is the last option if fertility drugs or artificial insemination don't work. Moreover, the success rate of IVF is up to 80%."

"Does that mean IVF is the best option for having a child?"

Alissa nodded this time. 

"Yes, because it’s the most effective method and uses advanced technology. That’s also why it’s so expensive."

"Are there any risks?"

"Of course. For example, during egg retrieval, there’s a risk of infection, bleeding, or issues with the intestines or other organs. But if done carefully and precisely, those risks can be avoided. By the way, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Ethan let out a slow breath. Asking all these questions definitely had a purpose. 

"I’m thinking about trying IVF soon."

Alissa’s brow furrowed. For some reason, she felt uneasy after hearing Ethan's plan. 

"You and Flora want to try IVF? But that’s impossible, El. Flora had her uterus removed."

"I know. The IVF isn’t with Flora."

"Then who?" A few seconds after asking, Alissa's eyes widened as if she realized where the conversation was headed. "Don't tell me you want to do IVF with Amelia."

"Why not?" Ethan asked casually. Who knew what was going through his mind at that moment. 

"Don’t be ridiculous, Ethan! Artificial insemination or IVF is for couples who have trouble conceiving. In this case, Amelia's uterus is very fertile and can be fertilized at any time. Besides, aren’t you in excellent health too? So why would you need to go through all that?"

Once again, Ethan sighed deeply. He knew that if he shared what he was thinking, Alissa would scold him. But if he didn’t explain it clearly, there was no way she could help him find a solution.

"What are you planning?" Alissa pressed, eager to know. "Don't do anything crazy! I'll tell Asher if you try anything weird."

Ethan clicked his tongue. Why bring Asher into this? 

"I'm not doing anything crazy," Ethan denied.

"Then what? What are you planning?"

"I'm not planning anything. I’m just thinking about how to get Amelia pregnant without having to be physically intimate."

"Oh my God." Alissa immediately prayed. She shook her head in disbelief at what Ethan had just revealed. "You and Amelia are perfectly healthy. The only way to conceive is the conventional way. Directly. Not through IVF or anything like that. It’s wrong. You’re capable, but you’re ignoring it. You married her, but you don’t touch her."

Ethan had guessed right. He was getting a morning lecture from Alissa, who was furious after hearing his plans.

"If you go through with IVF, I won’t handle it. You’ll have to find another doctor."

"Oh God, Alissa." Now it was Ethan’s turn to shake his head at all of Alissa’s scolding. "It’s just a plan. It might not even happen."

"Precisely because it’s just a plan, I have to tell you that your idea is completely out of line."

"But—"

"No buts. Just get rid of that thought. You have two options: either do it directly, or don't have kids at all."