Chapter 002

“This is a very big mistake that has never happened before in our hospital and we’re very sorry,” Dr. Kim pleaded, enunciating each syllable with grim clarity.

Isabelle had arrived the hospital about an hour later she was called. Seating across Dr. Kim, she listened attentively, yet unable to make meaning from her explanations.

“I can still you’re still confused. I’ll explain further,” Dr. Kim said. Isabelle adjusted to the edge of her seat. “The nurse in charge of the insemination mistakenly took the sperm for another client and mix with the sample eggs retrieved from your ovaries.”

“What?!” Isabelle interjected, her voice quaking. The message was now clear. “You mean I’m carrying another man’s child?”

A hushed silence filtered across the room. The ringing sounds of the telephone penetrated the hushed silence. “Right away!” Dr. Kim said with hastiness in her voice as quickly stood up. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Williams, there’s been an emergency. I  need leave right away. Could you wait for some minutes, please?” she swung out of the office without waiting for her respond.

For the past 4o minutes, Isabelle buried herself in thoughts, trying to reminisce all the doctor had said. Could it be that I’m carrying another man’s child? Who could that be if that happens to be the case?

“I’m sorry again, Mrs. Williams for keeping you waiting so long,” Dr. Kim said as she just returned from the ICU. “You’re such a patient woman.” She taught of telling Isabelle about the patient but as it was against the hospital’s policy to discuss a patient with a non-family member, she waved off the thought. Isabelle too knew, so she didn’t ask either.

“So, were you saying this child belongs to another man?” Isabelle asked with narrowed brow, cupping her belly with her hand. She was beginning to lose her patience.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, not just another man. The man is Mr. Carlos Fernandez…”

“The world number one real estate mogul,” Isabelle cut in, completing the lines before Dr. Kim could go further. Dr. Kim stared at her with surprise. 

“I see you already know him,” Dr. Kim said, nodding her head.

“Well, it’s a popular name, always intruding every façade of the media,” Isabelle replied, giving a wink.

Isabelle was still worried as her face went pale. “What about my husband’s sperms, what happened to it?”

Dr. Kim gave out a deep breath before answering; she sat up and cleared her throat. “Yes, I was going to talk about that too before you ask. The nurse mistakenly used your husband’s sperms for another sample and discovered that the sperms were not viable enough to initiate fertilization.”

“So, what does that mean?” Isabelle asked.

The doctor took few seconds before answering. “It means, the cause of your barrenness is from your husband. Nothing is wrong with you.”

“What?” Isabelle almost screamed, her jaw lifted in utter shock. “But he.. Alison is…” pointing blankly towards the door, she immediately held her breath.

“Mrs. Williams, are you okay?” Dr. Kim asked. “Who’s Alison?” Dr. Kim noticed from her expression, she didn’t want to talk about it, so she waved it off.

“There is another problem, a bigger one at that,” the doctor said, widening her brow as she spoke. “We’re conflicted on what to tell Mr. Fernandez since the volunteered surrogate was injected with the wrong sample.”

Isabelle began to battle with her own conflict too; the fact that her husband had been the cause of her inability to conceive all these years, the fact that he had to betray their love and ran after her friend who was now claiming to be pregnant for him, the fact that now, she was carrying the child of a stranger – a ruthless one at that.

These were issues her brain was subjected to process at the same time.

“We just wanted to let you know of the true father of the child, that was why we called you over,” the doctor said, her voice stern and unyielding. “For the case of Mr. Fernandez, we fear we might lose our job.”

“Why?” Isabelle cut in, her jaws lifted in surprise.

“Yes, this is a grave mistake on our path. Please, keep this conversation absolutely confidential,” she said as Isabelle nodded. “He paid $400,000 for this. He is ruthless and could make sure we don’t just lose our jobs, but that our asses rot in jail for not being able to deliver what he paid for.”

Isabelle could now see the gravity of the whole mess.

And truly, Fernandez was cruel and ruthless. There had been news where cold-heartedly fired over 40 % of his workers for losing just one client. He once fired all his housemaids for skipping his pet’s lunch, and many more to mention.

Before Isabelle was called back to the hospital, the doctor had instructed the nurse who made the mistake to let her handle the case.

Dr. Kim was about to speak when a knock at the door interrupted. The visitor did not wait to be invited in as he swung in, evidence of his nature. The doctor jacked on her feet, almost fidgeting upon the sight of the tall, intimidating figure. She signaled Isabelle to stand too. 

Who dare to sit down while the great Fernandez was standing?

He wore a black tailored suit that perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and commanding presence. His piercing eyes in a frame of chiseled jawline scanned the office with an unmistakable intensity.

“So, yo called,” he said with a baritone voice. “What’s the progress?”

“Ye…yes, Mr. Fernandez,” Dr. Kim stammered, “About that, there’s a complication we need to…”

“What complication, woman?” he thundered, losing his patience. 

Isabelle was meticulously observing the whole drama and knew it wouldn’t end well if didn’t intervene. After all, what would she stand to lose when it was obvious she was carrying his child and back home, her husband had threatened to throw her out.

“Sorry, sir, no complications. I’m the surrogate and I’m carrying your child. My name is Isabelle Williams.” She said with a smile, stretching her hand for a handshake.