Chapter 117 Chapter 117
Chapter 117 Chapter 117
“Vasectomy?” I whispered to myself.
But I wasn’t the only one who kept repeating that word over and over and over again. My mum, Ace, Mary, and some of the other staffs in the room kept saying it.
“What do you mean,” I asked, my voice cutting through the soft murmurs of everyone, “you had a vasectomy?”
Scott turned to me slowly, his expression calm. “Yes, Sabrina. Exactly what it means, dear.”
“When?” I pressed. “How long ago?”
Ace leaned forward in his chair, eyes fixed on his father. Even the staff along the walls seemed to be interested in the answers to the question I had asked.
Scott inhaled, then said quietly, “It’s something I did long ago. After my wife died.”
The room shifted.
“After Elsie passed away, giving birth to Ace,” he continued, his voice calm but unmistakably heavy. “I had it done not long after the funeral.”
My heart clenched.
“I loved her,” he said simply. “I still do. And I knew without any doubt that I never wanted another woman to carry my child. Not because I couldn’t move on with my life, but because I didn’t want that kind of bond with anyone who wasn’t her.”
Ace swallowed hard.
“So, I made a decision,” Scott went on. “A permanent one. I chose to raise my son and dedicate the rest of my life to him and to the memory of the woman I loved. I didn’t want temptation. I didn’t want to make mistakes. And I didn’t want history repeating itself.”
No one spoke.
“I never imagined,” Scott added, glancing briefly at me, “that years later I would marry again. But even then, the procedure remained irreversible.”
After a few seconds, Claire laughed sharply.
“Oh, please,” she snapped, waving the document in her hand. “You expect us to believe that? This could be forged. Anyone can fake paperwork.”
Scott looked at her like she was an insect buzzing near his ear.
“You’re welcome to challenge it,” he said. “The hospital records exist. The surgeon exists. The procedure exists.”
“My baby is yours!” Claire screamed. “You can’t erase that with papers!”
“That child you’re carrying is not mine. And you should stop saying that it is,” Scott argued.
The room erupted.
“You’re lying!” she shouted. “You’re all lying! You think you can humiliate me like this?”
She lunged forward, pointing at Scott. “You took advantage of me!”
“WHAT?” Scott snapped. “ARE YOU SICK IN THE HEAD?”
“Why don’t you tell them the truth, Scott?” Claire snapped back. “I am pregnant, and you, Scott, is the father of my child.”
“That’s enough,” Scott said sharply.
“No!” Claire shrieked. “You probably don’t remember when you did it, but I can remind you if that’s what you want, Scott. You drugged me! You—”
I stood up.
“You drugged him,” I said coldly. “And I have the footage.”
Claire froze.
“You forgot that part, didn’t you?” I continued. “The cameras. The ones I hid. The ones that recorded everything.”
Her mouth opened, then closed as the room buzzed with whispers.
“You must’ve forgotten that part as well, mother. But I can remind you if that’s what you want.”
Scott turned to the policemen. “Take her.”
Claire’s head snapped toward him. “What?”
“I’m pressing charges,” Scott said calmly. “For assault. For attempted manipulation. For harassment. And for trying to destroy my marriage.”
“This is insane!” Claire cried. “You can’t do this to me!”
“I can,” Scott smiled. “And it’s already happening, so you know I definitely can.”
“Oh, come on, Scott,” Claire said as she forced a chuckle. “Over this? You’re going to arrest me over this? Really.”
“Yes,” he answered quickly.
The officers stepped forward.
“No—wait—Scott!” she begged, panic finally breaking through her bravado. “Please!”
She twisted toward me. “Sabrina, baby, please—tell him to stop. I did this for us. For you!”
I didn’t move.
“I’m your mother!” she sobbed. “You can’t let them take me!”
I stared at her, feeling nothing but exhaustion.
“You stopped being my mother the day you tried to steal my life,” I said quietly.
Her face crumpled.
“Okay, you win. Yes, you win. Scott, you win. I’m not pregnant,” she confessed suddenly, voice cracking. “I lied, okay? I just— I wanted him. I wanted the life you had. I didn’t think it would go this far.”
Scott didn’t even look at her.
The policemen took her arms.
“Sabrina!” she screamed as they dragged her away. “Forgive me! Please, baby, forgive me.”
The doors closed behind them.
The doctor nodded once to Scott and followed the officers out.
Ace exhaled slowly. “Was that really necessary?” he asked his father.
Scott turned to him. “Yes.”
Ace frowned. “I never thought I’d be the one being soft right now and pleading on behalf of someone as Claire... but really? Dad.” He turned to me. “Sabrina, really? You’re just going to let them take her?”
“She has done enough, and she will only keep doing more if given the opportunity.”
Ace sighed. “But to do it in front of everyone, Dad. Why?”
Scott scanned the room. “Because lies grow in secrecy. And I wanted everyone here to see what happens when someone tries to destroy my marriage or image.”
My gaze drifted to Mary.
She stood rigid, eyes downcast, hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her face was pale.
Scott followed my line of sight.
“Anyone else,” he said evenly, “who thinks my marriage is something to interfere with—let today be a lesson.”
No one spoke.
I took a breath.
“Scott,” I said.
He turned toward me immediately. “Yes?”
“There’s something I need to say.”
Ace stiffened.
Scott gestured toward the staff. “Okay then. Everyone else can leave.”
“No,” I said quickly. “They need to stay.”
His brows lifted slightly. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled softly. “Alright then. Go ahead.”
I exhaled, my heart hammering painfully against my ribs. I turned to Ace. He was already looking at me—really looking—like he knew exactly where this was going.
Then I faced Scott again.
“I know this might not be the right time to say what I want to, but I can’t keep living a lie,” I said.
“It’s alright. Say it,” he muttered.
“I don’t love you,” I said.
A sharp inhale rippled through the room.
“Not the way you love me,” I clarified. “And not the way a wife should.”
Mary’s head snapped up.
Scott blinked, clearly stunned. “Sabrina—”
“I care about you,” I continued, my voice trembling but firm. “I respect you. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. But my heart isn’t with you.”
Silence pressed in.
“I tried,” I said. “I really did. But I can’t pretend anymore.”
Scott stared at me. “Is this because of what happened today?”
“No,” I whispered. “It’s because of what’s been happening long before today.”
I swallowed hard.
“I love someone else.”
Ace sucked in a sharp breath.
Scott’s face drained of color.