CHAPTER 141
CHAPTER 141
POV ELIZABETH
“As I’ve already told you, Elizabeth, anything can happen. But in the case of a vasectomy, the guy has to be really fertile for that to happen. You two had unprotected sex all this time, and if nothing ever happened, it might be harder for it to happen now…” I nodded silently. “But it’s not impossible either! During the first three months after the surgery, it's recommended to use other contraceptive methods, because there can still be sperm in the canal. So, if it didn’t happen back then, I think it’s even less likely now. That’s why I believe it could be an asymptomatic pregnancy. But that’s just my opinion. I’m no expert in any of these cases,” he said seriously.
“So… I might be pregnant with William’s baby?” He nodded, and I started to panic. “Oh my God! How am I going to tell Matthew? How do I say I’m pregnant and the baby might not be his?” I said in distress.
“Look, Elizabeth, I don’t know how he’ll react. Have faith. But as a man, I’ll tell you one thing— for a man to take responsibility for another man’s child, he really has to be a man. Because not just anyone would do that. And if this child is a result of your brief relationship with William, and Matthew still accepts it, then you can be sure he truly loves you and is a real man. Because honestly, I don’t know if I would accept it. Even if it’s not the result of a betrayal, it’s still a child from another relationship. If you had a child before you got involved with Matthew, like what happened with William, that’d be different. But Matthew met you without kids, you had your first child together, then separated, and now you’re back and pregnant by someone else… That’s a complicated situation,” he said seriously, and I nodded.
My God… What do I do? I was desperate and full of anxiety, especially now that we were going through the best phase of our relationship—and this happens.
I left Dr. Clarck’s office even more distressed, with no face and no courage to look Matthew in the eyes and tell him about the pregnancy. So I called Charlotte and we agreed to meet at a coffee shop near her work.
I got to the place we agreed on, but Charlotte hadn’t arrived yet. I sat at a table near a glass wall, which gave a clear view of the street, and I ordered a cappuccino while I waited. But she didn’t take long to show up.
“What happened? Why did you call me sounding so frantic?” Charlotte asked as she sat down in front of me.
“Charlotte, I…” I took a deep breath, “I’m pregnant,” I said seriously, and she looked at me, shocked.
“What do you mean pregnant?” she asked, still not quite getting it.
“Yes, Charlotte, I’m pregnant. There’s a life growing inside me,” I said, anguished.
“That part I understood… What I don’t get is how you’re pregnant if Matthew had a vasectomy?” she asked, calling over the waiter. I then explained the whole situation to her.
“Did you ever sleep with William without protection, or were you on birth control when you were with him?”
“I never took birth control. You know that. But we always used protection. Every time. Except for one time…” I rested my elbows on the table and put my hands over my face, starting to cry.
“One time what, Elizabeth? Just say it already!” she said, serious.
“There was one time the condom broke, and we didn’t notice. Then he changed it and we kept going. But I don’t remember if he came. And that same day, we had sex in the shower without a condom. But he didn’t finish inside me. He pulled out. Even so, I remember taking the morning-after pill the next day,” I said, almost crying, my hand on my forehead.
“Damn it, Elizabeth! You’re so smart and experienced when it comes to sex, you should know that withdrawal isn’t safe.” My eyes filled with tears. “Does Matthew know?” she asked, sipping her coffee while looking at me.
“No! I haven’t told him anything yet. I didn’t have the courage,” I said seriously, looking back at her.
“And what are you waiting for to tell him?” she asked, staring into my eyes.
“I don’t have the courage, Charlotte… I don’t have the guts to tell him I’m pregnant and that this baby might not be his.”
“What are you waiting for, Elizabeth? Your belly to grow or for him to figure it out himself?”
“I don’t know, Charlotte. I don’t even know what to think. I’m scared of how he’ll react.”
“Girl, for God’s sake, this is the kind of thing you don’t hide from your partner. His reaction will be much worse if he finds out on his own.”
“I just… I don’t have the courage!”
“Damn it, Elizabeth! Don’t let him find out on his own. Matthew isn’t stupid. He’ll notice when your period is late, and then you’re screwed.” Charlotte held my hands. “Don’t let a lie destroy your marriage again. You demanded so much truth from him in the past, and now you’re doing the same. You’re lying, hiding things from him. Lies ruin any relationship, even one as beautiful as yours. Don’t let that happen again. Open your heart to him, tell him everything you’re feeling. He might get pissed at first. But he loves you. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
I wiped away a tear rolling down my cheek. “He’s not completely innocent in this either. If he hadn’t cheated on you, you two wouldn’t have split up and you wouldn’t have gotten involved with William. One thing leads to another. He can’t put all the blame on you.”
“You’re right. I need to talk to him… and I’ll pray to God that this child is his. Like the old saying goes: ‘Hope and mothers-in-law are the last to die.’”
“Well, honey… but in your case, the mother-in-law died first, and if you’re counting on that, you’re screwed,” she said, looking at me and laughing.
“Of course you had to say something dumb, right, Charlotte? Wouldn’t be you if you didn’t,” I said with a smile.
“You idiot, I’m just being honest,” she replied, grinning.
“Alright! But you’re right. I’ll tell Matthew, but only after I’m sure the baby is his,” I said seriously.
“And if he’s not? Are you going to hide it or do something stupid? Just imagine how he’ll feel being the last to know—even if he is the father. Face it already. And preferably together. Tell him the whole truth and do an ultrasound to clear your doubts. In your case, it’s easy to figure out. You don’t even need a DNA test. You just need to know the exact gestational age.”
We talked for a while longer, and then I went home. Honestly, I wasn’t in any condition to go back to the office. I chose to go home and get ready to talk to Matthew.