Chapter 269 White lie

Chapter 269 White lie


Stella stood cautiously at the doorway of her parents' bedroom, peeking inside every now and then.
Ariana had opened the safe, revealing a variety of documents.
She picked up the one on top.
And there it was—her old name.
As she read the words, her gaze slowly lost focus.
Stella guessed that Ariana must have seen it by now.
"Ariana, did you find it?" she called out.
There was no response from inside.
Growing impatient, Stella decided to enter the bedroom. "Ariana!"
She saw Ariana standing there, holding her own medical record.
"Ariana!" Stella quickly snatched the record from her hands. "It's all fake, don't believe it!"
Ariana finally snapped back to reality. "You knew?"
Stella put the record back, locked the safe, and then led Ariana to her own room, making sure to lock the door behind them.
"Did you know all along?" Ariana asked, her voice trembling.
"It was Mom who told me," her sister replied. "She asked me to keep it from you, not to tell anyone. She was worried you'd be upset. But Ariana, it's not that big of a deal. Even without this surgery, many people struggle to conceive naturally. Then they go for IVF. It's quite common. Don't overthink it. You and Lucas are young. IVF should be smooth for you!"
Ariana's heart felt like it was being torn apart.
When she came out of the operating room, the doctor had told her they only removed one fallopian tube. She had felt relieved, thinking fate hadn't been too cruel, leaving her with half a chance.
But it turned out to be a lie.
She no longer had the possibility of conceiving naturally.
If she wanted children, IVF was her only option.
During her hospital stay for the surgery, she had met many people from the obstetrics and gynecology departments.
Her ward in the gynecology department was just a corridor away from the maternity ward.
When she wandered around, she often saw women with big bellies.
She frequently overheard them talking about how challenging IVF could be.
One woman and her husband had undergone countless tests, checking every aspect related to fertility, but found no issues.
After years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive, they turned to IVF. Yet, each attempt failed until the sixth try, when they finally had their baby.
The woman said that if she failed one more time, there wouldn't be another chance. She would jump off the building and end it all.
Women undergoing IVF treatments endure a lot—shots, medications, countless procedures—and the psychological strain is the hardest part.
Some keep trying despite repeated failures, continuing down the IVF path.
Each story is filled with raw pain.
When Ariana heard this, she felt a chill run down her spine. She was grateful she still had one fallopian tube left.
But she didn't realize it was a well-meaning lie.
The most crucial part was that she was about to marry the prince of the capital's elite circle!
"Ariana, don't be sad. Things will get better," Stella said, feeling a pang of sympathy.
She saw the unmistakable sadness on Ariana's face.
Ariana took a deep breath, "I'm okay."
"Please don't tell Mom. She'll be upset with me. I promised her I wouldn't tell you."
Ariana gave a bitter smile, "This kind of thing can't be hidden. Even if you don't tell me now, I'll find out eventually. It's okay."
"Ariana, you're really great."
Ariana managed to force a smile.
She had gone to the hospital to check her previous medical records, which were exactly the same as the ones Autumn had kept.
After printing another copy, she found a doctor to take a look.
The doctor's expression was quite indifferent. "You're unable to conceive naturally. Are you planning to have a child?"
"Not planning yet, just wanted to consult for now."
The doctor patiently reviewed each page. "If you're considering pregnancy, you should start with some tests and bring your husband along. There's a lot of preparation needed before IVF."
"In your case, since you've had surgery before, we need to assess your recovery. Your situation isn't very optimistic, so be prepared."
This doctor was a top OB-GYN specialist, though a bit cold and not one to sugarcoat things for patients.
Ariana had researched her condition online as well.
"Does this mean I can't have my own child?"
"I'll be very straightforward. Even with IVF, your chances aren't high. The condition you had was quite severe, and removing both fallopian tubes was necessary to save your life and prevent further complications."
"It's difficult, but you can give it a try."
Hearing this from the doctor, Ariana felt her heart sink.
"Why insist on having a child?
Accepting reality isn't so bad," the doctor said in a detached tone, though it seemed like an attempt to comfort Ariana.
If Ariana had married an ordinary person, not having a child wouldn't be a big deal.
But she was married to Lucas, the head of the most prestigious family in the city. If they didn't have a child, what would people think? The Firestone Family would become a laughingstock among the elite.
Those who knew might think it was Ariana who couldn't have children, while others might assume it was Lucas.
"The process is painful, especially for someone like you. Be prepared. If you're not mentally strong enough, it's better not to go through with it," the doctor added.
Ariana quietly put away her medical records.
"Thank you."
She walked out of the hospital and looked up at the glaring sun.
It was autumn, the air was crisp and clear, but her heart felt unbearably heavy.
She wondered what she had done in a past life to deserve such punishment from the heavens.
She thought all her suffering was over.
But now she realized it was far from over.
Far from over...
There would be many more painful moments to endure in the future.
She thought she was strong, that after everything she'd been through, she was unbreakable.
But the truth was, the more she experienced, the more afraid she became.
Because it was all so painful.
She was terrified that one day she wouldn't be able to hold on, that the string would snap.
Ariana quietly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
In the end, she had to face it.
You can't run away from everything.
She immediately set up a meeting with Lucas.
That evening, Lucas came straight to meet Ariana after work, and they met at a restaurant.
"Missed me already?" Lucas was overjoyed, leaning in to wrap her in a hug.
Ariana pulled out her medical records. "Take a look at this first."
"What is it?" Lucas took the manila envelope, untied the string, and pulled out the papers inside.
The smile on his face slowly faded.