“Doctors make mistakes.”
“You were evaluated by three specialists.”
Arthur pushed the folder away.
“You knew?”
Tears filled Victoria’s eyes.
“Your father thought telling you would destroy your confidence. You were young, frightened, and already struggling after the surgery. We told ourselves we were protecting you.”
Charles finally spoke from the doorway.
“We wanted you to have a normal life.”
Arthur stared at both of them.
“You let me believe I could have children.”
Victoria lowered her gaze.
“I told myself that medicine might change. That perhaps another doctor would eventually give you hope.”
“And Eleanor?”
At the sound of my name, Victoria’s face crumpled.
“I watched her blame herself year after year. I watched her go through treatments. I watched her grieve those pregnancies while you said nothing.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“You told her?”
“Three weeks ago.”
The chair scraped violently against the floor as Arthur stood.
“You had no right.”
“I had no right to remain silent.”
He grabbed his phone and called Brooke.
At first, she did not answer.
He called again.
On the third attempt, she picked up.
“Arthur? Is something wrong?”
He activated the recording function before speaking.
“Whose children are they?”
A pause followed.
“What are you talking about?”
“The twins. Whose are they?”
“They’re ours.”
“I can’t have children.”
The silence on Brooke’s end became so complete that Arthur could hear one of the babies crying in the background.
Finally, she said, “Doctors can be wrong.”
“Three different specialists?”
“You’re upset. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“I want a DNA test.”
Brooke’s voice sharpened.
“You’re demanding a test while I’m caring for two newborns?”
“I want the truth.”
“The truth is that you promised to stand beside me.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
NEXT PAGE
