Chapter 3 The Other Side Of The Coin

• Alessandro’s POV
• My head throbs with anger as I observe the doctor's struggle, knowing that what he's about to reveal will likely seal his fate. My wife takes my hands, showing the anguish we feel in anticipation of the fertility answer.
• "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Delacroix, here are the test results. According to these, Mrs. Delacroix has good fertility and the cysts in her ovaries do not pose any problems if she becomes pregnant."
• "In fact, pregnancy could even help resolve them, as they are quite small," the doctor adds, a hint of relief evident in Yocelyn's loosened grip and content smile.
• So, she can have children. But then, why haven't we had one yet after being married for five years?
• "On the other hand, in Mr. Delacroix's case, we have encountered an issue. The studies reveal an anomaly in sperm function, and upon further examination, we've also identified a slight blockage in the semen transport tubes. Additionally, there's a minor anomaly detected in the right testicle," the doctor continues, his gaze unable to meet mine.
• A resounding thud fills the room as my fist slams into the doctor's desk.
• "Are you kidding me? According to you, I have every possible condition that a man could have. Are you really telling me this, and is there a possibility that it's a mistake?" I ask, my annoyance evident.
• "I'm sorry to inform you that it's not a mistake. We have been repeating the tests for six months and conducting more in-depth examinations, so I know it's not a misdiagnosis. You really have these problems," the doctor responds solemnly.
• "So, he's the one who's infertile?" Yocelyn asks bluntly, her tone direct.
• "It's a bit harsh to say he's infertile. With treatment and interventions to remove the obstruction in the tubes, he could have children in the future. You just need to be patient and support each other on this long journey you'll have to embark on," the doctor murmurs.
• "But if I have sexual encounters with other people, could I get pregnant?" Yocelyn asks, her words like a knife to my heart.
• "If he doesn't have any fertility issues, then yes," the doctor confirms.
• "Then it's fine," Yocelyn responds, crushing my pride and trampling on the masculinity I clung to.
• "Is it fine? Is it fine to sleep with someone else to get pregnant?" I ask, my anger boiling over.
• "What do you want me to do? You're the one incapable of fathering a child, not me. So, don't ask me to stay with you when I can't have an heir because of you," Yocelyn retorts, lacking any delicacy.
• "Is that what you're worried about? Yocelyn, I'm aware that our marriage is an arrangement between our parents, and that's why we've both accepted that the other can have extramarital relationships. But even considering getting pregnant by someone else while being my wife not only breaks our agreement, but it's a heavy blow that you dare to mention to my face. Tell me, Yocelyn, do you care little about how I'm feeling right now?" I ask, struggling to keep my internal anger in check.
• "Does that matter? How you feel or don't feel is irrelevant. The point here is that you can't impregnate me, and just like your family expects an heir, mine wants one too. So, don't blame me for being honest and understand that it's best for us to get a divorce."
• "Are you serious?"
• "Mr. and Mrs. Delacroix, I think it would be good if you both calm down a bit. I know this information is quite shocking, and that's why..."
• "Shut up!" we shout in unison, glaring at the doctor and then at each other.
• "Yes, I'm serious!"
• "Getting a divorce is not something we decide. Our marriage is a business, and as such, we must consider ending this partnership with our families."
• "Do you think my father won't accept this? Alessandro, you're useless and can't even give me a heir. Tell me, what father wants a man like you for his daughter?" Yocelyn says, annoyed. Immediately, I raise my hand in response to the sting of her words, but the blow never lands.
• "Don't stoop so low as to change your beliefs and actions by hitting a woman, no matter how much she deserves it," my mother's voice echoes in my mind.
• Annoyed, I clench my jaw and step back, realizing that, unconsciously, both of us had risen from our chairs in obvious irritation. Slowly, I put some distance between us, studying the woman before me.
• The woman I've been married to for five years, yet the only kiss we've shared was at our wedding ceremony. She's only ever been touched by my hands during her fertile days, under the pressure of our families to produce an heir.
• Yet even that hasn't led us to consider ourselves a couple. We're both presidents of our respective family businesses, merely sharing a home for brief moments of intimacy or visits from our parents.
• On most days, we each lived in our own apartment and slept with whomever we desired without the other intervening.
• Ours is a marriage devoid of affection, and that's why seeing this determined and cold woman didn't surprise me. What should surprise me is that she had held my hand before knowing the diagnosis. Because that was not common for her, but this reaction was.
• "Fine, let's meet today and decide if it's better to get a divorce. If it is, I'll celebrate big time because I'll be free from a harpy because that's what you are. A damn harpy that even lightly touching her is unpleasant," I retorted sharply before leaving.
• "Harpy or not, I can still get pregnant! Unlike others!" Yocelyn shouts as I slam the door behind me.
• I hear her, and though it annoys me, I choose to ignore it.
• "She just found out and has already hit me several times. Tell me, Alessandro, how are you going to endure this reality from now on?" I ponder silently, and the answer comes immediately, by working..
• I immediately head to my car and drive to the company, where I'm greeted by the absence of my secretary, further fueling my frustration. As a result, I write her an ultimatum, showing that today is one of those days when I'm willing to destroy the entire company if they bring me coffee with an extra gram of sugar.
• Angry, I enter my office, and everything, even the ordinary, seems unpleasant to the point of throwing everything, regardless of whether it breaks or not. Everything annoyed me, and just the thought that my future ex-wife had set foot in this place caused me so much discomfort that I wanted to change floors and everything she could have seen.
• I was already hyperventilating from anger, and it only increased when I didn't hear from my clumsy secretary. The office suffocated me, but it also gave me calm. So, taking my laptop, I start working in the corner where my ex-wife didn't step on the floor.
• But even that, I couldn't do it. I needed information from my clumsy secretary, and it bothered me to work in such a messy office. So, looking at the time on my watch, I stood up and went out to wait for the punctually challenged secretary whom I was going to fire.
• Today, one thing is clear: I refuse to let any woman trample over me. One is more than enough.