Chapter 2 - THE CLINIC OF ILLUSIONS
Across the ocean, inside the ultra-exclusive private obstetric wing of St. Jude Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago, the atmosphere was thick with champagne-level anticipation.
Jason Carter stood in the center of the VIP examination suite, his posture straight, an expensive custom-tailored suit hugging his frame as he checked his luxury wristwatch for the fourth time in two minutes.
"She's running five minutes late," Jason muttered, pacing across the heated marble floor. "Traffic on Michigan Avenue must be a nightmare."
"Relax, darling," Eleanor Carter, his formidable mother, said from her plush velvet armchair. She adjusted her diamond-encrusted brooch with a flick of her manicured fingers. "Greatness cannot be rushed. Nicole is carrying the future of the Carter name. Everything must be absolute perfection."
Lauren, Jason’s sister, scrolled lazily through her phone, a smug grin plastered across her face. "I still can't believe Elena actually signed without demanding a fight. I honestly thought she'd drag it out just to be difficult."
"Elena lacks ambition," Jason said dismissively, a cold smirk touching his lips. "She was comfortable living in the background. But Nicole... Nicole understands what it means to be part of an elite family. She knows how to present herself. And once this boy is born, the board will have no choice but to officially appoint me as the managing director of the entire real estate trust."
The door to the private suite swung open, and Nicole walked in, wearing a flowing white silk designer dress that artfully concealed her early-second-trimester bump. A team of junior assistants trailed behind her, carrying designer shopping bags.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone," Nicole purred, flashing a practiced, camera-ready smile. "My stylist insisted on fixing my hair before we left the condo."
"You look radiant, my dear," Eleanor said, standing up to plant a stiff, air-kiss on Nicole's cheek. "Come, lie down. Dr. Harrison is finishing up his previous consultation. He'll be with us shortly."
Ten minutes later, the door clicked open, and Dr. Robert Harrison walked in. He was a distinguished, graying physician with thirty years of experience and a reputation for absolute professional integrity.
"Ah, the Carter family," Dr. Harrison said, though his usual warm bedside manner seemed uncharacteristically cool. He clipped a digital tablet to his clipboard. "Let's get you set up for the ultrasound, Ms. Vance—pardon me, Ms. Miller."
Nicole giggled, climbing onto the examination table. "It'll be Miller for just a little while longer, Doctor."
Jason stepped forward, taking Nicole’s hand in his, his chest swelling with pride. "Make sure you look closely at the scans, Doctor. We want to verify the gender. My mother insists on getting the nursery blueprints finalized by the end of the week."
Dr. Harrison didn't smile. He adjusted his glasses, picked up the ultrasound probe, and applied the warm conductive gel to Nicole’s abdomen.
The room fell completely silent as the high-resolution monitor flickered to life, casting a ghostly grayscale glow across the walls. The rhythmic, rapid thump-thump-thump of a healthy heartbeat filled the room.
"There," Nicole breathed, her eyes lighting up. "Look at that little miracle."
Dr. Harrison stared intently at the screen, his fingers manipulating the trackpad to measure various anatomical markers. His brow furrowed slightly. He zoomed in on a specific quadrant of the image, measured again, and then pulled up a side-by-side comparison file on his monitor.
Jason noticed the shift in the doctor's demeanor. His smile faltered slightly. "Is... is something wrong, Doctor?"
Dr. Harrison slowly set the probe down on its cradle. He turned around, folding his hands over his clipboard, and looked directly into Jason's eyes.
"Mr. Carter," Dr. Harrison said, his voice measured and completely devoid of emotion. "Before we discuss the progress of this pregnancy, I need to review a few administrative notes with you. Specifically regarding your medical history files archived within our hospital network."
Eleanor frowned, stepping forward. "What does his medical history have to do with the ultrasound? We are here to check the baby."
"Everything, Mrs. Carter," Dr. Harrison replied calmly. "Because according to our genetic registry and the comprehensive post-surgical pathology report filed five years ago following Mr. Carter's emergency appendectomy and subsequent oncology screening..."
May you like
He paused, letting the heavy silence settle over the room like a physical weight.
"...Jason Carter has been medically and permanently sterile."
