I Carry the Child of My Husband and His Mistress

k. The moment I heard his car pull out of the driveway, I grabbed

message from the

oy the show

couldn't give he

erased what little ground I had left to stand on. I

ain. Thinking you're finally getting the family you always wanted. S

f silenc

conceived through IVF, is

impossible. A cruel, insane joke. My eggs. His sperm. I was

sage read. "It would interfere with my career, he said. But he desperately wanted my ch

t of my throat. This wasn't just an affair. This wasn't just a betrayal. This was a violation of the deep

know. I had to have proof. I couldn't go to our IVF clinic-Dr. Reed was Mark's

ed that I needed an immediate amniocentesis for genetic testing. I lied and said there was a history of a rare disorder in my

nected from my own body, a spectator to my own horror story. They t

cond clinic, feeling something was terribly wrong, called the police, who came

me into a small, quiet room. She held a fol

lts are back. The paternal match is positive, as expected

erile air. Confirmation.

ood up, thanked the counselor, and walked out of the clinic. I didn't go bac

a different name, paid in c

iefly. It was flooded with mess

are you? I'm

friend said she didn't see y

he hospitals. I'm about to call the police. Pleas

as talking, his voice thick with fake concern. It was Mark. He was giving an interview, talking a

rearview mirror. "Guy sounds des

the window, my f

service and watched the walls. On the eighth day, I decided to go home. I ne

ng I noticed was the smell. A different perfu

en I s

lo

bes, sipping tea from my favorite mug. She looked up when

her voice dripping with false sweet

in my house?" My v

ght, he needed someone to take care of him. And, of course, to be here for when

"our baby" sent a fresh wa

me running down th

ed panic. He rushed to me, trying to pull me into a hu

ave you been?" he pleaded,

ace to the smirking

ouse," I said, my vo

shed, replaced by a firm, paternal authori

o help. She's been a great comfort. We were

's shoulders, pulling her t

d, not as a request, bu

e. I was an incubator. And she was the new mother, wai