Chapter 3

Brayden had no intention of explaining anything. He just led her straight to the obstetrics and gynecology department. A medical team was already waiting, and they spoke respectfully to Lindsay when they saw her. "Please get changed into a hospital gown, Mrs. Hart. We're going to give you ovulation injections, and it might hurt a little when we retrieve the eggs." Lindsay started in shock and looked at Brayden. "Why are we retrieving my eggs?" The last of Brayden's patience evaporated. "We're doing IVF, of course. How else are we going to have children?" Lindsay turned white. She and Brayden were both perfectly healthy, but he wanted to have a baby through IVF. Was that just to avoid touching her? Lindsay mustered all her strength, but she couldn't stop her voice from trembling. "Why?" Brayden sounded even more impatient. "What do you mean by why?" Lindsay looked up sharply. "Why must we have this child? Do you really want to have a child with me?" Hadn't Brayden already decided to divorce her? Why did he still want to have a child with her? Brayden's brow furrowed at once. He finally realized that something seemed amiss. Lindsay had always dreamed of having his child. She would've been excited, even if it were through IVF. However, she didn't look happy at all today. For some reason, her reaction annoyed Brayden. He said coldly, "Because we need a child to stabilize the collaboration between our families, of course. Otherwise, do you think I'd want to have a child with half your genes?" Lindsay immediately paled. It was all for the sake of their families. She lowered her head, tears stinging her eyes. What did Brayden take her for? Was he going to squeeze every last drop of value from her, even though he was about to divorce her? Her fists clenched involuntarily, and she asked in a trembling voice, "What if I refuse?" "What did you say?" Brayden was truly stunned this time. He had never imagined that Lindsay would refuse to have his child. However, he suddenly realized something. He scoffed and pinched her chin. "Lindsay, are you afraid that if you have a child, you won't have any excuses to beg me to sleep with you?" His voice was full of scorn. "Do you want me to enter you instead of getting ovulation injections? Sorry, but I'm not interested in you." He flung her hard onto the floor and said icily, "Lindsay, this isn't a discussion. This is the only way you can have my child. Drag her into the operating room!" Brayden ignored Lindsay's struggles and ordered them to pin her down on the operating table. A needle pierced her stomach, and she felt a sharp pain. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Why did Brayden have to treat her like this? The hormones brought on a rush of dizziness, and Lindsay could no longer stand it. She fell unconscious. … When Lindsay woke up, it was already a day later. The doctor standing beside her bed breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her wake up. "Wonderful, Mrs. Hart. You reacted very strongly to the hormones and had an acute stress reaction. It's a good thing that you're not in any danger." Lindsay asked weakly, "Where's Brayden?" The doctor looked awkward. "Mr. Hart left right after we got samples from him." Lindsay took a moment to realize what kind of samples the doctor meant, and her fingers tightened on the blanket involuntarily. Had he been looking at Scarlett's photo again? He was going to have a child with Lindsay while thinking of another woman. It disgusted Lindsay. The doctor continued, "Even though the process was a little dangerous, the fertilization was very successful. Have a look." The doctor opened an ice box that contained five test tubes. Lindsay was stunned. Were those her and Brayden's children? The doctor said, "When you're feeling better, we'll choose a suitable embryo for implantation, then you—Mrs. Hart! What are you doing?"