My Husband Hid His Son from Me

"Congratulations, Mrs. Warren. Your results show that you're 7 weeks pregnant, and the baby is healthy." When Chloe Carter stepped out of the exam room, the prenatal checkup report in her hand was already slightly crumpled. The joy had come so suddenly that she still hadn't fully collected herself. It had been 5 years. After losing her twins, a boy and a girl, she was finally pregnant again. For years after their deaths, she had cried almost every day. Even in her dreams, she saw her two children. A previous miscarriage had left her weak, and for a long time her body hadn't been strong enough for another pregnancy. She had sunk into despair. But once she finally decided to try again, she had worked with her husband to rebuild her health, taking medication and doing yoga until her fear of another pregnancy slowly turned into hope. Today was her lucky day. She hurriedly pulled her phone from her bag. Her hands were still trembling with excitement when she opened her contacts. She had to tell Wesley Warren immediately. She wanted him to know that all her effort and persistence hadn't been for nothing, and that this baby's arrival had finally made everything she had endured feel worthwhile. The call went through. As she waited for him to answer, she unconsciously held her breath, already imagining the joy on Wesley's face when he heard she was pregnant. He would probably cry tears of joy, just as she had. The last thing she expected was to hear a familiar ringtone not far behind her. Almost at the same moment, Wesley's familiar but distant voice came through the phone. "I'm overseas on a business trip. Whatever it is, we can talk when I get back." Chloe spoke quickly. "But Wes, I'm at the hospital..." Before she could finish, a bright child's voice came through the line. "Daddy, who are you talking to?" Chloe froze, wondering if she had imagined it. "Daddy? Wes, where are you? Why do I hear a child?" Wesley's voice grew muffled, as though he had moved the phone away from his mouth. Then he said evasively, "I'm overseas. What child? I'm busy. I'll call you later." He hung up before she could finish speaking. Almost simultaneously, the same voice she had just heard through the phone sounded again behind her. "Colton, how about Daddy takes you to get your shot first?" Wesley's familiar voice came from around the corner, warm and gentle, nothing like the cold tone he had used with her. A roar filled Chloe's ears. It felt as though an invisible hand had closed around her heart, and the blood in her veins turned cold. It was Wesley. She had heard that voice for 5 years. She couldn't possibly mistake it. Her fingers tightened around her phone as she turned stiffly. The husband who was supposedly overseas on business was sitting outside an exam room, holding a little boy with a cooling gel patch on his forehead. Wesley lowered his head and gently touched his forehead to the child's, checking his temperature. The boy clutched Wesley's hand and called him Daddy with an ease that made it sound as though he had done so a thousand times before. Chloe was carrying this man's child, yet he had lied about a business trip so he could hold and comfort someone else's son. Her knees nearly gave out. She had to brace herself against the wall to stay upright. The longer she stared at the boy's face, the more horrified she became. He looked almost exactly like Wesley. Wesley was relaxed and endlessly patient with the child. For the past 5 years, whenever he faced Chloe, he had shown little more than exhaustion and indifference. Even on the anniversary of their twins' deaths, when she had called and asked him to go with her to visit them, he had answered with a single cold sentence. "I'm busy. I don't have time to deal with your hysterics." After that, he had avoided her and stayed away from home for an entire month. The boy's voice pulled Chloe from her thoughts. He wrapped his arms around Wesley's neck and burrowed into his chest. "Daddy, I'm scared. I don't want a shot!" Chloe's breath caught. She stared at them. The child called Wesley Daddy. 'Is Wesley cheating on me?' The moment the thought formed, the color slowly drained from Chloe's face. Pain tore through her chest so sharply that her whole body began to tremble. In the distance, Wesley patiently coaxed the child. "Daddy will stay with you. Can you be brave for me?" The boy clung to him with complete trust. "Then I'll be good and get the shot. Daddy, will you sleep with me tonight? Tomorrow is my 5th birthday. I want to wake up on my birthday and see Daddy first." Wesley stroked his hair and agreed without hesitation. The boy snuggled closer and said he loved him. Wesley smiled. "Daddy loves you too." Every childish plea from the boy and every patient word of reassurance from Wesley felt like another cut. He was turning 5. Her children had died only 4 years ago, yet this boy was already turning 5. Pain ripped through her chest. The surge of grief turned her stomach, and she staggered toward a trash can and dry-heaved. The sound caught the boy's attention. "Daddy, that lady over there looks sick too. She looks like she feels awful."