“If we have a boy, we can divorce, right?”

His stormy eyes dart up to meet mine. “You should know that very, clearly shouldn’t you? After all you helped, write the contract.”

I have never seen the contract. I do not know what was used as leverage against Landon to force him into this situation. What the repercussions are if we divorce. I only know about this possible out based on what I have put together of the bits and pieces of conversation I heard through the last year and a half.

“I am not my father,” I say quietly.

“No. But you are his daughter.” The words were like a lash against my heart.

Blinking back my tears, I croak out. “I’m thirsty. Do you think I could have something to drink now?”

“I’ll go see what I can find. I might be able to find you something to eat as well.”

When he leaves the room, I take the opportunity to complete the questionnaire. After having that done, I close it all in the folder they provided and pray Landon does not find the need to read it.

The ride home was quiet. When we arrived home, Landon told me he would like me to eat and that he will have Mrs. Fanny fix me a something to eat. I nodded my thanks. I took my dinner in the small dining room alone. It was a beautiful meal of steamed vegetables and chicken, but I mostly pushed it around my plate. Eating was so hard for me these days. Landon had made me eat a protein bar at the hospital and that was still having a hard time settling in my stomach.

Deciding not to waste time attempting to eat, I headed down to my studio to make a phone call. My doctor had a twenty-four-hour calling service, and even though it was late, I knew I could still schedule an appointment for tomorrow. Telling the receptionist that it was urgent, I arranged to go in tomorrow for ten a.m.

After that, I started googling things about babies. I have always wanted children but never thought I would get the chance to have them. My world was so cruel. As a child I never would have wanted to bring an innocent life into that. But as I research and research about babies that night, I swore to the little life growing inside me that it would have a life full of love.

With a little hesitation, I typed Wilson’s disease and pregnancy in the same search engine. Most of what came up was about the complications the medicine can have on the baby. I knew that if I went off my medication, my sickness would rapidly worsen. But if I stayed on, my child might not be healthy, or worse, might not make it at all. Deciding to wait and talk to my doctor, I head up to bed. Where I slept alone all night.

CHAPTER 6

Stopping Treatment