Her friend nodded with quiet understanding. “Then go after it. But do it for you—not as revenge, not for Curtis. Do it because you deserve happiness.”
Those words lit something inside Laura. A flicker of determination began to grow. She realized she couldn’t wait for others to define her life. Two weeks later, she booked an appointment at the fertility clinic. Hidden in a modest building between a flower shop and a laundromat, it held the key to her future.
When the receptionist asked if she wanted Curtis’s file, Laura answered without hesitation. “Yes.” During the consultation, the nurse reminded her the sperm sample was still viable and legally hers—Curtis had signed the release long ago. It felt like a story from a film, but this was her reality.
That night, brushing her hair in front of the mirror, Laura opened the folder with the procedure details. Beside it sat a dusty wedding photo
“You never wanted this,” she whispered. “But I did.” She placed the photo in a drawer, shut it firmly, and left the past behind.
The next day marked the start of IVF. This time, she needed no approval, no permission. The dream was hers alone, and nothing could take it away.
Meanwhile, Curtis was basking in his new life. Reclining against the velvet headboard of a hotel suite, he swirled whiskey in a glass while Carol appeared in her silk robe. “You’re awfully quiet,” she teased, sipping her drink.
“Thinking about your ex?” she pressed with a smirk.
Curtis chuckled dryly. “Not my concern anymore.”
“She’s probably still crying over you,” Carol said, touching up her lipstick. “Maybe she’s adopted a cat already.”
Curtis devoured. “I left her childless. Honestly, I did her a favor.”
