Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 337

Chapter 337

The fertility clinic felt more like a luxury spa than a medical office. Neutral-toned walls, sleek modern furniture, and a reception area that radiated quiet professionalism, exactly the kind of place meant to inspire confidence, and yet somehow it only made my nerves worse. I held Nate’s hand tighter than necessary as we waited to be called, my leg bouncing nonstop in a very obvious display of anxiety.

“It’s going to be okay,” Nate whispered in my ear, squeezing my hand back. “This is just an initial consultation.”

I know,” I said, though my voice came out higher than usual. “It’s just… what if it doesn’t work? What if it’s too complicated? What if my body doesn’t respond well to the hormones?”

Before Nate could answer my spiraling questions, a nurse appeared at the reception desk and called our names. We followed her down a quiet hallway into a spacious office, where a middle-aged woman with gray hair pulled into an elegant bun and a warm smile was waiting for us.

“I’m Dr. Patricia Whitmore,” she said, greeting us with a firm handshake. “Please, have a seat and tell me how I can help.”

Nate began explaining his medical history-the mumps in childhood, the infertility diagnosis, the recent tests that had revealed possibilities dismissed decades ago. I listened as he repeated information I already knew, yet my heart still raced with every word.

“Your test results are encouraging,” Dr. Whitmore said, flipping through the documents Nate had brought.” Your sperm count is low, but it’s not zero. With ICSI, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, we only need one viable sperm per egg.”

“And the chances?” I asked immediately, unable to contain my anxiety. “What are the odds that it works?”

“There are many variables that affect success rates,” the doctor explained patiently. “The woman’s age, egg quality, response to medication, sperm quality. In your case, you’re young, apparently healthy, and you have the resources for multiple attempts if necessary. That puts you in a favorable position.”

“But a number,” I pressed. “Like… fifty percent? Seventy?”

Dr. Whitmore smiled with understanding.

“For couples in your situation, we typically see overall success rates between sixty and seventy percent over the course of three cycles. Each individual attempt, however, has about a forty to fifty percent chance.”

A huge wave of relief washed over me. They weren’t guarantees, but they were real, tangible hope.

“And how does it work exactly?” I asked. “I mean, the whole process.”

The doctor picked up a few pamphlets and began explaining step by step. First, I’d take medication to suppress my natural cycle. Then hormones to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. Constant monitoring through ultrasounds and blood tests. Once the eggs were mature, a procedure to retrieve them. Fertilization in the lab. And finally, the transfer of the resulting embryos.

“The full timeline is about six to eight weeks for one complete cycle,” Dr. Whitmore continued, pointing to a colorful chart outlining each phase. “The first two weeks are preparation with oral medication. Then come the daily injections to stimulate the ovaries, which last about ten to twelve days. During that phase, you’ll come in every two or three days for monitoring.”

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My head started to spin slightly with all the technical information. Nate, meanwhile, was taking notes in a small notebook he’d brought, his expression focused as he tried to absorb every detail.

“And the side effects?” I asked, voicing the worry that had been sitting with me since we first considered treatment. “Am I going to feel awful?”

“Every woman responds differently,” the doctor explained patiently. “Some experience symptoms similar to PMS… mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness. Others have very minimal reactions. The important thing is that we have protocols to minimize discomfort, and our nursing team is always available to answer questions or address concerns as they come up.”

“It sounds… intense,” I murmured, trying to process everything.

“It is a treatment that requires commitment,” Dr. Whitmore agreed. “But you’ll have strong support every step of the way.”

A question I’d been holding back finally pushed its way out.

“Can we… celebrate?” I asked hesitantly.

Dr. Whitmore looked at me, clearly confused.

“Celebrate?”

My cheeks flushed instantly. I glanced at Nate for help, but he looked just as lost.

“You know,” I tried again, making a vague gesture, “can we go home and… celebrate? The good news?”

That was when Nate fully understood what I was asking and let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.

“She’s asking about sex,” he clarified, still smiling. “Whether we can have sex normally during treatment.”

“Oh!” Dr. Whitmore laughed too, clearly used to nervous couples dancing around important questions.” Excellent, and very important question. For now, yes, you can absolutely celebrate. However, during certain phases of treatment, especially after egg retrieval and before the pregnancy test, we recommend abstinence. We’ll give you very clear instructions on when to pause and when you can resume.’

“So it’s not the entire process,” I confirmed, another weight lifting off my chest.

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“Definitely not,” she reassured me. “In fact, we encourage couples to maintain intimacy whenever possible. This process can be stressful, and physical connection is important for emotional well-being.”

“And travel?” Nate asked, glancing at me before continuing. “We’re planning our wedding and most likely a honeymoon. How does that fit into the treatment timeline?”

Whitmore nodded, clearly familiar with the concern.

“It’s possible to plan around treatment, but it does require flexibility,” she explained. “Ideally, we avoid travel during the ovarian stimulation phase, when you need to be here every couple of days for monitoring. That said, we can adjust the schedule. If you have fixed wedding dates, we can start a cycle after the honeymoon or pause treatment if needed.”

“That won’t hurt our chances?” I asked, worried about anything that might affect our success.

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“A one- or two-month pause doesn’t make a statistically significant difference in success rates,” she assured us. “What matters most is that you’re relaxed and emotionally prepared for each attempt.”

We spent a few more minutes going over practical details like approximate timelines, costs, and what to expect from the medications. With every answer, I felt more grounded, more confident, and less afraid.

“One last question,” the doctor said, looking at both of us seriously. “This is a significant commitment- emotionally, physically, and financially. Are you absolutely sure you want to begin this process?”

I looked at Nate, seeing my own hope and determination reflected in his green eyes. There wasn’t even a flicker of doubt.

“Absolutely,” we said almost in unison.

“We’re sure,” I repeated, taking Nate’s hand. “We want our family.”

Dr. Whitmore smiled, making a note in our chart.

“Then let’s schedule your first tests.”

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