The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 24

“I found it,” Harvey replied, “but the IVF failed. The embryo was miscarried.”

Joseph’s face fell. “It was miscarried?”

“Yeah. The success rate for IVF isn’t high to begin with. Miscarriages are common. Some people have to try three or four times before it works.”

As a specialist in reproductive medicine, Harvey knew this all too well.

“Could there have been a mistake?” Joseph asked, a desperate flicker of hope in his voice.

“Impossible. I wouldn’t tell you if I wasn’t sure.”

Joseph gripped the phone, his deep-set eyes gazing out at the city skyline, his emotions a tangled mess. He had hoped his brother might have left a child behind, a small comfort for his aging parents. But just as that hope had sparked, it was brutally extinguished.

Across the room, Vivica was texting Ruby, asking how her son’s morning had been and if he’d eaten lunch. When she overheard Joseph say “miscarried,” she was taken aback.

So Mr. Baird was married? And his wife had a miscarriage?

She held her phone, feeling a surge of awkwardness, her mind racing for the right words to console him.

Joseph lowered his phone, remembering his client was still in the office. He quickly composed himself and turned back around.

Vivica put her phone away and sat up, clearing her throat. “Um… Mr. Baird, you’re still young. I’m sure you’ll have children one day.”

“Hm?” Joseph looked at her, confused. “What children?”

“Well… I overheard your call, something about a miscarriage.”

Vivica’s smile grew more strained. Wanting to sound more sincere, she impulsively used herself as an example. “Actually, my own IVF only succeeded on the second try. If a child is meant to be yours, they’ll find their way to you eventually.”

After their brief exchange, they went their separate ways.

Roderic entered the office and looked at Joseph. “Boss, wasn’t that the little boy’s mother? What was she here for?”

Joseph was in a foul mood, his expression even colder than usual. He asked distractedly, “What little boy?”

“You know, the one we ran into the other day. A lost little boy. Dr. Tyson and I both thought he looked like you…”

Roderic caught himself, remembering his boss hated hearing that, and quickly shut his mouth.

But Joseph’s expression changed. He looked up sharply.

Roderic’s scalp prickled, thinking he’d crossed a line again. He quickly backtracked, “I mean… Dr. Tyson and I must have been seeing things. We didn’t mean anything by it.”