Chapter 1

Ava sat in the cozy office of Dr. Patel at Oakwood General Hospital, surrounded by cream-colored walls and plush carpeting.

The warm glow of the lamp on the doctor's desk cast a comforting light on the space. Ava's eyes were fixed on Dr. Patel's face as he delivered the news that would change her life forever.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Jones, you're pregnant with triplets!" Dr. Patel exclaimed, a warm smile spreading across his face.

Ava's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the doctor. "What? That's not possible," she stammered. "I'm infertile, I can't bear children," her voice laced with desperation.

Dr. Patel chuckled. "Well, by the looks of it, you're very fertile," he said with a grin.

Ava's face lit up with a mix of shock and joy. She had been told by her private doctors that she would never be able to conceive, and the inability to bear children had brought her nothing but shame from her in-laws. But now, she was pregnant, and not just with one child, but triplets. She couldn't believe it.

"Is this real?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dr. Patel smiled. "Very real, Mrs. Jones. You can see the test results for yourself."

Ava's eyes lit up with excitement as Dr. Patel stretched out his hand, offering her the test results. She quickly collected the papers from him, her hands trembling with anticipation.

Holding the test result in her hands, She began to examine the pages, her eyes scanning the results with a mix of wonder and disbelief.

As she looked at the bold letters on the test result, Ava's face broke out into a wide smile. She couldn't believe it. She was indeed pregnant with triplets.

The shame and pain of being unable to bear children seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of joy and hope.

As Ava gazed at the test results, her heart swelled even more with emotion, feeling like it was going to burst out of her chest.

Tears began to drop down her face, wetting the papers in her hands. She felt like she was floating on air, her entire being filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and wonder.

Dr. Patel's voice broke into her reverie, "Mrs. Jones, are you okay?"

Ava nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just...so excited. I...can't even breathe...or take this all in," she stammered, her tears flowing freely.

Dr. Patel smiled warmly and passed her a tissue paper. "Here, take this," he said gently.

Ava took the tissue and dabbed at her tears, trying to compose herself. As she looked up at Dr. Patel, her mind began to wander back to her past.

She thought about growing up as an orphan, being raised by her mother who had worked tirelessly to provide for her. But fate had other plans, and her mother had passed away when Ava was still in university.

Ava's thoughts flashed back to the struggles she had faced after her mother's death. She had been left with a mountain of debt, and it seemed like her dreams of completing her education were slipping away. But then, Jeffrey's mother, Madam Jones had stepped in, paying off her debts and offering her a lifeline.

In return, Ava had agreed to marry Jeffrey Jones, a man she had secretly loved since high school. The marriage contract had been a repayment of her debt, but as she got to know Jeffrey, she realized that it was also what her heart had always wanted. Jeffrey was the man she had always dreamed of having a child with, and now, her dream was finally coming true.

Her mind couldn't help but contrast the warmth and excitement she felt with the cold, loveless five years of marriage with Jeffrey.

Their marriage a matter of fact had been a practical arrangement unknowingly to Jeffery, a contract to repay the debt her late mother's passing had left her with. But the truth was, Jeffrey had never truly been hers. He still pined for his high school sweetheart, Cassandra Adams, and Ava was just a placeholder, a mere obligation.

The five years of marriage had been a desolate landscape, devoid of love, touch, or intimacy. Jeffrey treated Ava like furniture, a mere decoration in his life. He never touched her, never looked at her with love or desire.

Ava had resigned herself to the fact that she would never be more than just a duty to him, a responsibility to be fulfilled. Her inability to conceive had only added to the emptiness, making her feel like a failure in Jeffrey's eyes.

But now, everything had changed. Ava's heart swelled with hope as she thought about the possibility of Jeffrey seeing her in a new light. Maybe, just maybe, this pregnancy would be the catalyst for change in their marriage.

Maybe Jeffrey would finally start to see her as a woman he loved and desired, rather than just a duty to be fulfilled. Maybe he would forget about Cassandra and focus on her, Ava, and the life they were creating together.

Ava's imagination ran wild with possibilities. She pictured Jeffrey's face lighting up with joy as she told him about the pregnancy.

She imagined him holding her hand, looking at her with love and adoration in his eyes. She envisioned a new chapter in their marriage, one filled with laughter, intimacy, and love.

Ava's eyes refocused on the present, and she looked at Dr. Patel with a smile. "Thank you, Doctor," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "This is the best news I've ever received."

Ava's eyes sparkled with excitement as she left the doctor's office, rushing to the parking lot and jumping into her car. She couldn't wait to share the news with Jeffrey, her husband.

She dialed his number, her fingers flying across the keypad, but he didn't answer. She tried again, but still, no response.

Undeterred, Ava called his assistant, who picked up on the first ring. "Jeffrey's office," the assistant said in a crisp, professional tone.

"Hi, this is Mrs. Jones, is Jeffrey available?" Ava asked, trying to contain her excitement.

"He's in his office, but he had asked not to be disturbed," the assistant replied. "He's busy with work. Is it something urgent? I could get him for you, Mrs. Jones."

Ava smiled, not wanting to break the surprise over the phone. "No, it's okay. I'll just drop by his office in person," she said, her voice barely containing her glee.

The assistant nodded, even though Ava couldn't see her. "Alright, ma'am."

Ava hung up the call and started her car engine, her heart racing with anticipation. She couldn't wait to see the look on Jeffrey's face when she told him the news. She drove to his office, her mind racing with excitement and joy.

As she arrived at the office, Ava's smile grew wider. She walked into the reception area, where Jeffrey's assistant looked up from her desk. "Oh, Mrs. jones ," the assistant said, standing up to greet her.

Ava silenced her with a gentle hand gesture and a mischievous smile. "It's a surprise, don’t alarm him," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The assistant nodded, curiosity etched on her face, and Ava walked past her into Jeffrey's office.

As Ava burst into the office, her excitement and joy evident on her face, she blurted out the news: "Jeffery, I'm pregna-"