My Husband Made Me His First Love's Lab Rat

I had fertility issues that made it hard to get pregnant, but Julian still married me anyway.

He told me his childhood best friend, Melanie, was a brilliant fertility specialist who would definitely cure me.

But by the fifth year of Melanie's treatment, I was still not pregnant. Julian grew colder and more distant. He rarely wanted to touch me.

After one heated argument, he snapped impatiently, "We can't have kids anyway. There's no point in doing this." Anxiety kept me crying myself to sleep every night.

Desperate to save our marriage, I decided to talk to Julian about trying IVF.

Until one day in the hospital stairwell, I accidentally caught Julian hugging Melanie, comforting her softly: "Don't worry, honey. There's no rush to cure my wife.

You still need her case study for your research paper." "Don't worry, Melanie. Chloe won't get pregnant.

You still need her clinical data for your research, don't you?" Julian and Melanie were hugging in the dim stairwell, comforting each other. Melanie was stressed about her thesis.

Julian stroked her hair affectionately to reassure her. His words felt like a physical blow to my chest.

I fled back home, shaking uncontrollably as I sank into the couch, the scene in the stairwell looping in my mind. Could it be?

Had my years of infertility been carefully orchestrated by Julian, just to provide Melanie with research data? Thinking back, Julian had been incredibly cold lately.

He barely touched me once a month. Hoping to spark some intimacy, I put on a sexy lace nightgown to surprise him. But he just rolled over impatiently and said, "Go to sleep.

I have surgery early tomorrow." When I hugged him from behind, he gently but firmly pushed my hands away. "There's no point, Chloe.

It's not like you can get pregnant anyway." My tears flowed all night.

The next morning, he saw my swollen eyes but still calmly ate the breakfast I made, acting as if nothing had happened.

Desperate to salvage our marriage, I had decided to surprise him at the hospital with lunch. That was when I stumbled upon the ugly truth.

Melanie had been my OBGYN and fertility doctor for five years. Before our wedding, I had confessed my fertility struggles to Julian.

It was Melanie who had patted my shoulder and promised that under her care, I would definitely conceive.

Whenever I got anxious, Melanie would sweetly comfort me, saying that babies were a matter of fate and that as long as I followed her treatment plan, it would happen sooner or later.

But when I thought of Julian's past tenderness—and how he had stood by me against all the family gossip about our childlessness—I couldn't bring myself to believe he was doing this on purpose.

I decided to wait until he came home and carefully feel him out. Late that night, Julian came home looking exhausted.

Seeing me sitting in the dark living room, he turned on the lights, walked over, and pulled me into his arms. "I had several backtoback surgeries today, babe.

Didn't I tell you not to wait up? You should have gone to bed." I caught a faint whiff of perfume on his collar. It was Melanie's signature scent.

Instantly, tears spilled from my eyes. Noticing my tears, he sighed softly and wiped them away, comforting me, "Are you upset about the baby again? Don't worry, Chloe.

I will never love you any less because of this." "Is my condition really that severe?" I whispered, testing the waters. "Is it truly incurable?" He seemed caught off guard.

He hesitated, then pinched my cheek playfully. "It's a bit tricky, but Melanie said it's nothing serious. It just takes time." "She'll cure you, babe.

Trust her medical expertise." I sat up, pulling away from his chest, and looked straight into his eyes. "I want to get a second opinion.

Maybe another doctor will have a different perspective, and I can recover faster." Julian's brow furrowed, and a flash of irritation crossed his face. "There's no need.

How many times do I have to tell you? Just stick with Melanie. Going to random doctors will only make things worse. I'm your husband, Chloe.

Why can't you trust that I have your best interests at heart?" His impatient tone, his defensive protection of Melanie, and his refusal to let me see anyone else confirmed everything.

He was using me as a lab rat for Melanie's research so she could publish her papers and secure her promotion.

For five years, he knew damn well he was preventing me from getting pregnant, yet he used our childlessness as an excuse to treat me coldly. My heart turned to ice.

Clenching my teeth, I demanded, "I'm tired of waiting. Do you even want a child? Let's do IVF.

It's our last shot." Julian let out a cold laugh. "You're being ridiculous." He grabbed his jacket and stormed out. A moment later, I heard his car engine roar to life.

At that point, I didn't even care where he was going. I locked myself in the bedroom and cried hysterically. Maybe Julian had never wanted a child with me in the first place.

I remembered the night before our wedding, when I had seriously told him I might never be able to conceive.

He had held me like I was his most precious treasure, promising that even if we never had children, he would love me just the same forever.

Now that I thought about it... had he married me from the very start just to serve Melanie's experiment?

This was the fifth day Julian hadn't come home. Neither of us had reached out to the other.

I dragged myself through the days like a living corpse, unable to accept that the husband I adored had been running a massive lie. That evening, my motherinlaw, Eleanor, called.

The moment I picked up, she sneered, "Julian has been staying at my place for days. Did you two fight? Honestly, what a wonderful wife you are.

Not only are you barren, but you also keep picking fights with your husband." Before I could even reply, she went on relentlessly: "Chloe, Julian must have owed you in a past life.

I told him not to marry a woman who couldn't bear children, but he insisted. And look at him now—he doesn't even want to go home to you." Anger surged hot in my chest.

I wanted so badly to scream the truth at Eleanor, but the words died in my throat. I hung up on her, and tears of frustration spilled over.

For years, Julian's family had looked down on me simply because of my fertility issues. During Christmas dinner, his relatives had brought over their newborn.

I thought the baby was adorable and held her, and a cousin joked that I should hurry up and have one of my own. Eleanor's face had immediately darkened.

She rolled her eyes and snapped, "Don't even start. Some people are broken.

You have no idea how desperately I want a grandchild, but my hands are tied." Her words had left the room in awkward silence, leaving a deep, painful thorn in my heart.

Over the years, rumors had even started that Julian was the one who was infertile. Hearing this made Eleanor resent me even more.

Yet, Julian had always taken the blame to protect my reputation. I had been so grateful to him, which was why I had tolerated his mother's toxicity for so long.

But to Julian, I was just a complete fool. Now, I needed to know what was actually wrong with my body.

Behind Julian's back, I quietly booked an appointment at a renowned fertility clinic in the neighboring city. I entered the examination room, my stomach in knots.

Seeing my tense face, the doctor smiled warmly and said, "Relax, dear.

It's nothing serious." After reviewing my tests, he pointed at the ultrasound screen. "Your fallopian tubes are blocked. A simple keyhole surgery will clear it up.

As for conceiving, it might also be a good idea to have your husband get a routine checkup as well." "Doctor..." I gasped, my voice trembling. "Are you saying I can actually get pregnant?" The doctor nodded. "Of course.

But I'm puzzled—haven't you seen any other specialists in the last five years?

This is a very basic diagnosis to make." I tried my hardest to keep my emotions under control and scheduled the surgery for the following week.

All these years, Melanie had done nothing but prescribe mild hormonal pills and vitamins, telling me to trust the process. Because I trusted her blindly, I had never doubted her.

A simple surgery could have solved my problem, yet they had stolen five years of my life. Just as rage was consuming me, my phone buzzed. It was Julian. "Babe, where are you?

I'm back home. Are you still mad at me?" his voice was incredibly gentle, coaxing me just like he used to when we were dating.

I suppressed my anger and replied coldly, "Just taking a walk." "Babe, I shouldn't have been so insensitive the other night. I'm so sorry. It's my fault. Please come home.

I took some days off, and I want to take you out shopping to make it up to you," Julian pleaded softly. A wave of confusion hit me. Which version of Julian was real?

But whatever the case, I couldn't run away. I decided to go back and find the right moment to demand a divorce.

After all, I could not stay in a marriage built entirely on a lie. "Okay. I'm on my way back."

When I walked through the door, the rich aroma of dinner filled the air. Julian tossed aside his apron, swept me off my feet, and carried me to the couch. He kissed me passionately.

After a long embrace, he whispered lovingly, "Please forgive me, Chloe. I promise I'll never act like that again." He rested his head on my chest. "All I need is you, Chloe.

I know how much you want a baby, but we can't rush these things.

I've thought it through, and my promise still stands—even if we never have kids, I'll love you just the same." His sweet vow sounded so genuine, and as I stroked his cheek, his eyes shone with what looked like pure sincerity.

But only I knew that our marriage had rotted at its core. Before stepping inside, I had repeatedly warned myself not to trust him.

Yet, why did a part of me still desperately want to give him one last chance? To pretend I knew nothing, undergo the surgery, and hope we would eventually have a family?

Noticing my silence, Julian asked if something was wrong. I forced a smile and shook my head. At that moment, I gathered my courage and gave him one final test.

We spent the next few days inseparable, acting like newlyweds, as the day of my surgery drew closer. Tonight, he was exceptionally passionate.

While he was in the shower, I sat on the edge of the bed waiting for him. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up with a notification from Amazon.

A brief preview of baby clothes caught my eye. I picked up his phone, unlocked it, and opened the app.

Julian had purchased baby onesies, and the shipping address was Melanie's house. He had also ordered an expensive stroller and several highend baby bottles.

These were preparations for a newborn. Melanie was pregnant. The pain in my chest was suffocating. I took deep breaths, trying to force myself to stay calm.

But inside, I went entirely numb. I stared at the closed bathroom door, hearing the shower run, and felt my love for him completely die.

Now I understood why he didn't care if we had children. Melanie was pregnant. She was going to give birth to his child. He didn't need me to bear his child anymore.

I put the phone back exactly where it was and pretended nothing had happened. The next day, I went to the hospital for my preop checkup.

During the ultrasound, the doctor gasped in surprise. "Oh my goodness! Ma'am, you're pregnant!

You're already two months along!" This sudden miracle filled me with a storm of emotions. I gently touched my flat stomach, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. Why now?

Why did you choose to arrive just when I decided to leave your father? The doctor kept asking if I wanted to keep the baby.

After staring at the screen for a long time, I whispered that I needed time to think. Ultimately, I decided I had to tell Julian.

He was the father, and he had a right to know before any final decisions were made. I called him. He was at his mother's house.

When I told him I was coming over, he hesitated. "Babe, why don't you wait for me at home? I'll be back soon. Melanie is actually over at my mom's place today." "It's fine.

I have something to say to everyone anyway." I hung up and immediately took an Uber to his mother's house.

When I opened the front door, Julian's parents were gently touching Melanie's slightly rounded belly, beaming with joy. "Congratulations, Melanie!

This is wonderful news." Catching sight of me, Eleanor glared. "What are you doing here, Chloe? We're celebrating Melanie's pregnancy today. There's no food for you." "I'm pregnant.

Here's the test result." I tossed the lab report directly into Julian's lap. The room fell into a dead, stunned silence. Every mouth hung open.

Julian stared at the paper over and over. Once he realized it was real, he sprang to his feet and grabbed my hands, completely bewildered.

But before he could say a word, Melanie lost her mind. She lunged forward, violently shoving him, and shrieked, "How is she pregnant?! You swore to me she would never get pregnant!"

"Julian! What are we going to do now? What about my research? What about my paper?!" Melanie screamed, completely ignoring the shocked looks from Julian's parents.

Julian ignored her outbursts entirely. He stared at me for a long moment, then tightly gripped my wrist and tried to pull me toward the guest room. "Chloe, stop making a scene.

Let's talk in private." I fiercely shook off his hand and sneered, "Talk about what? About how the baby in Melanie's womb is yours?

Or about how you two used me as a lab rat for five years just to keep me childless?" Julian and Melanie froze, staring at me in utter disbelief.

Beside them, Julian's parents realized something was horribly wrong and stepped forward to demand answers, but Julian blocked them.

Julian shifted his gaze, unable to look me in the eye. I pressed on, my voice cutting like glass: "I heard everything in the stairwell that day, Julian. I went to another doctor.

My condition could have been cured with a single, simple surgery.

It never needed five years of treatment." Seeing that her scheme had been exposed and her research ruined, Melanie threw off her mask.

She smugly caressed her belly and hissed, "So what if you found out? You're still defective.

Julian will raise my baby as his own anyway." Julian stood paralyzed, his face a storm of conflicting emotions, his eyes glued to my positive pregnancy test.

Perhaps deep down, he had genuinely wanted a child with me, and this sudden revelation had shaken him to his core. "Julian, is Melanie's baby yours?" I asked with a bitter smile. "Don't lie to me anymore.

We wanted a child for so many years.

If you've finally got one, even if it's with her, I'll walk away and wish you well." Despite everything, after years of marriage, this was the only sincere wish I had left.

Julian shook his head frantically, but he couldn't find the words to answer. Melanie smirked triumphantly.

I ignored her completely and looked straight at Julian. "I came here today for one reason. As the father, do you want this baby?

If you don't, just say it." Julian crumpled the test report in his fist. His jaw clenched, and his eyes filled with immense grief.

After what felt like an eternity of agonizing hesitation, he dropped to one knee before me and whispered hoarsely, "Chloe, I know how precious this baby is to both of us..." I thought he was going to beg me to keep it.

But then he added, "But you just had an Xray during your checkup. It could have harmed the fetus. The baby might be deformed or unhealthy." He was telling me to get rid of my baby.

His intentions became crystal clear. I had expected a stabbing pain in my heart, but instead, I felt only a cold, hollow numbness.

He probably still wanted to protect Melanie's research and ensure that my pregnancy wouldn't get in the way of her child's future. "Fine," I said, my voice dead. "I'll have my lawyer draw up the divorce papers.

Come home tomorrow and sign them." I turned on my heel and slammed the door behind me.

Julian yelled my name and tried to chase after me, but Melanie threw herself on him, holding him back.