Chapter 6 - The Test Dominic Hid
Dominic’s infertility was not punishment.
It took me months to say that without bitterness.
At first, grief wanted symbolism.
Victoria took my child.
Dominic would never have another.
It felt like universe balancing ledger.
But infertility is not justice.
It is medical fact.
His choices were the justice problem.
The facts emerged because Dominic himself raised paternity during divorce.
His attorney sent a letter:
Mr. Vance questions whether pregnancy could biologically have been his in light of recent fertility findings.
I read it once.
Then handed back.
“No.”
Sophia understood.
“You don’t want genetic testing?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I did not want my lost pregnancy converted into courtroom trophy.
But we needed respond to insinuation.
With my permission, Dr. Reed provided limited timeline clarification.
Dominic suffered an acute medical emergency six weeks before my fall.
A torsion complication requiring surgery.
He hid it from me by telling me he was attending an overnight business trip.
He later underwent fertility testing.
The specialist concluded he now had permanent severe infertility due to bilateral damage.
But conception had likely occurred approximately eight weeks before fall.
Two weeks before the medical emergency.
So current infertility said nothing about fertility at conception.
Dominic’s own specialist stated that in writing.
His lawyer withdrew paternity insinuation.
No DNA testing.
No further issue.
Then I learned why he hid surgery.
Ego.
Paige knew he was in hospital, but not exact reason.
Victoria knew.
She told him:
“Do not tell Audrey until we know whether it matters.”
Matters.
As if reproductive health belonged to dynasty planning.
Then a text between Victoria and Dominic after surgery:
Victoria:
If results are bad, you need Audrey pregnant before anyone finds out.
Dominic:
Stop.
Victoria:
An heir protects family image.
Dominic:
I said stop.
So Dominic had not embraced that part.
Good.
People are not one thing.
Then:
Victoria:
Paige won’t wait forever.
Dominic:
I’m not discussing this.
That was before fertility result.
Maybe he was uncertain which woman he wanted.
Maybe he wanted both worlds until one forced choice.
Then he learned I had been pregnant.
And gone.
His messages to Sophia became frantic.
Can I see Audrey?
No.
Please ask if I can attend follow-up.
No.
I need to apologize.
Not now.
Then:
Tell her I never knew Mom would push her.
I believed that.
Then:
Tell her I disabled camera because Mom asked for privacy.
Also likely.
Then:
I should have helped.
Yes.
That was the real indictment.
He did not need foresee shove.
He saw me bleeding afterward.
He stepped over me.
He protected gala.
Then a message directly to my old phone somehow? Blocked, but email got.
Audrey, I know the child was probably mine. I’m sorry I asked. I was afraid.
I did not respond.
Then the board audit.
Dominic appeared with counsel.
He admitted affair.
Irrelevant except expenses.
He admitted authorizing Paige perks.
He claimed business related.
Some rejected.
He admitted disabling camera.
Why?
“My mother said Audrey was creating scene.”
Then:
“Did you know violence occurred?”
“Not before.”
“After?”
“Yes.”
“Why tell staff she fell?”
“I panicked.”
There.
Then company governance.
He had violated related party approval rules by planning Paige’s unapproved equity grant and reimbursement.
Not necessarily massive fraud.
But significant.
The board suspended him pending investigation.
Victoria called Malcolm Hayes.
“My son built this company.”
Malcolm replied:
“His grandfather founded it. Your son runs it under board authority.”
Victoria screamed.
Then Malcolm asked one question:
“Mrs. Vance, have you actually read the 2024 recapitalization agreement?”
May you like
She hung up.
No one in that family liked paper unless they believed it gave them power.
