The Barren Ex-Wife's Revenge

Chapter One

Elena Valdris sat in the waiting room of Thornwick Medical Center, checking her phone for the tenth time. The Kaelthorn family owned half of this hospital, but that didn't mean she got special treatment.

"Mrs. Kaelthorn?" A familiar voice called out. Elena looked up to see Nerissa Thorne, the head nurse. She knew Nerissa from all those boring charity events Jack's mother dragged her to.

Elena stood up quickly. "Yes, is Dr. Mortaine ready?"

Nerissa smiled, but it wasn't friendly. "Oh honey, he had an emergency. You'll need to wait much longer."

"But I've been waiting for weeks for this appointment," Elena said. "Jack is expecting answers about why I can't get pregnant."

"Well, maybe your husband should have called ahead if this was so important," Nerissa said loudly. Other patients in the waiting room started looking over.

Elena felt her face getting hot. "Can you please tell me when he'll be back?"

"Look sweetie," Nerissa crossed her arms and spoke even louder. "Everyone knows your problem. Some women just can't have babies. No matter how rich their husbands are."

The words hit Elena hard. A young mother with twin babies stared at her with pity. An old woman shook her head sadly.

"Mrs. Kaelthorn comes from nothing," Nerissa announced to the whole waiting room. "She was an orphan who got lucky when she saved Mr. Jack from that fire. Now she thinks she deserves everything."

Elena's hands started shaking. "Please stop."

"Stop what? Telling the truth?" Nerissa laughed. "Jack Kaelthorn is worth ten billion dollars. His family built half of Aethermoor. He could have married a princess. Instead he got stuck with a barren orphan."

People were whispering now:

"Is that really Jack Kaelthorn's wife?"

"The one who can't have children?"

"Poor Mr. Jack."

"Three years of marriage and still no heir."

Elena felt tears coming. "I just want to see the doctor."

"You want to know what I think?" Nerissa stepped closer. "I think you should divorce Jack and let him find a real woman. Someone who can actually give him children."

"That's enough." A younger nurse walked over. "Mrs. Kaelthorn, I'm Sarah. Dr. Mortaine left instructions about your test results from last week."

Elena looked up with hope. "My results?"

"Yes. He wants you to come back Friday at ten. Your blood work showed something important and he has treatment options to discuss."

Elena's heart jumped. "Treatment options? You mean there might be hope?"

Sarah smiled kindly. "The doctor will explain everything. But yes, don't give up hope."

Nerissa rolled her eyes. "More false hope. Jack must be getting tired of this."

"Actually," Sarah said firmly, "Mrs. Kaelthorn's test results were quite promising. The doctor was excited to discuss the new fertility treatments available."

Elena felt a spark of joy for the first time in months. "Really?"

"Really," Sarah nodded. "Friday at ten. Don't be late."

But Nerissa wasn't done. "Promising results don't change the fact that you're still the orphan girl who trapped Jack