Chapter 328: Incapable of Having Children
The world has always been harsh toward women. Not all women possess the inner strength to remain unfazed by rumors and gossip. This is precisely why the Deleon family went to great lengths to keep Ines's infertility a secret. They didn't want their daughter subjected to criticism and gossip, nor did they want to be burdened by outsiders questioning their lineage.
Ines was naturally sensitive about her inability to have children. Even if she could withstand malicious attacks, well-meaning advice still caused her pain, especially as more people learned of her situation. Therefore, secrecy seemed the best course of action.
Unexpectedly, Yvonne, driven by selfish desires, attempted to expose Ines's secret, regardless of time or place—a despicable act entirely unrelated to the current situation.
Almost simultaneously, Alexander realized Yvonne's intent. He wasn't as quick as Isabella, however, so he subtly alerted Aiden.
Aiden's face paled as understanding dawned on him. Isabella reacted swiftly but could only stall momentarily, lacking a suitable excuse for her interruption.
After a brief, awkward pause, she had no choice but to deflect blame onto Alexander. "You stepped on my foot," she said, glancing at him awkwardly.
He replied, "Sorry. I was too engrossed in listening."
Everyone was speechless. Gossip Queen is quite fragile, someone muttered. A mere step on her foot, and she overreacts! The unspoken question hung in the air: Was Yvonne about to reveal something again? Yvonne, seemingly snapping back to reality, called out, "Aiden"
Oh, no! Isabella thought. I interrupted once without a solution, and it's too late to ask Alexander for help!
Then she heard him whisper, "Don't worry. Calm down."
He remained steadfast in his commitment to protecting his wife. Besides, they had bought Aiden a few precious seconds. If he couldn't handle it, nothing more could be done.
Fortunately, Aiden didn't disappoint. Before Yvonne could reveal her "truth," he calmly said, "Indeed. You deceived me. I previously believed you were carrying my father's child, my sibling. That's why I was patient. Did my care lead to this misunderstanding? Unfortunately, I have no feelings for you. They were solely for my sibling. Do you know why?"
Yvonne, along with everyone else, was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Aiden continued, "It's because I can't have children. In fact, I had a vasectomy years ago. I felt guilty initially, but when I heard you were pregnant, I tried to be more caring. This indirectly proves I couldn't have been the father that night, as I'm simply incapable."
His blunt declaration left everyone dumbstruck. They forgot the abrupt shift in conversation; the unthinkable had happened—a Burke heir had chosen to remain childless, a decision that would surely shock his ancestors. The Burke family's wealth distribution was tied to the number of children, making Aiden's decision even more shocking.
Yet, the audacity of his revelation at such a significant event convinced them of its truth. The irony wasn't lost on them: Yvonne had adamantly claimed Aiden was the father, only to learn he was infertile.
Damn, that's impressive, Aiden, someone thought. Did you just completely cut Yvonne off? Since he can't have children, who cares if Ines can or can't? He'd effectively pulled the rug out from under Yvonne. Caesar, Gloria, and Ines stared at Aiden in shock.
They knew of his decision to remain childless, and while they'd led Ines to believe it was his idea, they hadn't known he'd undergone a vasectomy without telling them. Though reversible, the firm determination behind his action deeply moved the Deleons.