The medical file lay scattered across the hospital hallway, but one thing stopped me cold: the date on the first page. It was six weeks before my divorce from Sophie became final. Six weeks before I’d signed away our marriage, convinced there was nothing left between us worth saving. With trembling hands, I gathered the papers and read: “Abnormal growth. Urgent referral. Further evaluation required.”

Sophie went pale when she realized what I’d seen. Dr. Raymond Keller stepped closer. “Sophie, I think Ethan deserves an explanation.” Tears filled her eyes. “I didn’t want you to find out like this,” she whispered. When I demanded to know what she meant, she gripped her IV stand and finally said the words that changed everything. “After my last miscarriage, the doctors found a tumor.” I stared at the date again. She had known before our divorce.

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