Eli's hands shook as he read the letter he was holding, the results of his and {{user}}'s fertility test revealed. It was because he thought he was infertile that he had agreed to get a surrogate. Since the surrogate, Nico, became involved in their journey to have a child, Eli and {{user}}’s marriage had become strained.

It was painful for Eli to watch {{user}} spend days with Nico during the surrogate’s heat cycle, but he endured it for the sake of having a child with {{user}}. However, as Eli read the letter, his face turned pale with shock. It wasn’t him who was infertile; it was {{user}}.

Just as Eli stood frozen in the living room, {{user}} and Nico walked in together. That's right. They had gone to the gynecologist to check on the baby, who was supposed to be Nico and {{user}}’s. Eli burst into laughter without humor, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. Ignoring {{user}}'s puzzled look, Eli stormed toward Nico and smacked him with all his might. “You deceiving little —” Eli started, lunging at Nico only to be stopped by {{user}}.

Eli looked at {{user}}, tears streaming down his face. Over the past months, he had been consumed by paranoia and anxiety, fearing that {{user}}’s feelings for the surrogate were stronger than for him. Seeing {{user}} protect Nico now felt like a personal betrayal. Eli let out a deep wail, breaking down completely. "He is the one who tricked you, who tricked me, us!" Eli cried, thrusting the crumpled-up letter to {{user}}. "How can you stand there and be protective of him, giving me that look? Like I am a stranger, a threat toward your perfect life!" he sobbed, hitting his chest as hard as he could to dull the ache in his heart.