Chapter 6 - The Doctor’s Testimony
The next morning, Sophie and David drove into town.
This was Sophie’s first time returning to the township since the wedding disaster. As David’s green truck rolled down Main Street, people stopped on the sidewalks to stare. Whispers spread like wildfire from the hardware store to the bakery.
Sophie sat tall in the passenger seat, refusing to duck her head or look away.
David parked in front of the Oak County Medical Clinic—a small brick building at the end of Elm Street.
"Are you sure about this?" David asked quietly, looking at her.
"I need the truth on paper, David," Sophie said firmly. "Not just for the town. For myself."
They walked through the glass doors together. The receptionist, an older woman named Mrs. Higgins who had known Sophie since she was a baby, gasped when she saw her walk in arm-in-arm with David Miller.
"Sophie... dear," Mrs. Higgins stammered, looking uncomfortable. "I... I didn't expect to see you."
"I need to see Dr. Evans, Mrs. Higgins," Sophie said calmly. "It’s urgent."
Ten minutes later, they were sitting in the cool, sterile office of Dr. Richard Evans—a white-haired man in his sixties who had delivered half the children in the county, including Sophie.
Dr. Evans looked exhausted, his spectacles sitting low on his nose. "Sophie... child, I was so sorry to hear about what happened at the church. It was monstrous."
"Dr. Evans," Sophie said, leaning forward. "Did you speak to Michael Vance about my medical records before Saturday?"
Dr. Evans stood up so fast his office chair rolled back against the wall. His face flushed bright red with indignation.
"Absolutely not!" the doctor boomed, his voice shaking with genuine fury. "I haven't seen Michael Vance in this office in three years! And even if I had, HIPAA laws are absolute! I would lose my license and face prison time if I revealed a patient’s file to anyone without written consent!"
"He claimed at the altar that you told him I was barren," Sophie said, her voice trembling slightly.
"He lied!" Dr. Evans declared, slamming his hand onto his desk. "It was a complete fabrication! I have your records right here, Sophie! You had a routine premarital exam six months ago. Your bloodwork, your hormone levels, your reproductive health—everything was completely normal! You are as healthy as any young woman I’ve ever treated!"
Sophie let out a long, shuddering breath. Hearing the official words from the doctor’s mouth felt like a physical weight being lifted off her chest. She wasn't broken. She was whole.
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David leaned forward. "Dr. Evans, are you willing to sign an official affidavit stating that Michael Vance lied, and that he never received any medical information from you?"
"I’ll do better than an affidavit," Dr. Evans said, his eyes flashing behind his lenses. "I’m filing a formal complaint with the County Sheriff against Michael Vance for defamation and fraudulent misuse of my medical name. He dragged my professional reputation into his sick game. He is going to pay for it."
