PART 2

In the days after the hospital, Alejandro seemed like the husband I needed. He took care of me, helped with Lucía, and kept repeating that his mother had crossed a line. The hospital had reported the incident, and Mercedes was briefly detained before being released on bail. Meanwhile, his father called nonstop, insisting it was all a misunderstanding.

A misunderstanding—that’s what they called my injuries, my fear, the risk to my unborn child.

I told Alejandro clearly:

“She will never come near me or my daughters again.”

He agreed… but something in him began to shift. He became distant, secretive. One afternoon, I overheard him on the phone:

“Yes, Mom… I know you’re suffering.”

That night, we argued. He suggested we delay legal action.

“She just wants to meet the baby,” he said.

“The baby she tried to hurt?”

“She didn’t mean to hurt the baby… she was angry at you.”

That broke something inside me.

“And that makes it better?”

Days before my delivery, Alejandro left to visit his parents, leaving me on bed rest with our toddler. My sister had to step in and help me.

He returned only to take me to the hospital—but we were no longer the same.

During labor, while I fought through pain to bring our daughter into the world, he barely paid attention. When the doctor invited him closer, he instead asked:

“When will the paternity test be done?”

I froze.

“What did you just say?”

The room fell silent. The doctor shut him down immediately, but the damage was done. The man who once promised to protect me now doubted me in my most vulnerable moment.

Renata was born healthy. I held her close and refused to let him take her.

Later, he said his mother wanted a photo.

I threw his phone aside.

“She gets nothing from my child.”

Days later, a legal test confirmed what should have never been questioned—Alejandro was the father. He cried, blaming pressure.

“Then let’s test Lucía too,” I said. “No doubts left.”

He refused.

“I trust you.”

“No,” I replied. “Now I need to protect myself from you.”

I packed my things and left with my daughters.