Chapter 3
"Don't come over yet. Raya's really upset. I'm worried she might hurt you or Jason," Hector said.
I let out a bitter laugh. How ridiculous it was!
My son had just died. I'd just given birth and was still in my hospital bed, yet Hector was still siding with Melody, the other woman.
After Hector left, I pressed the nurse call button.
"What's wrong?" the nurse asked.
I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself.
"Could you help me get a wheelchair? I need to see my son," I said.
For some reason, the nurse's expression froze for a moment.
"Your son?" The nurse's voice faltered, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
"Yes. I don't want him to be alone in the morgue. I want to let him rest in peace as soon as possible," I replied.
He was still lying all by himself in that cold compartment. I needed to bring him back home.
I couldn't figure out why the nurse seemed so anxious, but she finally helped me get a wheelchair.
When I saw Eden's face, blue and lifeless from lack of oxygen, it felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, making it impossible to breathe.
"Eden, it's all my fault. I should've gotten you to the hospital sooner," I whispered, guilt heavy in my voice.
"Eden..." I murmured, my voice barely audible.
I cried until I was numb, staring at Eden for what felt like forever. I didn't even notice when the wound on my abdomen split open and started bleeding.
A doctor passing by finally noticed and quickly wheeled me back into surgery.
As the doctor stitched me up, I felt every painful tug and pull. Each pass of the needle felt like it was ripping right through me.
After I got out of surgery, I finally broke down and called home.
An hour later, my parents showed up at the hospital together.
They hugged me tightly, crying their hearts out.
"Raya, I always said I should've been here to take care of you. Hector's a total bastard! I was blind ever to think he was a good man," my mom sobbed.
"Raya, you need to stay strong now that Eden's gone. He's waiting for you to bring him home. Only when you're okay can he rest in peace, you know?" my mom said, her voice trembling.
"Eden's gone, but you still have another little one who needs you, right?" my mom added softly.
My dad kept a grim face, but I could see tears glistening in his eyes.
"Where's that bastard Hector? His own son is gone, and he still has the nerve to call himself a doctor?" My dad snapped.
"I'm going to confront Hector," my dad shouted, his voice trembling with rage.
I tugged at my dad's sleeve. "Dad, can you ask the lawyer to get the divorce papers ready for me?"
My parents exchanged glances and nodded without hesitation.
Worried I'd let myself go, they hired two caregivers to look after me, morning and night.
My mom made soup for me every meal and fed it to me herself. In just two days, I noticed new gray hairs appearing on her head.
Once I started to recover a bit, I told them I wanted to leave the hospital.
That same day, Hector showed up again.
He stood at the doorway, carrying some stuff, and awkwardly greeted my parents.
"You still have the nerve to show your face here!" my dad snapped.
My dad looked ready to swing at Hector, but I grabbed his sleeve and held him back.
I'd settle the score with him myself once I was strong enough. No one else got to handle my revenge.
"Why are you even here? You got the divorce papers, didn't you? Just sign them and get it over with," I said coldly.
"The house and the car? They're mine, end of story," I snapped.
"I gave birth to my baby. I carried her for nine months," I said, my voice unwavering.
"If you want to play family with Melody and her brat, that's your problem. Once we're divorced, the three of you can do whatever you want," I spat, my tone icy.
Hector didn't say a word, but his fists balled up tighter and tighter.
I scoffed.
So, just mentioning Melody, and he got all worked up?
"You're a doctor, aren't you? Get my baby from the nursery and bring her here. From now on, you're nothing to us. My child and I have nothing to do with you!" I snapped.
Hector just stood there, frozen. My mom couldn't hold back anymore. "Hector, go get her. You've already taken Eden from us. Are you planning to steal the little one, too?"
"You don't deserve to be a father, not now, not ever!" my mom roared, her voice raw with fury.
Did my mom really hit a sore spot? Why was Hector getting all teary-eyed again?
I was done with his drama, so I called the nurse over. "I'm ready to leave. Can you bring my baby here?"
The nurse blurted out, "What baby?"
She started to say something else, but Hector grabbed her wrist before she could finish.
Everything just went blank in my head. "What do you mean?"
These past few days, all I could think about was Eden, but I hadn't forgotten that I'd had a baby, too.
"Raya..." Hector stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
He tried to speak a few times before finally forcing the words out. "The baby was premature. She didn't make it. She passed away in the nursery after just two days."
It felt like my world had shattered, like a thousand needles were stabbing straight into my heart.
I was numb with shock and couldn't even get a word out.
Hector crouched down beside me, grabbing my hand. "Raya, please, don't scare me," he begged, his voice shaky.
"We'll have another kid, I swear. Please hang in there for me, okay?" Hector pleaded, desperation written all over his face.
I honestly had no idea how I even made it home.
I pulled the curtains shut and curled up in my pitch-black bedroom, while now and then, angry shouts would drift in from the living room.
It was my mom, cursing Hector out.
He hadn't gone to work at all. And he just stayed home the whole time.
What a rare sight. The Pediatric Chief Physician was actually taking a break.
As the woman he called his wife, I guessed I should feel honored that he was finally gracing me with his presence at home.
I couldn't help but laugh. The more I laughed, the more the whole thing felt like a cruel joke.