PART 2

For several long seconds, neither of us said another word.

Then I reached toward the call button attached to the side of my bed.

Ethan noticed immediately.

“What are you doing?”

I pressed it anyway.

“I’m making my first decision as Duncan’s mother.”

Within moments, Nurse Olivia returned.

She glanced around the room, instantly sensing the tension.

I met her eyes.

“Please ask these two to leave.”

Ethan blinked.

“You’re seriously throwing me out?”

“You brought your pregnant girlfriend into my recovery room.”

“I’m still your husband’s father.”

“And I’m the woman who just gave birth.”

My voice remained calm.

“My son deserves peace.”

Olivia stepped toward the door.

“My patient has requested privacy.”

“You both need to leave.”

Ethan didn’t move.

Instead, he looked at his father.

“Dad…”

Richard didn’t hesitate.

“You heard the nurse.”

His voice was colder than I’d ever heard before.

“Get out.”

Lauren lowered her head.

Without another word, she quietly walked into the hallway.

Ethan lingered for another second before following her.

The moment they disappeared, Richard followed behind them.

The hospital door never fully closed.

Their voices carried clearly through the hallway.

“What were you thinking?”

Richard’s anger echoed loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.

“I was honest.”

“You humiliated your wife.”

“It would’ve come out eventually.”

Richard laughed bitterly.

“You waited until she’d just delivered your child.”

“There wasn’t another opportunity.”

“You’ve had five months.”

Silence.

Then Ethan answered quietly.

“I didn’t want the vow renewal to become awkward.”

Richard froze.

“The vow renewal?”

“We can still do it.”

Richard stared at him.

“You planned to stand beside Emma…”

“…renew your wedding vows…”

“…while another woman was five months pregnant with your baby?”

Ethan looked annoyed rather than ashamed.

“If we cancel now, people will ask questions.”

Richard shook his head slowly.

“So that’s what you’re worried about?”

“The gossip?”

“I was trying to protect everyone.”

“No.”

Richard’s voice hardened.

“You were protecting yourself.”

The hallway fell silent.

A second later the door clicked shut.

The room suddenly felt much quieter.

Too quiet.

I looked down at Duncan.

His tiny fingers wrapped around one of mine.

Completely unaware that his entire family had fallen apart before he’d even been alive for an hour.

My body finally began shaking.

Not from anger.

Not from heartbreak.

From exhaustion.

Olivia gently pulled a chair beside my bed.

“Take a deep breath.”

I wiped tears from my cheeks.

“I waited five years for today.”

She adjusted Duncan’s blanket.

“Don’t let him steal this day from you.”

I looked at my son.

“He won’t remember any of this.”

She smiled softly.

“But he’ll always remember how safe he felt in your arms.”

Something inside me settled.

She was right.

Today wasn’t about Ethan anymore.

It was about Duncan.

A few minutes later, Richard returned.

He looked twenty years older than he had that morning.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

“You don’t owe me an apology.”

“I raised the man who did this.”

His voice cracked.

“And I failed somewhere.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Ethan made his own choices.”

Richard nodded slowly.

Then he held up his phone.

“I need your permission.”

“For what?”

“To cancel the vow renewal.”

I stared at him.

The ceremony had been planned for six weeks.

Friends had already booked flights.

Family members had confirmed attendance.

The reception hall was paid in full.

Everything was ready.

Everything…

Except the marriage.

Richard looked at me patiently.

“I won’t make this decision without you.”

Outside, I could still hear Ethan pacing the hallway.

Probably convinced everything would calm down eventually.

Probably convinced I’d forgive him like I always had.

He had no idea that version of me had disappeared the moment he walked through that hospital door.

I nodded once.

“Cancel it.”

Richard immediately dialed the officiant.

He stepped into the hallway.

Only fragments of the conversation drifted back into the room.

“…there won’t be a ceremony…”

“…you deserve to know why…”

“…yes… today…”

Five minutes later he returned.

“The minister wants to speak with Ethan.”

I simply nodded.

Richard walked back outside and handed Ethan the phone.

“Take it.”

“What is this?”

“Just answer.”

Ethan reluctantly lifted the phone to his ear.

Within seconds, his expression changed.

“I can explain.”

The minister interrupted him.

His voice carried clearly through the hallway.

“A marriage vow isn’t something you repeat after you’ve already abandoned it.”

Ethan lowered his head.

“It’s complicated.”

“No.”

The minister answered calmly.

“It’s actually very simple.”

“You cannot celebrate promises you’ve already broken.”

Silence followed.

Then Ethan handed the phone back without another word.

Late that evening…

The hospital had finally become quiet.

Visitors had gone home.

The lights were dimmed.

Duncan slept peacefully beside me.

I opened the Notes app on my phone.

For several seconds I stared at the blank screen.

Then I typed three short sentences.

Protect my son.

Heal myself.

Never protect Ethan again.

I read the words twice.

Then I locked my phone.

For the first time all day…

I felt completely certain about the future.

— END OF PART 2 —