He Lost Me Over A Child That Was Never His

"Get dressed and come with me. I brought Eleanor and Orion back today so you could spend some time together."

When I didn't move, he frowned, grabbed a coat, and forcibly draped it over me, zipping it up without giving me a chance to resist.

His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "And don't say anything reckless again. As for Orion's name, I'll explain another day."

When we arrived, Charles pushed Orion into my arms.

"Get to know him first."

Then, he bent down, his voice turning gentle, just as it always was with Eleanor.

"Orion, today you'll play with Aunt Natalie. Daddy and Mommy are going to buy you clothes and toys, okay?"

Orion nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

I followed along numbly as he led me to the other side of the food street.

Like all children, he was drawn to the golden crisp of fried food.

I hesitated, unsure if he was allowed to eat it. Instinctively, I reached for my phone, dialing Charles.

No answer.

Before I could decide what to do, Orion turned to me, his small face darkening as sharp words spilled from his lips.

"My dad and mom are on a date. Why are you calling to disturb them?" His voice carried an unexpected sting, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You're not my mom. Why do you care whether I can eat this or not? Dad told you to take me out to play, so whatever I want to eat or do, just do it. Don't interfere."

A sudden tightness gripped my chest, pressing down like an invisible weight. I opened my mouth, but no words came.

On the way back, Orion clutched his stomach and let out a sharp cry. His face turned deathly pale.

Eleanor's eyes widened in horror before she broke into sobs. Charles, his usual composure shattered, slammed his foot on the gas and sped toward the hospital.

After a series of tests, the doctor confirmed acute gastroenteritis, severe enough to warrant IV fluids and hospitalization.

Orion lay weakly on the hospital bed, his small frame trembling as he whimpered for his mother. When his gaze met mine, fear flickered in his eyes.

"I told her my stomach is sensitive… I told her I couldn't eat fried sugar cakes… but Aunt Natalie said she wanted one. She bought one for herself and gave me one as big as a fist, saying I should eat it, too. After I did… it started hurting… ”

His words were barely above a whisper, yet each one struck like a whip.

Eleanor's tears spilled over as she turned to me, her voice shaking with desperation.

"Sister Natalie, it's my fault. I never should have fallen in love with Charles… never should have appeared in front of you. If you hold a grudge, take it out on me. But please, don't hurt my Orion… He was in my womb for ten months; he's my life!"

I realized something was wrong and rushed to explain.

But before I could utter a word, Charles's palm struck my face.

A sharp sting bloomed across my cheek, but the pain was nothing compared to the fire raging in his eyes, blazing, unforgiving, as if he wanted to tear me apart.

"I told you, if you have a problem, take it out on me! I never expected you to go after an innocent child!"

I clenched my jaw, forcing back the bitterness rising in my throat.

"It wasn't me! He wanted to eat it himself! I even tried calling you to ask if he could, but you didn't pick up!"

"Enough, shut up!"

Charles's gaze was ice-cold, devoid of warmth.

"I remember you've always loved fried sugar cakes. Natalie, you really aren't fit to be a mother."

The words cut through me like a blade, sharp and merciless. A death sentence. A condemnation.

Disappointment darkened his face as he pulled a folded document from his pocket, his fingers steady as he signed it with the hospital's pen.

"Isn't divorce what you've always wanted? Then let's do it first. I don't trust you to live with them while you're in this unstable state. Once you've adjusted, we'll talk about remarriage."

A strange sense of relief washed over me. The fight drained from my body. Without another word, I bent down, picked up the divorce agreement from the floor, folded it neatly, and tucked it away.

Before leaving, I cast one last look at Charles, my voice eerily calm.

"Charles, I stopped eating fried sugar cakes ten years ago. My teeth ache whenever I have something sweet. Did you forget?"

His lips parted slightly, his face clouded with disbelief. But not a single word left his mouth.