Chapter 3 - Three Pink Blankets
Camila woke to the sound of three newborn cries.
The delivery had been difficult, and the medication left the room hazy. For several minutes, she could not remember why Ethan was not beside her.
Then panic returned.
“Where is he?”
Helena stood near the window.
Victor sat in a chair with his phone in his hand.
“Ethan was contacted,” Victor said.
“Where is he?”
“He isn’t coming.”
Camila tried to sit up.
“That’s not possible.”
Victor produced an envelope.
“He came to see me yesterday. He had reconsidered my offer.”
Camila stared at him.
“No.”
“He signed away his rights.”
“You’re lying.”
Victor handed her the letter.
The handwriting looked like Ethan’s. Victor had obtained samples from old birthday cards and employment documents. A professional forger had copied every curve and slant.
Camila read the sentence about three children not being part of the life Ethan wanted.
She read it twice.
Then she became physically ill.
Helena moved toward her, but Camila pushed her away.
“Call him.”
“He changed his number,” Victor said.
“He was supposed to come home.”
“He packed his belongings while you were at your appointment.”
That was partly true.
Victor had paid the building manager to empty Ethan’s clothing and personal items from the apartment.
Camila held the letter against her chest as the first baby was brought into the room.
The nurse smiled.
“This is Lily.”
Lily’s tiny hand closed around Camila’s finger.
Camila looked at her daughter and silently promised she would never allow anyone to abandon her again.
Rose came next.
Then Violet, whom Camila renamed Ivy after deciding the girls deserved names representing strength rather than fragility.
They were wrapped in three pink blankets.
Camila cried while holding them, but not only from happiness.
She cried because the chair beside her remained empty.
Across the hospital, Ethan regained consciousness.
His first question was about Camila.
Victor entered his room forty minutes later.
He carried no forged letter for Ethan. His lie was simpler.
“The babies did not survive,” he said.
Ethan’s face went blank.
Victor continued before he could respond.
“Camila nearly died. She believes the stress you caused contributed to what happened.”
“I need to see her.”
“She refuses.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Victor placed Camila’s engagement ring on the bedside table.
Helena had removed it while Camila slept.
“She asked me to return this.”
Ethan picked up the ring.
His hand shook.
“Where is she?”
“Transferred to a private facility. My family will handle her recovery.”
Ethan attempted to leave the bed, but dizziness forced him back.
Victor watched without emotion.
“You should accept that your presence would only cause more suffering.”
After Victor left, Ethan called Camila repeatedly from the hospital phone.
Every call went unanswered because Victor had taken her phone.
When Ethan finally reached their apartment two days later, it was empty.
The building manager gave him a sealed envelope containing a typed notice that Camila had ended the lease.
Ethan searched for her for months.
Victor’s employees told him she had moved overseas.
Helena refused his calls.
Eventually, a lawyer delivered a warning accusing Ethan of harassment.
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He never discovered that Camila was living less than twenty miles away, raising three daughters who had inherited his eyes.
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