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.