Emilia Fuentes was overjoyed when she discovered she was pregnant, viewing it as the realization of her long-held dreams. The prospect of starting a family with her beloved husband Kelvin after eight years of trying filled her with immense happiness and anticipation.
However, her pregnancy journey took an unexpected turn from the outset. Emilia experienced extreme fatigue and debilitating nausea that persisted throughout the day, leaving her feeling drained and unwell. Rather than gaining weight as expected during pregnancy, she found herself losing weight instead.
Emilia shared a grin with her husband, Kelvin, remarking, “Well, at least I won’t be putting on too much weight!” However, her mother, Alicia, who had raised five children of her own, couldn’t shake off her unease.
Worried, Alicia asked, “What did the doctor say?”
Emilia reassured her, “I have my first ultrasound on Monday. I’ll ask you for advice on vitamins and supplements, Mom. Don’t worry!”
To their astonishment, the first ultrasound revealed a surprise: “Twins!” the doctor announced. “Congratulations!”
“Twin!” Emilia exclaimed, tightly squeezing Kelvin’s hand. “This is incredible!”
Lost in the joy of impending parenthood, Emilia neglected to mention her fatigue and constant nausea to the doctor. That evening, she excitedly shared the news with her mother, saying, “Twins, Mom, can you believe it? That must be why I’ve been feeling so tired!”
Alicia was understanding, replying, “Yes, dear, that would make sense. Two babies demand a lot from your body!”
However, as the months went by, Emilia’s exhaustion only seemed to worsen. She confided in Alicia that her breasts had been feeling tender. “Mom, have you ever experienced breast pain?” her daughter asked.
Emilia admitted to some soreness but expressed concern that she wasn’t producing milk and occasionally noticed pink fluid leaking from her bra.
Filled with dread, Alice rushed her daughter to the doctor, and time seemed to slip away in the blink of an eye. The doctor delivered the news of breast cancer, leaving Emilia trembling with anxiety. “Is my life in danger? Will I be there to see my children grow up?” she asked, her voice trembling.
The doctor reassured them that chemotherapy could commence in the third trimester, but Emilia’s priority was clear: “All I care about is my children and my husband.” Kelvin, stunned into silence, could only nod in agreement.
That evening, Emilia attempted to discuss plans with Kelvin, but he was caught off guard. “Me and the kids? What do you mean?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“You will raise the twins on your own,” Emilia stated firmly. “My mom will help, but you’ll be a single parent.”
Kelvin’s reaction was immediate. “No, I won’t! The birth was your idea. You’re not putting that burden on me!”
Emilia was taken aback. “Kelvin, I’m dying. I need you to be there for our daughters.”
“No,” he retorted coldly. “Having a child with you is one thing, but I’m not going to raise them alone.”
“I’m 35, and I’m not sacrificing my life for your daughters!” Kelvin exclaimed.
“They’re your children too!” Emilia pleaded. “What do you expect me to do?”
“Give them up for foster care, for adoption! I don’t care!” Kelvin shouted. “I’m leaving!”
Emilia’s final pregnancy months were marred by the devastating rejection from her husband.
In search of solace and guidance, Emilia turned to her mother, asking, “What should I do? What about my children?”
With unwavering resolve, Alice assured her daughter, “I will raise them,” fulfilling her promise after Emilia’s tragic passing just two months after childbirth.
Alicia honored her promise, raising the girls as Emilia had hoped. The twins, blossoming with both intellect and beauty, quickly came of age. As their grandmother approached her nineties, they pursued higher education. Diana embraced midwifery, while Daniela delved into oncology. Alicia’s pride endured until her final days, leaving behind a legacy that the twins held dear, mourning the loss of their beloved grandmother.
Over the years, Emilia’s daughters married and embarked on their journeys of motherhood. Thirty-seven years after their grandfather’s passing, an unexpected twist awaited the twins. Calvin, a man claiming to be Diana’s father, appeared at her office, worn and disheveled.
Upon hearing this, Diana immediately called Daniela to share the surprising news. After meeting with both daughters, Kelvin expressed his desire to meet his grandchildren, stirring up mixed emotions within them. After thirty-seven years of absence, the question “Where have you been?” echoed with justified curiosity in Diana’s voice.
“His loyalty was always to his mother…”
“Of course,” Diana replied. “Then why did you abandon her when she was dying and never took care of us before we were born?”
“Don’t speak to me like that,” Kelvin retorted. “I’m your father! You wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for me. I just need some money, and you have enough… Emilia…”
“We don’t owe you anything,” Daniela asserted. “You were the one who wanted Mom to give us up for foster care or adoption. You never even bothered to check how we were doing. Our success is not because of you.”
“It’s been a long time,” Diana added sternly, “before I call security. And don’t you dare mention our mother again! She loved us with every breath she took! All you cared about was yourself!”